Tuesday, March 25, 2008

A Tragedy or A Blessing

I read this little story 'A Tragedy or A Blessing' a few days ago, and I would like to share it with you today. The story is from the book by Glenn Van Ekeren - 'Words for All Occasions, Quotes, Stories, Anecdotes, Poems, Fables, Proverbs and One-Liners'.

'Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to the United States. It had taken years, but they had finally saved enough money and had gotten passports and reservations for the whole family on a new liner to the United States.

The entire family was filled with anticipation and excitement about their new life. However, seven days before their departure, the youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor sewed up the boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front door. Because of the possibility of rabies, they were being quarantined for fourteen days.

The family's dreams were dashed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they planned. The father, filled with disappointment and anger, stomped to the dock to watch the ship leave - without the Clark family. The father shed tears of disappointment and cursed both his son and God for their misfortune.

Five days later, the tragic news spread throughout Scotland - the mighty Titanic had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family was to have been on that ship, but because the son had been bitten by a dog, they were left behind in Scotland.

When Mr. Clark heard the news, he hugged his son and thanked him for saving the family. He thanked God for saving their lives and turning what he had felt was a tragedy into a blessing.'

I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did. This brings me back many years ago when I entered first year of university. First year was a total disaster. Not to go into too much details, I had to change my educational path. There was not much of a change, but on the end I ended up taking slightly different courses than I anticipated on the first place. I was disappointed that I lost some time, but you know if my path was not altered, I would never met my loving husband - yes I met my husband in school that very next year and we both ended up graduating from the same profession, and got married. My story may not be that tragic, but still who knows what would happen if I did well and continue my education as I anticipated - however, I don't what to know, I am happy with the final result. Our paths in life get altered for reason, I believe; and unfortunately altered paths seems bad at times, but if it wasn't altered, then sometimes we find that things could have been worst, and sometimes we will never know.

33 comments:

  1. Loved that story and your addition to it as well.

    Whether predestination exists or not can be a mind bending conversation.

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  2. Hello Anna,

    Now here is a post that has my name all over it lol :)!
    I have experienced so many times this type of thing...you wouldn't even imagine! Sometimes we plan something, we invest a lot of time in designing every single detail of our intentions towards life and in the end things go the opposite way. We get disappointed, many times frustrated, sad even but in the end the deviation of plans was the best thing that could have happened to us!
    And this happens to everybody around the world. The difference lies on the way we face these changes: will we curse God, our relatives, friends; or will we stop to acknowledge the disappointment and ask God to help us cope with it, and hope for the best?

    So....you and your husband are college sweet-hearts? How cute is that??? :D I know that I have said this a million times, but I must say it again: you were blessed, girl :D!

    Definitely, it was great that you had an overturn in plans when you were in college...it may have upset you, but in the end it worked for the best! God works under mysterious ways ;D!

    Thank you for having shared the Clark family story: touching :D!

    Cheers

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  3. THis is such a thought-provoking post. What a wonderful story and analogy and I love how you tied it in to a practical application to our own lives.

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  4. i loved the story.. and i could relate to your own story as well..
    I was supposed to become a software engineer, everyone told me i have gift for it, i could make really a good one, and i even passed through entrance exams there and failed my exams to linguistic university, but then i decided to wait for a year and try linguistic again and didnt accept my admission to technical university... it was not really a choice, just like something got into me.. and when i finally made it into this linguistic university i missed everything related to math and computers so much that i even cried sometimes... But nevertheless me is happy now, i graduated with honours, can very well speak 2 languages besides russian, have met people i would never have met if i have chosen another path and got a great job i love thanks to it..
    Sometimes we cant predict if things happenning to us are for good or for bad.. they just are there and let us be what we are :)

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  5. I don't know why, but I am a sucker for Titantic stories, as is my younger son Michael...he has decided that we both lost our lives while sailing in her in previous lives...hmmm...possibility...I love how the simple change of course sent you on a change of course (lol) to meeting the man who would become your husband...loved this post, Anna...
    Sandi

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  6. Hi! Being happy with your lot in life is the most important thing in life. Whether we like to call it fate or Kismet, it doesn't really matter as long as it turns out alright for us and for the ones that we love.

    Hurdles are placed in front of us for a quite a few reasons. I like to say "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and "poo happens". Well, I don't exactly so poo, but I hope you get my meaning.

    As long as we get over the hurdles we will all be Ok.

    I'm happy with my lot in life and by the sound of things so are you. Congratulations from downunder!

    Take Care,
    Peter

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  7. Hey Anna, great story, God works in mysterious ways, just when you think he screwed up, something good happens that wouldn't have happened if things went your way.

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  8. I loved this story Anna. Thank you for sharing with us Clark family.

    Wow you and your hubby are college friends wonderful...

    YOu are such a wonderful

    catch u later

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  9. Anna, you are so right. Things have a way of working out for the better. I'm glad your path was altered so that it would cross your husband's.

    A good spouse makes life so sweet.

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  10. Hi Jeff B, nice to see you on my story blob blog. Thanks for your kind comments. You said: 'Whether predestination exists or not can be a mind bending conversation.' - you are absolutely right. I like it simple though, because on the end I just get confused, however, I still think that 'what ever happens it happens for a reason'. Thanks again for your comment, Anna :)

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  11. Hey, Max finally I made to this side of my blog. Sorry for late reply. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. Glad that you liked it. I think you got it girl, you said: 'I have experienced so many times this type of thing...you wouldn't even imagine! Sometimes we plan something, we invest a lot of time in designing every single detail of our intentions towards life and in the end things go the opposite way. We get disappointed, many times frustrated, sad even but in the end the deviation of plans was the best thing that could have happened to us! - nicely said, but it is true. I am learning not to get upset anymore. I think my husband does it more than me, because he thinks I deserve prefect, but I say, oh don't worry, it met to be and lets move on. I don't know if this comes with age, but I seemed to be more relaxed now, and just go with the flow. You are absolutely right, once things don't go the way we want them to, we tend to blame everyone else, but on the end it is our responsibility. Yes we are college sweethearts, still remember how we met, or first time I saw him, lol. Sometimes I ask or he asks: Where did you come from, lol? My answer is usually 'from the crocodile egg' lol, no idea where I got this, his answer is just gentle smile of happiness. Max thanks for sharing your thoughts, I really enjoyed hearing you as always. Anna :)

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  12. Hello sniz. Welcome to my story blob world, lol. Thank you so much for your kind comments. I will pay you a visit soon too. Thanks again. Anna :)

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  13. Hi Lena, wow, software engineer, you know I think you would make a good one, you seems to know what you doing with your blog designs - I know it is not really software programming, but it is still a code. I am now actually looking forward to your new blog designs every time, lol. Glad to hear that all worked out for you. School is challenging, and it is hard to decide what we want to do. To expand on my story, I remember me and my sister we had a fight once, and she told me that I am not allowed to go to university where she is, at least the same department, and that was where I actually was going to go in the first place. So I said fine, I am going to go to engineering, lol, and I went just like that, funny I liked it, even though like I said things did not worked out first year. I think on the end happiness is more important than anything else. So you speak 2 languages, beside Russian. I grew up in Europe during communism so Russian was mandatory, but I understand now very little. However, Ukrainian and Russian are very similar. English is not my first language, but I think it is now, since my husband is Italian, lol. I think Lena, is that when things go the other way, we just have to accept, and not dwell on the past, and make it best of it. Lena enjoyed reading your thoughts, and thanks for sharing and I am happy for you too, btw, I like your blog icon (the little girl). Anna :)

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  14. Hey Anna,

    "finally I made to this side of my blog. Sorry for late reply." - it is quite all right, dear :)!

    "Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. Glad that you liked it." - you are most welcome *bowing*!

    "I am learning not to get upset anymore. I think my husband does it more than me, because he thinks I deserve prefect, but I say, oh don't worry, it met to be and lets move on." - you do well cause in the end you will only aggravate yourself and it will ruin your skin lol. Your hubby is so sweet :)!

    "I don't know if this comes with age, but I seemed to be more relaxed now, and just go with the flow." - that is the mantra "go with the flow!" :D

    "Yes we are college sweethearts, still remember how we met, or first time I saw him, lol. Sometimes I ask or he asks: Where did you come from, lol? My answer is usually 'from the crocodile egg' lol, no idea where I got this, his answer is just gentle smile of happiness." - lol that is sooo sweet of both of you...love pours from your words, darling :D!

    "Max thanks for sharing your thoughts, I really enjoyed hearing you as always." - Don't mention it...the pleasure was all mine :D!

    Cheers

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  15. Hi Sandi, wow, glad that I was able to have this story on the blog then. I am not much into Titanic story, but I enjoy watching all the documentaries ever made, I still think it was very interesting time in history. Hey never know may be both of you were sailing her in previous life (like you said). I think your blog resembles lot of things that could be from the Titanic time, not sure how close I am, but I like black and white photos of you, so pretty. Thanks again for your comment. Anna :)

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  16. Hi Peter, thanks for your comment as always.

    You said: 'Hi! Being happy with your lot in life is the most important thing in life. Whether we like to call it fate or Kismet, it doesn't really matter as long as it turns out alright for us and for the ones that we love.' - you are absolutely right, that is why I think when things go wrong we should just go with the flow, do not dwell on the past, and enjoy the ride, life is too short, and history is not reversible, as you already know this.

    Peter you said: '"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and "poo happens". Well, I don't exactly so poo, but I hope you get my meaning.' - lol Peter, got it and I like it.

    Peter you said: 'I'm happy with my lot in life and by the sound of things so are you. Congratulations from downunder!' - glad to hear that, and thanks for the other side of downunder, lol. Thanks again, Anna :)

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  17. Hey Bob, nice to see you here again, lol, I guess I am not giving you enough of 299 posts per week on myonlyphoto blog, lol. Well your visits, comments, emails are all appreciated. You are right, God works in mysterious ways. And to add to this 'just when you think you screwed up' - more screw ups come along, lol, but then something good does happens. Sometimes with me takes more than one try, lol, but it makes me stronger on the end. Thanks again for your visit and comment. Anna :)

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  18. Thanks Angel for your kind comment. You are right I will catch u later, lol. Anna :)

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  19. Hi San, and thanks. I agree, however, I said this before, we just have to go with the flow, and not resist and dwell on the past, because I think I can go the other way. Yes I am very lucky, sometimes, we have this joke between each other, that he is my angle watching for me, because if you ever met us, we may seem to have same personality, but we don't, I am fast, he is slow, etc. You said: 'A good spouse makes life so sweet' - oh you are so right. Thanks for sharing your thoughts San, appreciated. Anna :)

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  20. Hey Max, I have to ask, in school you must have been always on time in class and with your homework, lol, just you are so fast in answering my comments, I am still recovering from back log of comments, and there is you, a blessing from the sky, already working on the answer. You are so sweet. Thank you so much for that. Lol, ruining skin, you are right, every time we get aggravated the blood stops to flow, thus the stressed skin, lol. Good idea for mantra then, 'go with the flow' - I am starting to like it more and more. And the pleasure is all mine to for being able to converse with you all the time. Thanks again, Anna :)

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  21. Anna,

    "I have to ask, in school you must have been always on time in class and with your homework, lol, just you are so fast in answering my comments, I am still recovering from back log of comments, and there is you, a blessing from the sky, already working on the answer." - lol you are right...I was always on time in class and with my homework (I did not have any troubles with my mom LOL). Oooh, thank you...you are so kind *bowing*!

    "You are so sweet. Thank you so much for that. " - Shhhiuuuuu...lol. You are welcome, sweetie :)!

    "And the pleasure is all mine to for being able to converse with you all the time. Thanks again" - *bowing*....don't mention it!

    Cheers

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  22. Hello, what can I say more? You said it all thanks so much for sharing! I am really impressed:)

    Thanks for the compliments you gave me, and your visit at my SKYWATCH, have a creative weekend!

    JoAnn

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  23. Hi Anna! Thanks for stopping by my blog with your kind words!

    I enjoyed this story. Whenever I am delayed I thank God for the blessings I am about to receive. The blessing may or may not be revealed to me but I am still always thankful. Thank you for your reminder!
    Jo

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  24. Oh Max, that makes us now the same when we were in school. I was very punctual also, and ensured I got my homework done, etc, I aways loved school. Thanks for sharing, and have a good weekend my dear. Anna :)

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  25. Thanks JoAnn, and no problem you have great photo blog, and I enjoyed the nice smooth surf. Thanks again, Anna :)

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  26. Hi Jo, no problem, and thank you for stopping by here and leaving me nice comments. You said: 'The blessing may or may not be revealed to me but I am still always thankful.' - you are a prefect example to all others. This is how we all should be. Thanks for sharing, Anna :)

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  27. Anna, I followed your blog from Mima's.What a wonderful story. And a good reminder that not all is as it seems. Sometimes if we take a step back and look we see life in a whole new perspective.
    Blessings to you

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  28. Anna, both are beautiful stories!!!

    I remember that uncertain first year of college. Many of my class wondered if they had made the right choice and that lingered through the first year. Dental hygiene.

    I can understand what you went through and YAY! for meeting your husband when you made the change. Sometimes we don't understand our journeys. I have no idea where I'm heading now but I know my path has begun changing. I'm going with the flow. :D

    Happy Saturday!!!

    Big Hugs, JJ

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  29. Anna,

    No kidding?? Yeah, me too: I always loved school, and I had wonderful moments at it :)!

    You are welcome, darling :D! Thanks, I did have a great weekend :)!

    Cheers

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  30. Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Plotter, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://plotter-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.

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  31. MAX,

    I am not able to open your blog by any chance..

    need help

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And now lets hear your blobbing, lol!