The worth of our lives …

A well known speaker started off his lecture by holding up a RM100 note.

In the room of about 200, he asked: "Who would like this RM100?"

Hands started going up.

Seeing the enthusiastic response, he said: "I am going to give this RM100 to one of you - but first, let me do this."

There were shouts of joy and the speaker proceeded to crumple the RM100 note up.

He then asked: "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?"

He dropped it on the floor and started to grind it with his shoe.

After a while, he picked up the note, now crumpled and dirty.

"Now, who still wants it?" he asked.

Still the hands went into the air.

Looking across the room, he paused and said: "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it…why?”

“Because no matter what I did, the value of the money did not decrease.It is still worth RM100.”

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you.

The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know but by ...WHO WE ARE.

"You are special - don't ever forget it," he said

The story of the burnt biscuits...

This story is one that has been told many times before though there seems to be no direct author.  It is featured in many inspirational writings. I love the lesson of appreciation that this story conveys.  So here is the story of the burnt biscuits...

"When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things......and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

Many of us are quick to argue, get angry, or even end relationships over petty small things.  It is more important to appreciate people for who they are and not focus on their mistakes.  You would not want someone to point out your every mistake so why do it to others?  In fact when someone makes a mistake it is more important to show your love in that moment then to criticize. Not only will that expression of love stick out and always be remembered, it will help to further deepen the bond of your relationship

So let the burnt biscuits of life go and be grateful for what you do have.

The sweet taste of salty coffee..

This is a story picked up from the Internet written by an anonymous author.

He met her at a party. She was so outstanding, many guys chasing after her, while he was so normal, nobody paid attention to him.

At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised but because she was polite, she promised. They sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous to say anything, she felt uncomfortable, and she thought to herself, "Please, let me go home..."

Suddenly he asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everybody stared at him, so strange! His face turned red but still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, "Why you have this hobby?" He replied, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea, I liked playing in the sea, I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood, think of my hometown, I miss my hometown so much, I miss my parents who are still living there." While saying that tears filled his eyes.

She was deeply touched. That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell out his homesickness, he must be a man who loves home, cares about home, has responsibility of home ... Then she also started to speak, spoke about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family.

That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their love story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands; he had tolerance, was kind hearted, warm, careful. He was such a good person but she almost missed him! Thanks to his salty coffee!

Then the story was just like every beautiful love story, the princess married to the prince, and then they were living the happy life ... And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee, as she knew that's the way he liked it.

After 40 years, he passed away, left her a letter which said,

"My dearest, please forgive me, forgive my whole life's lie. This was the only lie I said to you---the salty coffee. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time, actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead. I never thought that could be the start of our communication! I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything... Now I'm dying, so I tell you the truth, I don't like the salty coffee, what a strange bad taste... But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life! Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for the second time, still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again."

Her tears made the letter totally wet.

One day, someone asked her, "What's the taste of salty coffee?"

She replied, "It's sweet."

Bekas Editor Bernama Meninggal Dunia

FotoBERNAMA

Bekas editor Bernama Ali Mamat, 63, meninggal dunia di kediamannya di Kampung Kubang Miang, Dungun pukul 1.56 pagi ini.
Anak sulung Alahyarham, Maheran Ali, 41, berkata ayahnya dimasukkan ke Hospital Dungun awal pagi semalam setelah mengalami sesak nafas.
"Allahyarham mengalami sakit tenat akibat penyakit kanser hati sejak April lalu dan mendapat beberapa rawatan di Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah," katanya kepada pemberita.
Allahyarham meninggalkan dua orang isteri Maimun Yahya, 55, dan Aini Abdullah, 42 serta tujuh anak.

Jenazah Allahyarham disemadikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Syed Yahya sebelum solat Jumaat berdekatan dengan pusara ibunya.

Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bernama, yang bermesyuarat hari ini, merakamkan ucapan takziah kepada keluarga Allahyarham.

“Sdr AM will be remembered as a tenacious BERNAMA journalist, especially in crime stories” said General Manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong on Bernama Eds WhatsApp.

“Yes. He fondly recalls his coverage of the Japanese Red Army hostage crisis at Jalan Ampang where he scooped all and sundry as a pinnacle of his reporting days of which many envied Bernama’s breaking news,” said Bernama Economic Service acting Deputy Editor-in-Chief Mikhail Raj Abdullah.

 "Al Fatihah. Semoga arwah dirahmati Allah SWT,” kata Ketua Pengarang Datuk Zulkefli Salleh yang bersama-sama Datuk Yong telah mengunjungi arwah ketika sakit di rumahnya pada 24 Ogos lepas.

“AM seorang sahabat yang baik yang mempunyai pelbagai petua dalam kehidupan berumahtangga dan pekerjaan sebagai wartawan. Moga Allah swt meletakkan aruah di sisi mereka yang soleh di alam barunya. Amin,” kata Timbalan Ketua Pengarang Perkhidmatan Berita Dalam Negeri, Datuk Zakaria Abd Wahab.

Bagi Timbalan Ketua Pengarang Perkhidmatan Berita Antarabangsa Ahmad Zukiman Zain, Allahyarham merupakan ‘sifu’ kerana Allahyarham merupakan  Ketua Biro Kelantan semasa beliau bertukar dari ibu pejabat ke negeri itu pada tahun 1982.

“Banyak yang saya belajar daripadanya terutama mengenai liputan politik,” katanya.  

Selepas Kelantan, Allahyarham berpindah ke Terengganu dan terus  ‘menurunkan’ ilmu kewartawanannya kepada para petugasnya.

Berikut catatan Ketua Editor Tugasan Bernama TV Haji Abdul Rahman Ahmad:

“…arwah Ali Mamat seorang yang baik hati. Wajahnya nampak je bengis dan garang tapi hatinya sangat lembut baik dan mulia. Sepanjang enam tahun saya bekerja di bawah seliaan beliau di Terengganu (1984-1990) tidak pernah sekalipun dia tinggi suara atau marah pada saya. Dan Ali Mamatlah satu-satu orang yang banyak mengajar saya mengenai journalism. While I am writing this down my tears keep rolling down my cheek as I recall the fond memories I had working with him and spending time with his family. He treated me as one of his family members inviting me to his home which is just above the office in Jalan Tok Lam for lunch and dinner. He took me almost everywhere he and the family went all over the state including into the jungle for fishing where I got the feel of the freshness of the environment and the delicious taste of ikan kelah and baung. Dialah mengajar selok belok menimba pengetahuan dan pengalaman sebagai seorang wartawan dengan meninggalkan saya seorang bekerja mengurus pejabat tiga hari sebaik sahaja saya melaporkan diri di Terengganu dan dia pergi bercuti hampir satu bulan. But that taught me a lot to survive in doing the job. But of course he still monitor my progress. He has good reputation among the journalists who have high regards of him. He taught me on balanced reporting especially in politic despite him being a strong supporter of Pas. I missed him a lot and I shall cherished him and remembering him forever. I can never find another boss like Ali Mamat. As of now, I can only repay him of his kindness by reciting the AlFatihah. May his sould be blessed by Allah. Amin.”

“I agree with ARA. He may have had a garang look but he was a gem of a person. On my first night assignment in April 1974, he accompanied me and got for me an exclusive story from the late Datuk Wan Kadir Ismail (the Deputy Information Minister). He wrote the story as I sat next to him, understudying. On the job training it was.! Ali was a crime reporter extraordinaire. I remember the ACA (MACC) once waiting for him to arrive before starting the PC. May his soul rest in peace,” said General News Service English chief sub-editor M.Govindnair

“AM was among the merry band of staffers who made journalism fun. And Bernama was all the better for it. He has bestowed us with everlasting fond memories,” said editorial consultant  S. Siva Selvam.  

 

Khairy tidak kisah dikritik di media sosial...

Foto BERNAMA

Muncul sebagai menteri Kabinet paling popular di laman sosial, Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin tidak kisah sekiranya beliau dikritik dan kena 'troll' di medium itu.

Khairy yang mempunyai hampir 750,000 rakan di Facebook dan 721,000 pengikut di Twitter berkata beliau selesa menggunakan media sosial untuk berinteraksi terus dengan masyarakat terutama golongan muda.

Beliau juga tidak kisah hilang 'jurang eksklusif' seorang menteri dengan rakyat kerana menganggap ia sebagai pentas penting untuk beliau menjalankan tugasnya sekarang.

"Ia adalah saluran saya menghubungi masyarakat umum dan golongan muda menggunakan media sosial tanpa perantara.

"Saya difahamkan pada PRU (pilihan raya umum) lalu, 80 peratus orang muda mendapatkan maklumat daripada media sosial, ini menunjukkan betapa berkesannya medium ini untuk saya berinteraksi dengan mereka," katanya menjawab soalan ketika menjadi tetamu program 'Dalam Radar' terbitan Bernama Radio24 petang ini.

Khairy berpendapat medium media sosial dapat menjimatkan kos iklan apabila beliau boleh berkongsi pelbagai program kementerian tanpa mengeluarkan sebarang kos.

"Satu lagi kelebihan jika ada apa sahaja program, saya boleh kongsi dan ia boleh 'viral' dan akan sampai ke ratusan ribu yang lain dengan cepat, memanglah kita ada keluar juga kos iklan untuk promosi, tetapi sekurang-kurangnya ia menjimatkan wang rakyat," katanya.

Menjawab persoalan bahawa beliau terdedah kepada pelbagai kritikan secara terbuka di laman sosial, Khairy berkata beliau menerima dengan hati terbuka kerana setiap rakyat mempunyai hak untuk memberi pandangan masing-masing mengenai kerajaan.

Bagaimanapun katanya, pandangan itu perlu mempunyai batas dan mana-mana kenyataan yang menghina kaum, agama dan raja, mesti diambil tindakan dengan segera.

"Saya juga sering menasihatkan pengikut saya agar memastikan maklumat yang ingin dikongsi diambil daripada sumber sahih dan fakta. Zaman sekarang semua pengguna 'gatal tangan' nak 'retweet' sesuatu post tanpa mengkaji ia sahih atau tidak," katanya.

Khairy berkata walaupun orang ramai melihat beliau sebagai seorang yang selesa dan gemar menggunakan laman sosial, tetapi beliau tetap memberi keutamaan dalam peranan menjaga belia negara serta memartabatkan sukan Malaysia di mata dunia.

"Ini adalah amanah yang besar buat saya," katanya.

-- BERNAMA