The Greatest Retirement Statement of All Time (Arguably) : Living A Fulfilled Life

A lesson on appreciation, giving your best, love, humility and living a fulfilled life.

An Irish Footballer Pat Flynn aged 31 retired from Football and released a brilliant and inspiring statement to mark his retirement. See statement below.

Thanks
So I thought….. I better do a statement. I’m going to name drop a bit so please forgive me.
It gave me the chance to win All Irelands.
Never give up.
Thank you football.

Today I retire.

I didn’t want to retire but the legs don’t move like they used to and when the slowest player in the league says to me “I’ll be your legs” I knew I had to call it a day…so thanks for that Mark Rossiter.

To Kiara…….My girlfriend in my Joeys days and now my wife as I finished in Longford. You were there for it all.Thanks for your patience, understanding and keeping my feet on the ground.

Leaving for work at 8am, going straight to training and getting home at 9pm was tough…so to my kids I apologise for missing so much and look forward to spending all my time with you. If you have my passion on the pitch and your Mam’s passion in the bedroom you will excel at whatever you choose.

Big thanks to my family who helped me so much over the years. Especially my Dad, you went out of your way so much to help me, I’ll never forget that. 

To my friends who’ve been there since the start and supported me home and away, thank you. 

To my aunties and uncles who looked after me when I was clubless in England, thank you.

To all the Coaches, Managers, Physio’s and Kitmen I’ve had, and the time you put in, thank you so much.

To all my teammates….thank you for your ability to adjust to playing with 10 men most weeks.

To the referees, I apologise for the tackles and my colourful language that led to them colourful cards. My wife would like to thank you for the hundreds of Euro’s in fines I had to pay because of you. 

To the fans of Waterford thanks for making me a cult hero.

To the fans of Shels, it’s my biggest regret in my career that you got relegated when I played for you, it’s a huge club and shouldn’t be in that situation.

To the Pats fans, I got paid for doing what you do…..watching games from a bench every week. It wasn’t down to lack of trying, it was just Kenna and O’Brien were outstanding. I hope I repaid you with the Cup Final song I wrote for you.

To the Longford fans, I admire the handful of lads who follow the team everywhere they go. We had bad nights but some great ones too. It’s a great club. Thank you.

To everyone at Shamrock Rovers thank you. Friday nights and coming from my house you could see the floodlights. Pulling on the famous green and white and hearing the fans sing as you wait in the tunnel, then the teasing smell of burgers and chips as you wait for the whistle to blow. It’s what you dream of. I was just a fan that got lucky.

To the Fans of Bohs, I loved playing in Dalymount. I loved the abuse and I loved having Coke bottles hopped off my head. I didn’t like you, but I have to say I admired your passion too and I’ll miss it.

Football is the greatest game on earth and anyone who says otherwise is a lying Luther.

It gave me the chance to learn from my hero Denis Irwin everyday in training.

It gave me the chance to play in the same team as a man people say is the maddest man in football, Paul Gascoigne….this was true, until I met Boccer Bayly.

It gave me the chance to captain my country at youth level and blast out Amhrán na bhFiann.

It gave me the chance to meet the President of Ireland.

It gave me so many kicks in the balls, like relegations, injuries, missing Christmas’ and missing friends & family.

It gave me the chance to win leagues with superstars like Twigg, Bradley, Baker, Salmon and O’Sullivan.

It gave me the chance to have great friends like Stephen Rice and Pat Sullivan, classy on and off the pitch.

It gave me the chance to mark Cristiano Ronaldo from corners.

It gave me the chance to stand in a helpless wall when Del Piero stuck a free in top corner.

It gave me a chance to play against the leagues best…..Derek Pender, Glen Crowe, Jason Byrne, John O’Flynn and Christy Fagan.

It gave me the chance to play under great captains like Kenna and Murray.

It gave me a rivalry with Killian Brennan, a great player that wasn’t afraid to kick me back. I’ll miss that.

It gave me a chance to miss a peno in front of 30,000 people in Lansdowne Road.

It gave me the chance to have songs sung about me….some good, some bad.

It gave me the chance to play for all of Dublin’s big clubs.

Anyone that watches football will know I’m an average player but hard work and commitment was the reason I got all these chances. 

If I can do it anyone can.

God Has Already Answered Your Prayers

I wept when I read this. God is great!
I found it so touching
Isaiah 65:24 :- “Before they call, I will answer.”

This is a testimony written by a doctor who worked in Africa.

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive; as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities.

Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). “And it is our last hot water bottle!” she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

“All right,” I said, “put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm.”

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. “Please, God” she prayed, “Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.”

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, “And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?”

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say “Amen?” I just did not believe that God could do this.

Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend.

Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be?

I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.

Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, “If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!”

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked, “Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?”

“Of course,” I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator.

And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it “that afternoon.”

“Before they call, I will answer.” (Isaiah 65:24) What a faithful & caring Father!
Always preparing and providing us with solutions long before we encounter the challenges of our daily lives.
We just need to call on Him in faith and the solution will be veered in our direction.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

The Price Of A Miracle

An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money left. They were moving to a smaller house because they could not afford to stay in the present house after paying the doctor's bills. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and there was no one to loan them the money. When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother with whispered desperation, 'Only a miracle can save him now', the little girl went to her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Clutching the precious piggy bank tightly, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the local drugstore. She took a quarter from her bank and placed it on the glass counter. "And what do you want?" asked the pharmacist. "It's for my little brother," the girl answered back. "He's really very sick and I want to buy a miracle." "I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist. "His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?" "We don't sell miracles here, child. I'm sorry," the pharmacist said, smiling sadly at the little girl. "Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs." In the shop was a well-dressed customer. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?" "I don't know," she replied with her eyes welling up. "He's really sick and mommy says he needs an operation. But my daddy can't pay for it, so I have brought my savings". "How much do you have?" asked the man. "One dollar and eleven cents; but I can try and get some more", she answered barely audibly. "Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man, "A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers." He took her money in one hand and held her hand with the other. He said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need." That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a neurosurgeon. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long before Andrew was home again and doing well. "That surgery," her mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost." The little girl smiled. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child.

Perseverance can make miracles happen! Miracle can come in various forms as a doctor, as a lawyer, as a teacher, as a police and many others.

A river cuts the rock not because of its power, but because of its consistency. Never lose your hope; keep walking towards your vision.

Hope this has blessed you. Share if it did! Thanks!

When "Giving Up" Is Not An Option

when "giving up" is no option!

when "giving up" is no option!Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo Round 10

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Five Undeniable Facts of Life

1. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be Happy.

   So when they grow up they will know  the value of things not the price.

2. Best awarded words in London ...

"Eat your food as your medicines, Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food."

3. The One who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons  

to give up he or she will find one reason to hold on.

4. There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it.

5. You are loved when you are born.   You will be loved when you die.

 In between, You have to manage!

True Happiness

Photo credit: www.lovethispic.com

As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that wearing a $300. or $30.00 watch   - - - - - - they both tell the same time...

 

Whether we carry a $300 or $30.00 wallet/handbag - - - - - - -  the amount of money inside is the same;

Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq.ft. - - - - - - - - loneliness is the same.

You will realize, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world.

Whether you fly First, Business or Economy class, if the plane goes down - - - - - - --you go down with it...

Therefore..I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven & earth, .... That is true happiness!!

Her Parents and Doctors Were Ready to Give Up…but Her Brother Wanted to Sing a Song

Photo credit: notsalmon.com

Her Parents and Doctors Were Ready to Give Up…but Her Brother Wanted to Sing a Song

 A must read for all Christians, Mothers and anyone who is hoping for a miracle

 Walk with me

 Like any good mother, when Kate found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son,Victor, prepare for a new sibling.

 They found out that the new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Victor sang to his little sister in Mommy’s tummy.

 He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her. The pregnancy progressed normally for Kate.

 In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Kate found herself in hours of labor.

 Would a C-section be required? Finally, after a long struggle, Victor’s little sister was born. But she was in very serious condition.

 She might not make it alive!

 With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

 The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatric specialist regretfully had to tell the parents, “There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.”

Kate and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby, but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.

 Victor, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. “I want to sing to her,” he kept saying.

 Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.Victor kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in the Intensive Care Unit.

 Kate made up her mind, though. She would take Victor whether they liked it or not! If he didn’t see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.

 She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed

“Get that kid our of here, now!

 NO children are allowed.” The mother rose up strong in Kate, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse’s face, her lips a firm line. “Victor is not leaving until he sings to his sister.”

The Head Nurse obliged Kate

 Karen towed Victor to his sister’s bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.

 After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a 3 year old, Victor sang:

“You are my sunshine,

 My only sunshine

 You make me happy when skies are gray.”

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. Her pulse rate began to calm down and become steady. “Keep on singing Victor,” encouraged Kate with tears in her eyes.

 Victor continued singing

“You’ll never know, dear,

 how much I love you.

 Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

As Victor sang to his sister, the baby’s ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten’s purr.

“Keep on singing, sweetheart!” Kate cried....

“The other night, dear,

 as I lay sleeping,

 I dreamed I held you in my hands…”

Victor's little sister began to relax and rest. A healing rest seemed to sweep over her.

“Keep on singing, Victor”

Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse.

 Kate glowed.

“You are my sunshine

 my only sunshine

 Please don’t take my sunshine away…”

The next, day … the very next day … the little girl was well enough to go home!

 It was a miracle, God used Victor.

 I don't know what you are hoping on God for, but before the end of the year, God will answer all your prayers.

 Don't just read this article, please share to bless others and improve their faith.

 Thanks for sharing this page and post

 God bless you immensely in Jesus' name.

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