Parable Of The Pencil Story by James A. Feehan

Story title: Parable of the Pencil 
by: James A. Feehan

    A religion teacher in South Africa often used the following parable in her mission clinic. They called in the "Parable of the Pencil." It can be very effective in teaching or preaching, especially if the pencil is used as a visual aid. Many lessons can be drawn from it for a diversity of occasions.

STORY: Proposing Diplomatically by B.T. Botkin

Story title: Proposing Diplomatically
By: B.T. Botkin


      The man from the outback was very shy; the maiden was beautiful and seemed to him too wonderful to be asked for. He went on loving her silently for ten years. He built a fine home, with garden and barns, but he had not dared to propose.
       When everything was finished and furnished, he invited the maiden and her family over to see his

STORY: Playground Inspiration by Irene Sax in Newsday

Story title : Playground Inspiration 
By: Irene Sax

      Jane Nidetch was a 214 pound housewife. She was desperate to lose weight. After two steady months of dieting, she was still 50 pounds overweight. So she invited six overweight friends to her house to share her diet and talk about how to stay on it.
     Today, 28 years later, one million members attend 25,000 Weight Watchers' meeting in 24 countries every week.
     Mrs. Nidetch says she got her inspiration to help people take control of their lives, from a childhood

STORY: Preachers' Problems by Gems of Thought

Story title: Preachers' Problems
by Gems of Thought


    A famous clergyman was preaching one Sunday in the summertime and noticed that many of his audience were drowsing. Suddenly he paused, and then in a very loud voice, related an incident that had no connection whatever with his sermon.
   It went like this:" I was once riding along a country road and came to the house of a farmer. I stopped for a bit when I saw something stranger that I had ever seen in my life. There was a sow

Story : Praise Is Good

By: Jack Denton Scott in Readers' Digest

The great English writer and painter, John Ruskin, has observed that some of the greatest successes of the human race have been caused by love of praise. This is especially true in childhood. But all too often parents turn children away by pointing out only their faults and mistakes. A wise parent make it a point to praise a child when he or she deserves it. It can work wonders.