THE DARK CANDLE

A man had a little daughter--an only and much beloved child. He lived only for her, she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health.
His best efforts proved fruitless, however, and the child died.
The father was totally irreconcilable. 
He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends, refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self.
Then one night he had a dream. He was in heaven and witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne.
Every white-robed, angelic tot carried a candle. He noticed, however, that one child's candle was not lit. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl.
Rushing towards her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and asked, "How that is your candle is the only one not lit?" "Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out again," she said. Just then he awoke from from his dream.
The lesson was crystal clear, and it's effects were immediate. From that hour on he was no longer a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates.
No longer would his little darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears.

Fr. Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Discovering 21 Century /Descubriendo el siglo 21

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

212.244-4778

Facts of Life 2

If you are ill you may say, "I did not want to be sick," if you are poor, "I did not want to be poor," or if you are unloved, "I did not want to be lonely."
Yet for your own reasons you began to believe in illness more than health, in poverty more than abundance, in loneliness rather than affection.
It seems that we are never happy with ourselves.
God created us free and equal but at the same time, He want us to take charge of our lives:
Take responsibility for ALL that is now in your life.
Yes, ALL. 
That does mean that you take responsibility for what would seem to be negative or bad things in your life. 
Perhaps it would be helpful to list all of the current situations in your life.
Once you have your life's list, evaluate those items that you would like to change.
Even if you feel that a situation is discouraging, take the time to list what you want your life to be. Try to create this list using action words and keeping a positive focus.
Each morning review your list and then go throughout your day knowing that you are creating your reality. Be aware of your personality.
Be truthful with yourself. Refrain from judging either yourself or others.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

Have you Thank God Today?

If you woke up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.
If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.

If you attend a church meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back, a roof over
your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and spare change
in a dish someplace, you are among
the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile
on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.
 If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you can
offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message,you are more blessed than over
two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.
You are so blessed in ways
you may never even know.

This blessing will only keep working if it is continuously passed around. If you are a recipient of a blessing, keep the blessing working by being the source of blessing to other people.

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

I FORGIVE YOU

One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in the woods.  
As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were not right. 
He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had a job. 
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. 
He remembered family that had passed on.
His mind turned to the illness he had that no one could cure.
His very soul was filled with anger, resentment and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there, and with tears in his eyes, he prayed.....................


"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. 
 You have told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. 
Today, you have told me to forgive. 
I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. 
I don't know how. 
It is not fair Lord. 
I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive.
 As perfect as your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. 
My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive."


As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes.
Out of the corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. 
He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of wood in the ground.
He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike through them. 
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross.
He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. 
As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to speak.

"Have you ever told a lie", he asked?
The man answered - "Yes Lord."


"Have you ever been given to much change and kept it?"
The man answered "Yes Lord". And the man sobbed more and
more.


"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours", Jesus asked?
And the man answered "Yes Lord."


"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain"?
The man, crying now, answered "Yes Lord".
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer "Yes Lord".

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before.


Jesus said,
"I didn't deserve this either, but I Forgive You."

Travel with us to China or Israel. For more information visit our webpage www.discovering21century.com

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

A Lesson in Life

Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance or by means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer 
stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. 
Without these small tests, if they be events, illnesses
or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, 
straight, flat road to nowhere. 
If someone hurts you, betrays you , or breaks you heart, 
forgive them. For they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who you open your heart to. 
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, 
not only because they love you, but because they are
teaching you to love and opening your heart and eyes to things you would have never 
seen or felt without them. 
Make every day count. 
Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, 
for you may never be able to experience it again. 
 Talk to people you have never talked to before, 
and actually listen. Hold your head up because you have 
every right to. 
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe 
in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, 
no one else will believe in you either. 
You can make of your life anything you wish. 
Create your own life and then go out and live it.

Father Tomas Del Valle-Reyes

Discovering 21 Century

P.O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

Radiosigloxxi@aol.com

www.discovering21century.com