Jo Ann's Blogs
2/4/11
How Many of Us Belong to the 99 Club?
Recently I was reminded that not all things are worth crying about and it’s not a good thing to carry it to your everyday life. I was reminded on who my true friends and family are – what they mean to me is very important and life is short and we should cherish what we have.
You are probably asking yourself what is the 99 club – to make a long story short……..
There was a King and he had a servant that was always happy singing giving praises to God and the universe. This servant never spoke badly about anything he was content. The King in his curiosity asked his advisor how can one person be so happy and calm never letting anything bother him. The advisor told him that the servant didn’t belong to the 99 club – the King asked what is the 99 club? The advisor told him to put 99 gold coins in a bag and leave it on the servant’s door and he would see what he meant.
The King did this and watched as the scene unfolded:
The servant began to wonder, what could have happened to that last coin? For no one would leave 99 coins. He began to search looking around his yard for hours, not wanting to lose out on that one coin. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to make up for that one Gold coin to make his entire collection an even 100 Gold Coins.
He got up the next morning, in an extremely horrible mood, shouting at the children and his wife for his delay, not realizing that he had spent most of the night devising ways of working hard so that he had enough money to buy himself that one last gold coin. He went to work as usual --- only not in his usual singing happy mood. Instead he was grumpy as he did his daily errands. Seeing the man's attitude change so drastically, the King was puzzled. He promptly summoned his advisor to his chambers. The King related his thoughts about the servant and once again, his advisor listened. The King could not believe that the servant who until yesterday had been singing away, praising Jesus, happy and content with his life --- had taken a sudden change of attitude. The King reasoned he should have been happier after receiving the gold coins.
To this the advisor replied "Ah! But your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club." He explained: "The 99 Club is just a name given to those people who have everything but yet are never contented, therefore they are always working hard and striving for that extra one to round it out to 100!"
That evening at home the servant gathered his family together and apologized for his ugly demeanor. He said, "Today I lost perspective of God and you my family. The one lost gold coin became more important than you. I am so very sorry." Together they gave glory to God for the 99 coins and regained their joy.
How many of us are in the 99 Club striving for that last coin never considering who or what we say or how this can hurt others and yet sometimes we apologize and yet it still goes on – apologies mean nothing if we are still looking for that last coin. Look around you – there is more wealth in all those around you and what we have in our form of believes and values. Let God or if you don’t believe in God let the universe and all its wonder calm you to see what’s here now and not what you think it should be.
My rude awakening came in the form of a death – my neighbor whom I did not know very well passed away at 36 years – she had just celebrated her birthday on Dec 31st. She collapsed on the sidewalk as her husband was trying to get her to the car to take her to emergency. My husband helped our neighbor get her in the car later we found out she was gone. Though this happened a few weeks ago it stills very clear in my memory.
Look inside yourself – what do you see? Are you happy where you are at this time? Think about it and find your inner glow – show it to others – because we all need to know that we are welcome and you truly practice what you preach. For all those that I have offended in any way shape or form I apologize and I mean it, I am going to try and not be so vindictive and hurtful when I am hurt. For me, I write to release my hurt and get rid of my bad feelings – it’s my release mechanism – so I can pick up where I left off. If I have offended anyone with my blogs I am sorry but at least know that I did not lose my temper with you if that is any consolation.
For those of you that read my blogs thank you and wishing everyone Happy New Year – Year of the Rabbit that’s me.
Thought for today – they tell you to eat more vegetables to lose weight and be healthier – have you ever seen a skinny rabbit?
Aloha
Jo Ann Dowling