Daily Times

A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul gives us food for thought!A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul is a chapter-based book of two New York Times best-selling authors, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

The book contains over 100 stories to open the heart and rekindle the spirit, most of which are related to frustration, confusion, failure, pain, soul, dream, remembrance, hope, wisdom, faith , obstacles, memories, spirit, love and encouragement.

Howbeit, the read of this book refreshes the mind and spirit of its every reader. While I was reading this life-changing book, I could find myself in each page of it. Its beautiful stories compelled me to recall my gone days with a lot of remembrance of my loved ones. This was the only book, I was engrossed in its each say.

The book inspires its readers to love more unconditionally. It, too, truly becomes a lifelong companion, offering a great many love and wisdom on manifold areas of someone’s life.

The main chapters of this beautiful book are related to love, parenting, teaching and learning, death, matter of perspective, matter of attitude, overcoming obstacles as well as eclectic wisdom. However, each story of this book is a stepping stone on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

In a beautifully written story in this book, there was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew that it was a long journey where God lived, so he took his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer. He stated his journey. While he was in the 3rd blocks, he saw an old woman staring the paragons in a park. The boy offered her a Twinkie, so she accepted it when she received the Twinkie, then she gave a smile.

The boy wanted to see her smiling again. So, once again he had done what he did before when the old woman received the Twinkies twice, she smiled again. The boy became too delightful. As it grew dark, the boy got up to leave. He gave a hug to the old woman, beautiful he wanted to see her smiling.

When the woman was hugged, she gave the biggest smile ever to him.

The main chapters of this beautiful book are related to love, parenting, teaching and learning, death, matter of perspective, matter of attitude, overcoming obstacles as well as eclectic wisdom. However, each story of this book is a stepping stone on the path to spiritual enlightenment

Additionally, when the boy returned home, his mother was astonished by the look of joy in his face and asked him, what made him happy? He replied, “I had lunch with God.”

As the same when the old woman returned her home happily, his son asked her what made her chuffed? Then, the old woman replied, “I ate Twinkies in the park with the God.” It simply says that a smile means a lot. When someone wants you to make him happy, just pass a sweet smile. Because, for happiness a smile is enough!

Similarly, Dr Karl Menninger says, “Love cures problems, both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.”

“Teachers are those who use themselves as bridges, over which they invite their students to cross; then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.” Nikos Kazantzakis.

In another story, it was mentioned that every best teacher motivates the children to have faith, hope and love with what they are engrossed in. A school teacher once said his students,” If you ever have problems, then the door of my office is open to you.”

Because, he knew that every student faces difficulties along with diverse problems when they are allowed to share their feelings, then they would cop what they really wished to! They, too, would be afar from the unwanted elements!

Consequently, nobody rises to low expectations and every student has high expectations, but each student gets the same things differently, because everyone has different minds. In the school marks never matter. The book says, “Your grades don’t determine who you are or what you can produce in your life.” I do agree with the said statement!

“For everything you have missed, you have gain something else.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

More importantly, I really enjoyed reading each word of this beautiful written book as in another story it was asked, “Where do the sparrows go when they die? I was confused to answer the asked question when I read the complete story, the answer was “Now I see a dead bird silenced by some force and I know he didn’t die. Something killed him; the elements took him away, a lost soul in the night.” It says the birds are ever alive!

Today, I understand that the birds are not dead, they are only killed by the force!

The story “To remember me” was the best story as it inspired me a lot and gave me a lifelong companion. Although, once a boy was on the deathbed in the hospital and he knew that his life was about to stop soon, then said a beautiful line, “Let it called the Bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead further lives.”

Further he added, “If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all prejudice against my fellow man. Give my sins to the devil. Give my soul to the God. If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.”

This well written book should be read by everyone since it gives food for thought. In another side it is written, “Obstacles cannot crush me, every obstacle yields to stern resolve.” There are lots of secrets of life in this book!

The writer is currently studying law from Turbat University. He can be reached at munaj1gul@gmail.com