I am very thankful, no - I am blessed! Everytime I received e-mails that tells of inspiring stories that are either quoted from the Bible or from real life events of some people.
However, I frown when somewhere down the end of message is a line that says "send/forward to 5 (or 10) of your friends..." with different motivations for you to do so.
Sometimes it comes with a threat, "...or else bad luck would fall on you." With stories even of some people who broke the chain and suffered tragic events in their lives.
Sometimes it comes with a promise, "...in three days, something great will come to you!" or "...in three days, your wish will be granted," and yet again with stories of people who were blessed with great riches because they forwarded the message.
There are times that it only says, "...if you are not ashamed of God and in showing your love for Him..." which can really hit the conscience .
There are some which contains all of those, plus other conditions and reasons for forwarding the message.
Faith is a personal thing, I don't a need a chain e-mail to tell me how to prove my love for God. I am not ashamed to speak of my faith (or lack of it), of how I succumb to temptations that came into my life, and how I am saved by our loving and forgiving God.
I personally do not believe too that "wishes" and prayers are granted because of a simple act of forwarding a chain e-mail. God does not give us every wishes, but He provides us with everything that we need. He answers all prayers... in His own way, and in His own time.
And if I may add, just in case we are not aware of it, "NO" is also an answer.
Lastly, and this is were I find fault the most, the message asks us to forward it to our friends... and yet, with the threat or curse that comes with it, in effect, aren't we sending threats and cursing the recipient of the message who are supposed to be our friend?
This maybe trivial to some, but it is something that has been bothering me even before there was internet and they came in the form of chain letters.
Like I said, I am thankful when I read those beautiful and inspiring stories... but I do not like forwarding them. Especially when they come with the messages stated above.
The most that I would do is post them on my blogs and add some points or instances where they relate to my personal life.
That way, people may read them, and may also be blessed... less the curse, promises and conditions... just plain stories that inspires.
I don't like to sound too imposing, but please don't forward that e-mail... for the wrong reason.
