... #049: Learn the rules of football. Mom's Tip #050: Teach them to write thank you notes. Mom's Tip #051: Your teenage daughter WILL find you embarrassing. Mom's Tip #052: Cheese food is not cheese. Mom's Tip #053: Thirteen is too late to put them up for ... a better mother than you. Mom's Tip #241: When daughter's in labor don't say" Now you know". Mom's Tip #242: Teenage daughters are hazardous to your health. Mom's Tip #243: Teenage sons are hazardous to their own health. Mom's Tip #244: How long CAN you put ... : Ask only that they try their best. Mom's Tip #231: Your son's wife will not be pretty enough. Mom's Tip #232: Your daughter's husband will not earn enough. Mom's Tip #233: When they have kids, they'll REALLY appreciate you. Mom's Tip #234: Grandchildren are for spoiling ...

... line at the toy store. Forget suede. Teachers ARE underpaid. Learn the rules of football. Teach them to write thank you notes. Your teenage daughter WILL find you embarrassing. Cheese food is not cheese. Thirteen is too late to put them up for adoption. Potty training builds character (yours). ... grandson has your smile. Let your daughter think she's a better mother than you. When daughter's in labor don't say" Now you know". Teenage daughters are hazardous to your health. Teenage sons are hazardous to their own health. How long CAN you put off the birds & bees lecture? How many times ... them to read maps. Do a jigsaw puzzle together. Ask only that they try their best. Your son's wife will not be pretty enough. Your daughter's husband will not earn enough. When they have kids, they'll REALLY appreciate you. Grandchildren are for spoiling. Transfer old home movies to video. Make lemonade ...

... husbands, through His eyes. We want the best for them; we want them to know His peace. We have truly become sons & daughters of God. About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support ... this, we can seek God's will further and look for other opportunities to strive for peace, in our churches, our communities, and our world. What is our reward for being peacemakers? We will be called sons (and daughters) of God! The Message tells us ‘ Then you can see God in the outside world ' In this day and age it is becoming exceedingly difficult to see God in the outside world. As SAHMs we can tend to ‘ pull ...

... doing the same thing for my daughters. I've asked myself how many times I've" but-ted" them, and me, out of happiness. I hate to say that it's more often than I'd like to admit. Although our eldest daughter usually got all A's on her report card, there was never a semester when at least one teacher would not suggest that she talked too much in class. I always forgot to ask them if she was making improvement in controlling her behavior ... appears on the card, however the word" and" is there almost a half dozen times. Every time I read it -which is almost every day -I am reminded to ask myself if I am doing the same thing for my daughters. I've asked myself how many times I've" but-ted" them, and me, out of happiness. I hate to say that it's more often than I'd like to admit. Although our eldest daughter usually got all A's on her report ...

... The Power Of A Touch Writer Gordon MacDonald said that each night he reads a story to his little daughter. One day he was preparing to be away from home for a few days and he taped a selection of stories for his daughter to listen to while he was gone When he came back, he was eager to hear his daughter's reaction. She answered," Dad, the stories were fine, but it wasn't the same-I couldn't sit on the tape ... lap" Too often we underestimate the power of touch. Negative as well as positive touch has the power to elicit strong emotions. It can hurt and it can heal. Touch people in a negative way and you may get a strong reaction you didn't expect. Touch them in a safe, affirming and affectionate way, and you'll probably get just as strong a response-only this one you will welcome. Touch is powerful for infants. Newborns who are touched will thrive ...

... How's Your Vision? One woman laughs about the time she took her 14-year-old daughter and her daughter's best friend to a Peter, Paul and Mary concert. They were all fans of" oldies" music from the 60's and 70's and felt lucky to get front row seats. When they returned home, her daughter said," During the show, we looked back and saw hundreds of little lights swaying to the music. At first we thought the people were holding up ... lighters. Then we realized that the lights were the reflections off all the eyeglasses in the audience" (Thanks to" Reader's Digest ") My eyesight isn't what it used to be, either. But as Helen Keller (who could neither hear nor see) said," The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight but no vision" Maybe I should be more concerned with my vision than with my eyesight. There are numerous stories of people who lacked vision. ...

... Genesis. He noted how the Messianic line always seemed to produce a surplus of sons, but few daughters. Nahor, (Abraham's brother ), Ishmael, and Jacob had twelve sons each. We know that Ishmael had at least one daughter, (who married Esau ), as did Jacob, but Nahor apparently had none. He did have one granddaughter, however, through his son Bethuel (see Genesis 22: 20-21). It dawned on my friend that there could have ... same friend then raised the issue of coincidence vs God's miraculous authorship in the Bible, specifically, the first book of the Bible, Genesis. He noted how the Messianic line always seemed to produce a surplus of sons, but few daughters. Nahor, (Abraham's brother ), Ishmael, and Jacob had twelve sons each. We know that Ishmael had at least one daughter, (who married Esau ), as did Jacob, but Nahor apparently had none. He did have one ...

... . How much was this one going to cost? Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket. Jack began to read: *** Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it-a speeding driver. A fine and three months in jail, and he was free. Free to hug his daughters. All three of them. I only had ... , and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again. A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me. Be careful. My son is all I have left. *** Bob Jack shifted uncomfortably in his trench coat. Then he twisted around to see Bob's car pull away and head down the ...

... rough, you have to look for the little blessings. Don't you have any happy moments ?" Her words felt like ice water on my face. Easy for her to say, I thought. She has a husband and a healthy daughter. What do I have?" It's hard to keep the faith when things stay bad for so long ," I offered, sounding as lame as I felt. We sat for a moment while Scott played a song he'd made up. ... of awards from piano, saxophone and marching band competitions. But that same year I received a sad letter from Bea." My life, I'm afraid, is dreary now ," she wrote." With my husband gone and my daughter's diabetes, I wonder sometimes what has been the purpose of my struggle" I know just what she needs, I thought. I dug out my old faded spiral notebook. I put it in a manila envelope along with my son's senior ...

... to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death. A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child's eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to smooth the rough places in the road of those of his own who will follow him) ... at the airport and wave goodbye to the uniform that climbs on board the plane. And, while mothers cry where it shows, fathers stand and beam. outside. as they endure the pain inside. Fathers are men who give daughters away to other men who aren't nearly good enough, so that they can have children that are smarter than anybody's. Fathers fight dragons almost daily. They hurry away from the breakfast table off to the arena, which is sometimes called an ...

... ? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her Heart ?? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time ?? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 AM to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The ... This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot. This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls" Mom ?" in a crowd, even thought they know their own offspring are at home -or even away at college-or have their own ...

... Forgiven. Forever!" For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" Psalms 103: 11-12 I was staring at the computer screen when I heard my favorite little voice say," Mommy ?" I turned to look at my sweet daughter and she said," I sorry I lock you out of the bathroom last night" She was referring to an incident a few days earlier in which she had gotten angry with me and locked me out of the bedroom. After the appropriate discipline and discussion, we had hugged and made up. So, why was she asking for forgiveness again? I looked at her and told her," Honey, it is okay. You know not to lock Mommy out of the room now. You don't have to keep saying you ...

... He Sent The Right Man A woman received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy for some medication for her daughter. Upon returning to her car, she found she had locked her keys inside. She had to get home to her sick daughter, and didn't know what to do. She called home and the baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. The baby sitter suggested that she get a coat hanger to unlock the door. The woman found an old rusty coat hanger on the ground, as if someone else had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said," I don't know how to use this" She bowed her head and asked God for help. An old rusty car pulled up, driven by a dirty, greasy, bearded man with a biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought ...

... the grass infield. Many colorful pennants and flags hung limply overhead. As we sat outside, the sun continued to beat down on us, and it became increasingly hot. There wasn't a hint of a breeze, and heat radiated up from the tabletop. Nothing moved, except the waiters, of course. And they didn't move very fast, either. After lunch Scott and I started to walk back up the mall. We both noticed a mother and her young daughter walking out of a card shop toward the street. She was holding her daughter by the hand while reading a greeting card. It was immediately apparent to us that she was so engrossed in the card that she did not notice a shuttle bus moving toward her at a good clip. She and her daughter were one step away from disaster when Scott started to yell. He hadn't even gotten a word out when a breeze blew the card out of her hand and over her ...

... The Limits of Love After the divorce, her teenage daughter became increasingly rebellious. It culminated late one night when the police called to tell her that she had to come to the police station to pick up her daughter, who was arrested for drunk driving. They didn't speak until the next afternoon. Mom broke the tension by giving her daughter a small gift-wrapped box. Her daughter nonchalantly opened it and found a small piece of a rock. She rolled her eyes and said," Cute Mom, what's this for ?"" Here's the card ," Mom said. Her daughter took the card out of the envelope and read it. Tears started to trickle down her cheeks. She got up and gave her mom a big hug as the card fell to the floor. On the card were these words:" This rock is more than 200 million years old. That's how long it will take before I give up on you" [Author ...

... Daddy's Empty Chair A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit." I guess you were expecting me, he said. 'No, who are you ?" said the father. The minister told him his name and then remarked," I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up"" Oh yeah, the chair ," said the bedridden man." Would you mind closing the door ?" Puzzled, the minister shut the door." I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter ," said the man." But all of my life I have never known how to pray"" At church I used to hear the pastor ...

... The Child Within I got that look from my daughter again the other day. It is the look that says:" Dad, will you please just act your age ?" You see, my daughter is growing up fast and is on her way to becoming a beautiful, young woman. Even though she is still a teenager she already has the maturity and wisdom of an adult. I, on the other hand, have been busy enjoying my second childhood ever since my first one ended. It seems strange to my daughter then that sometimes she appears to be the older and more grown up of the two of us. What my daughter doesn ’ t realize, though, is that I used to be a child, teenager, and young adult myself. I can distinctly remember what it was like to be each one of them. In fact, all three of them still live on inside of me. I can still choose to ...

... . Any woman who has ever experienced this fate, and so many of us have, knows the grief that passes over you at this moment. I was losing not only a life growing inside of me, but also a dream. I was terrified-did this mean that I would have difficulty conceiving, or carrying a baby to term? I mourned for the little girl, or boy, whom we had lost. Sarah Jaffe, sweet Sarah, our oldest daughter, almost age six, was conceived a couple of months later. If I had known at the time that God had such an incredible gift in store for us, I would have accepted the miscarriage with greater ease when it happened. Every mother loves her daughter. Every mother will tell you that her daughter is one of the finest human beings ever to be born. But really, Sarah is. The daycare staff labeled her" easy money" because she was always ...

... Curfew Time Doesn't Follow Normal Rules My teen-age daughter came home late last night. She was supposed to be home at midnight and, instead, arrived home at 2 a.m. Which is two hours late, unless you happen to be a mother. Then it is physically possible for the time between midnight and 2 a.m. to be 10 hours and 43 minutes. That's what worry does to your frame of time. Minutes seem like hours. Or at least they do to my wife. I was fast asleep. This morning, we grounded our daughter until the Second Coming. Not for missing her curfew, but for not calling. In terms of Kirby Family Crimes, not calling is second only to mouthing off to Mom within earshot of Dad, doing something to the dog that requires expensive medical attention and misplacing the television remote control. In our family, kids keeping their curfew is important. Part of proving to your parents that you ...

... list. Wait a minute-" job changes "??? What bigger job change is there for a woman that to go from a" working" woman to a SAHM? Whether the job was a daily grind or a high power career, there are certain things attached to working that are not (or seem not to be) replaced when we become SAHMs. From personal experience I know that going from a" working" woman to a SAHM was confusing. When my daughter Katie was born when I was 40, I knew that being at home was where God wanted me. I counted the days of my pregnancy, not only for her to come into the world, but also for me to be able to say goodbye to my job as a nursing home administrator. The day came, I gave my notice, I was at home .and I was miserable! How can you be miserable as a SAHM, when you and your husband have ...

... spotlighting local graduates. Each night, for about two weeks, they feature" outstanding" high school seniors and their various achievements. Usually these are students with academic honors, community service volunteers, athletic awards, music honors or some other notable accomplishment. The photographs with the articles usually show clean-cut, all-American kids. These kids deserve to be proud of their accomplishments, and I'm sure their parents are very proud also. Well, I'd like to tell you about my daughter, Heather, who will not be featured in the local paper, but who I am extremely proud of. She's definitely not your typical clean-cut," preppy" looking kid. In fact, Heather likes the outrageous Gothic / Skater look. You know, black, baggy clothes, dark lipstick, sort of spiked hair. She's not athletic, doesn't play an instrument, hasn't received any academic honors, and hasn't volunteered much for community service, because she doesn't have a ...

... financially rewarding career-to stay at home with your babies. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to make yet another meal out of ground beef because it was on sale. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to not lose your cool when your baby has colic, or your toddler is having a tantrum, or your school age child has been called to the principal's office. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to be all things to all people, wife, mommy, daughter, PTA chairman, neighbor, and any of a thousand other titles we take upon ourselves. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to administer discipline to a child when your heart wants to hug them. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to leave a wailing toddler with a babysitter to go on a date with your husband. It takes a 'gentle strength ' to say no to a teenager who wants to do something because their friends are doing it-when you really want to ...

... In Her I See God's Love" Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her" Proverbs_31: 28 A number of years ago, on a beautiful warm spring day, my wife was in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on supper. Her day had been long and tiring. Our daughter burst into the hot, percolating kitchen. It wasn't her first burst! She had repeatedly slipped into the kitchen just to be around her mom. There were no earth shattering needs. She wasn't hurt. There were no pressing emergencies or great demands. She just wanted to be near." I need some ‘ tention (attention )," as she put it. Her interruptions were childish ones. Her need, however, was significant to her mom! Even the most patient moms reach their limits during supper so it was suggested that our daughter go play in the yard till supper was ready." ...

... The Daffodil Principle Several times my daughter had telephoned to say," Mother, you must come see the daffodils before they are over" I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead." I will come next Tuesday ," I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said," Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch !" My daughter smiled calmly and said," We drive in this all the time, Mother"" Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home !" ...

... the furthest thing from Satan's mind. Until God chimed in. He nominated Job for the job of temptee. Why? Why would God nominate Job for the job of losing all his oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels? Why would God nominate Job for a job in which he would receive painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head? Why would God nominate Job for a job whose description included burying all of his sons and daughters? Why? Because Job could take it. 1 Corinthians 10: 13 say," No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" God allowed Satan to take Job's possessions, servants, sons, and daughters because he knew Job could bear it ...

... well !" And he kicked the ground as hard as he could which shook loose a stone. He picked it up to throw and just then the wind became very strong and he thought he heard a voice:" Do not discard your father's heart !" He looked at the trees and then at the rock in his hands. The voice called again:" Do not discard your father's heart !"" Who are you ?"" I am the Father of every son and daughter and I tell you, the stone you hold in your hand is like the condition of your father's heart !" He looked at the rock. He could tell it was badly misshapen, that it had broken off from a larger rock and had many cracks and flaws. Again the voice:" You can try to change this rock. You can press it until your fingers bleed, but you will not succeed in changing it! Neither will you succeed in changing the heart ...

... Valentinus, Gift of Love This is the fascinating story of the priest, St. Valentine. According to history, Valentinus (the Latin form) was thrown into a dungeon. Although his jailer, Asterius, was not harsh, the priest lived with only the bare necessities. His one comfort while in prison was his friendship with Asterius ' blind daughter. She befriended the kindly priest by bringing him food and delivering messages. After a year in jail, Valentinus was summoned to appear before Claudius II. The emperor was so impressed by the young priest's dignity that Claudius attempted to convert him from Christianity to save him from execution. Valentinus, however, refused and was ordered to be beaten with clubs, stoned and executed. In the last days of his life, Valentinus, through his faith, restored the sight of the jailer's daughter. He also converted Asterius and the girl to his faith. On the eve of his execution the priest ...

... his life. During his flight, one night he had a vision. God's angels were descending from heaven on flights of stairs. This was the first time Jacob knew that God had plans for him. He went on his journey to Haran, the land of his ancestors. There he lived with his uncle, Laban, for 20 years. There Jacob met his match in craftiness. (Runs in the family !) Jacob wanted to marry Rachel, Laban's beautiful younger daughter. He promised to work for Laban for 7 years for her. Laban tricked him into marying Leah, the older unattractive daughter. Then he had to work another seven years so he could get Rachel! Still he kept on with his trickery. Finally, he decided to take his family and go back to Palestine. On the journey there, he once again encountered an angel. This one was really something. The two of them had a wrestling match! Guess who ...

... you. Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by" It's true. The difficulties of life are easier to manage with friends. In the book SHINDLER'S LEGACY, authors Elinor J. Brecher and Jill Freedman interview some of the people saved by the Nazi Oscar Schindler. One survivor says this about the sufferings of her life:" I survived Auschwitz and all the atrocities of the war. But the most difficult thing I ever had to face was losing my 39-year-old daughter to cancer" The army of modern medicine could not save her daughter. This woman went through the war and concentration camp experience WITH people; she suffered alongside of them. But she fought this other terrible battle alone. We are all survivors! In some way we have each encountered something potentially devastating, and we overcame. And the overcoming of it was easier with the companionship of others. Isn't it true that very few burdens are heavy if everyone lifts? And for ...

... a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" Isaiah 7: 14 J is for Joseph so noble and just, Obeying God's word with absolute trust." Then Joseph being raised form sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife" Matthew 1: 24 K is for King. A true king He would be, Coming in power and authority." Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, they King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation" Zechariah 9: 9 L is for Love that He brought down to earth That night in the stable in lowly birth." In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" 1 John 4: 9 M is for Mary, ...

... in the air." Tibor, thank you! I thank you for your courage. Many years ago, you made a decision to flee your homeland, cross a guarded border, and make your home in Canada. This lady beside me was born in a far-away country but now sits beside me as my wife. It was your strength and courage that made this possible" With a trembling voice, I continued," Tibor, thank you for giving me your daughter" The room was quiet, except for muffled sobs. I returned to my seat and wiped the tears from my eyes. The afternoon flew by. We danced, hugged, and excepted words of encouragement. At one point during the festivities, I managed to find my mother-in-law alone. I crouched beside her chair and said," Mom, you made it. I'm so glad you're here" She hugged me," Michael, I'm very happy. All I ever ...

... God, You know the misery I am going through right now. The fact that I mourn those things most precious to me in this life... my wife, my family, and my home. Because of that, I'm not doing very well. But on top of that I've got bills that there's just no way I can cover! And I alone am now responsible for raising my son. Add to that the fact that I've been abandoned by my daughter (who had" sided" with Mommy in this terrible affair)." Well, God, I'm here to tell you that I just can't take it anymore! I'm asking You, I'm begging You. PLEASE. step in and carry the load for just a little while so that I can recuperate !" I wish I could tell you that Angels appeared out of nowhere to comfort me. Or that I was actually able to SEE God. But, no such thing ...

... Missed Opportunities The story is told of a young man who wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission. The farmer looked him over and responded," Son, go stand out in that field and I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter" The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate. The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood-pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber- ...

... Laughing Angels My youngest son doesn ’ t talk much. He has severe Autism that hampers his ability to speak and communicate. It also locks him in his own world much of the time. Yet, when he laughs and smiles he can light up the darkest day. Sometimes he will break into a spontaneous spasm of giggles for no apparent reason at all. When this happens my daughter and I will often joke that his dearly departed Grandma and her angel friends must be tickling him. The other night while I was busy working at my desk I once more heard his musical laughter behind me. I asked," Son are the angels tickling you again ?" and got an even louder burst of giggles as an answer. I smiled and turned around to see him. There he stood under the ceiling fan with its glass globe glowing above his head like a halo. Dangling from it too was a glass angel figurine that we had tied ...

... Dream Something Beautiful A mother of a vivacious five-year-old just returned from a meeting of the National Organization for Women. Stirred by exciting dreams for the possibilities of womanhood, she asked her daughter what she wanted to be when she grew up. Little Lisa quickly answered," A nurse" There was a time when nursing was thought of as a woman's profession and the answer somehow seemed not to satisfy. She had, after all, just returned from a NOW conference." You can be anything you want to be ," she reminded her daughter." You can be a lawyer, a surgeon, a banker, president of the country-you can be anything"" Anything ?" Lisa asked." Anything !" her mother smiled." I know ," Lisa said." I want to be a horse !" Lisa's dream may need some refinement, but there is plenty of time for that. When do we quit dreaming about the future ...

... go one more day to take advantage of a beautiful and have a game of catch in the backyard. Teaching a child about God and hearing that sweet little voice sing" Jesus loves me" Never underestimate what you do as a SAHM. You have made a decision that you will never regret, and if you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of God's mercy each and every day! About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families. [by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... 2-year-old finally" gets it" and obeys, when the teenager says no to a party because it does not agree with his beliefs. Being a SAHM is hectic and fraught with surprises. We must seek God first in our day in order to be the best SAHM we can be. His will called us to the task, His strength-if we seek it-can carry us through. About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families. [by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... . But on those days when we are at our wits end, and we are reminiscing about the money we had when we were" working"-take a moment and close your eyes. Take a deep breath and open them. Now, look around and see if you can catch a glimpse of" the kingdom of heaven"-it may very well be right in front of you! About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families. [by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... is minute compared to that suffered by the true martyrs of the faith. But we have made a decision to follow God's will for our lives, and we will encounter tough times because of it. But, God is gracious, we know that He gives us daily the little joys that sustain us in our` career ' choice, and that ultimately, He will welcome us into His kingdom. About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families. [by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... so important that He is willing to tell you what He wants you to do. Following His will to make a fort from blankets may not seem important at the time, but that simple act might just carry your child through a tough time in the future. You might not think it significant, but she might remember your love for her and your willingness to follow God's will for the day. About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families. [by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... be visible in your life. It may not be and easy road and you may feel like you are alone out there. But, we know that our ultimate reward is the satisfaction of following His will for our lives, and our children's lives-and being with Him eternally in heaven. Take heart SAHMs-there is one who understands, loves and looks after you. Seek His face. About the author: Cheryl is a SAHM to her three year old daughter. She worked as a nursing home administrator for 8 years before her promotion to 'Stay At Home Mommy ' She loves being a homebody, sewing, needle arts, scrap-booking and raising her daughter. Cheryl believes that SAHMs don't get enough support or encouragement in this day of two income families. [by Cheryl Novak, Copyright 2000] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Change The World My daughter and I planted four trees in our backyard recently. They were little more than twigs when she brought them home. She was able to hold all four of them in the palm of one hand. Still, with faith in the future I dug the holes in our backyard and with loving care my daughter planted each one of the saplings. When I look out on them now I smile. They are so small and yet so full of life. As they stretch towards the morning sun and slowly grow upward to the sky I can see the hundreds of glorious years that lie ahead of them. Soon they will be filling the air around them with life giving oxygen. Soon they will be blessing the world with their sweet smell and comforting shade. Soon they will be changing the world for the better just by being in it. What most of us don ’ t realize is that we can change the world ...

... he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribble in childish handwriting which read," This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school ," For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly ...

... her to stop, but as she played, the maestro entered the room and encouraged the little girl to continue. The maestro then took a seat on the piano bench next to the little girl, listening to her play. After a moment he began to play along with her, adding chords, runs, and arpeggios. The little girl continued to play" Chopsticks" The parents couldn't believe their ears. They were hearing a beautiful piano duet, played by their daughter and the maestro, and amazingly enough, the central theme of it was still" Chopsticks" At times you may feel like you're a nobody, that you will never accomplish great things. But think of that little girl. All she could play was" Chopsticks" Nobody wanted to hear" Chopsticks" It was an embarrassment to her parents and annoying to everyone else. Yet the maestro encouraged her to keep on playing. God knows what you can do. He created ...

... of holding the hand of one whom God has joined together? When was the last time you tasted Mom's best recipe, salt water on a carefree day at the beach, a snowflake? When was the last time you had a puppy lick your face, a cat purr in total affection, a child that thought dog biscuits were cookies? When was the last time you gave a hug for no reason, said a kind word to a stranger, intentionally blessed your daughter? When was the last time you made snow angels, threw snowballs, had rosy red cheeks? When was the last time you received an unexpected gift, phone call, visit or email? When was the last time you took a long walk, rode a new bike, read a good book? When was the last time you had a belly laugh that actually came from your belly, a heartache that brought healing, a physical pain that made you slow down and ...

... was not negotiable. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass and lowered it into the black water. The creature swished it's powerful body and disappeared. The boy suspected that never again would he see such a great fish. That was 34 years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect in New York City. His Father's cabin is still there on the island in the middle of the lake. He takes his own son and daughters fishing from the same dock. He was right. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he landed that night long ago. But he does see that same fish-again and again-every time he comes up against a question of ethics. For, as his Father taught him, ethics are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the practice of ethics that is difficult. Do we do right when no one is looking? ...

... he has become as we walked back to the car. It is something I can never tell him enough. The theologian John Powell once wrote that," The habits formed in youth can become the tyrants in old age" As I look at the beautiful, loving habits of my own children I think that they can also become the blessings as well. My oldest son ’ s habits are so joyful and caring that everyone shines brighter when he is around. My daughter ’ s habits too are full of compassion, sharing, and gentleness. All that she wants to do with her life is to help others, and that is just what she does every single day. My youngest son has many habits of love as well. His habit of smiling is contagious and his habit of laughter can uplift the heaviest heart. You don ’ t have to be young, however, to form the habits of love. It is never too late ...

... , the man reached down and picked up the penny. He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure." How absurd !" she thought. What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up? Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She causally mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?" Look at it ," He said." Read what it says" She read the words" United States of America"" No, not that; read ...

... go along with" reaping what we sow" and" doing unto others as you would have them do unto you" What amazes me most about these wonderful words, though, is the truth that lies in them. I see this truth everyday in my own life. This truth shines through the actions of my youngest son whose smiles, hugs, and laughter light up the world around him in spite of his handicap. This truth glows from the life of my daughter whose kindness, friendship, and loving spirit brightens the lives of those around her. This truth flows out of the behavior of my oldest boy who is a friend to the world and never met anyone he didn't like. This truth radiates from everything I watch my wife do as she makes the world a better place for her family, friends, co-workers, and the many pets she rescues. This truth lights up my own life as I see again and again every good ...

... Day weekend at a family reunion. They say that," A picture is worth a thousand words" Well this one is worth a thousand books. I look at it whenever I need a reminder of what life is all about. In the background is a family graveyard with fresh flowers placed everywhere. The sun is shining through the trees and glistening off the stones with a glorious light. In the front of the picture in the shade of the trees is my daughter. She is holding her 2 year old cousin in her arms and gently kissing her on the cheek. This single picture holds so much. There is beautiful nature, flowers, sunshine, and trees. There is life, death, remembrance, and the promise of an even greater life after this one. There is renewal, youth, and growing up. There is hugs, kisses, joy, and laughter. There is family, caring, and sharing. There ...

... our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem? And we said, Okay, we won't spank them. Then someone said that teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. And our school administrators said, no one in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued. Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and we won't even have to tell their parents. And we said, that's a grand idea. Then someone else said, let's give our sons all the condoms they want, so they can have all the" fun" they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents. And we said, that's another great idea. And then some of our top officials said that it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as ...

... me wanted to cry out," Yes, and so do all the other people who've just shared their hearts" I've heard this phrase used many times over the last six years. Often it's been said with heartfelt passion and sincerity, but other times it's just been something to say because it sounds encouraging. The truth is that when we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we automatically became a child of God. In fact, we became the son or daughter of the one and only awesome God. That's why we can have total confidence in knowing that our destiny will be a reflection of Him-in other words, awesome! The truth of this is in God's promise to the children of Israel in Jeremiah 29: 11" For I know the plans I have for you, ' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" As adopted children into ...

... Next I saw another old coat that had also fallen to the floor. Setting them to the side I picked up a trash bag that I thought might have the left over plumbing supplies. It ripped as I lifted it up and several coats, scarves, and toboggans that the children had outgrown fell to my feet. At that moment God pulled the curtain shade open to the window of my mind and shined His light through it. I remembered a flier at my daughter ’ s college calling for a winter coat drive to help the needy. Suddenly the toilet repair didn ’ t seem quite so urgent anymore. I never did find the handle I started looking for, but I did leave the closet with both arms full of warm coats to help some good souls get through some cold days. It ’ s wonderful how God always gives us what we need even if it isn ’ t always what we want. I had wanted to save ...

... what those people had but he wanted it. The DJ proceeded to lead him to Christ. Many notes left in front of the church contain the same sentiment. Those who don't know Jesus want what we have! The church has received so many emails asking us how we are able to have hope and continue on. There are teams of church member volunteers responding to these emails. My friend Jodi has been praying for her husband for years. She and their 4-yr-old daughter were at the church that night. 3 days ago Scott gave his life to Christ. We have had over 70, 000 hits on our web page which displays the plan of salvation in multiple languages. Many members at Wedgwood Baptist are healing broken relationships within the body and experiencing spiritual renewal. These are just a few of the miracles that are happening. God's grace is almost overwhelming. Every time the gunman fired a bullet, he intended to take a life. Yet ...

... A Thousand Butterflies I have always loved butterflies. I think I must have got it from my Mom. When I was a boy she used to take a break from working in her flower garden just to watch these delicate winged beauties fly from blossom to blossom. After my Mom passed away I told my daughter many times that if her Grandma ever wanted to check up on her that she would probably just hop a ride on the back of a butterfly to do so. The amazing thing is that the more I would say it the more the butterflies would dance gracefully in the air around us when we walked outside. I would always smile and silently tell my Mom how much I loved her as they fluttered by. This year I have seen more butterflies than ever before. I think my Mom must have gathered a thousand, invisible, angel riders to join her in watching over me. It is so glorious seeing all these butterflies floating ...

... meant for me to. Now days you won't find me on the road quite so often then. I try to combine my errands and limit my trips as much as possible. It gives me more time to read a good book with a cat sleeping on my lap and a dog curled up at my feet. Now days you won't find me watching so much television either. I find that time better spent going for walks, hugging my sons, talking with my daughter, and writing words like the ones you are reading here. Now days you won't find me restlessly looking for more work to do as well. I find that time better spent thinking of God, watching the sunset, singing a song, and laughing with my family and friends. The funny thing too is that now that I am giving myself time to live I find myself doing better and accomplishing more than I ever did before. Most of all, though, my ...

... was, he said, exactly what he had wanted! The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway during all of this, and I saw the biggest, prettiest, toothless grin on that little girl that I have ever seen in my life. Then they walked out the door, and I followed, close behind them. As I walked back to my car, in amazement over what I had just witnessed, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that. I'll never forget what she said to him." Daddy, didn't Nana and PawPaw want me to buy something that would make me happy ?" He said," Of course they did, honey" To which the little girl replied," Well, I just did !" With that, she giggled and started skipping toward their car. Apparently, she had decided on the answer to her own question of," do I have enough ?" ...

... the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed-when their 14 year-olds dye their hair green, pierce body parts and ask for contraceptives. This is for all the mothers who lock themselves in the bathroom when babies keep crying and won't stop. This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purses. This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump-shot. This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls" Mom ?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are not with them. This is for mothers who put pinwheels and teddy bears on their children's graves. This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, and who can't find the words to reach them. This is for mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation. And mothers learning to let ...

... Two Tries Like so many other adults in our modern world, I am currently married for the second time. In spite of the pain that arose out of my first marriage, I was lucky to have two wonderful children out of the chaos. I also have a child with the wonderful man that is truly my soulmate. My oldest daughter, who is now 11, taught me a lesson about life and love several years back. When she was in first grade, as Valentine's Day approached, she came into the kitchen pondering what makes people fall in love. She started asking questions about how to find the perfect person and how you knew when it was right. I have to admit that I was more amused than anything, knowing these great philosophical musings were coming out of a tiny six-year-old body. Finally, she made the statement that she didn't see how anyone could make up their minds on their own, so maybe she should ...

... Spit It Out My daughter Beth has always been one of the wisest people that I have ever known. Even as a baby this wisdom was apparent. I can remember when I first tried to get her to eat green beans from a baby food jar. With the first spoonful she made a terrible face. When I tried to give her a second spoonful she spit it out instantly and it ran down her bib turning it an ugly shade of green. I then foolishly tried to give her a third spoonful. This one she spit out with such force that it landed on both my face and my shirt. When Beth saw what she had done she let out a delighted giggle and I had to smile myself as I wiped off my face. Later wondering how bad those green beans actually were I took a bite of them myself. Never in my entire life had anything tasted quite so nasty as they did. Unlike that wise baby ...

... commercial flight, they had to navigate a packed airport, a noisy coach cabin, then baggage claim-trying conditions with any baby, let alone one battling cancer. They spent $750 on plane tickets. And monthly treatment was required. Then they discovered the Corporate Angel Network. Now Casey and her mom and dad sit among Mellon Financial Corp. executives shuttling between offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Says grateful mother Belinda:" We can concentrate more on getting our daughter better, instead of worrying about how we are going to get to the doctor's office and pay for our transportation" Now 75, Blum still volunteers at Corporate Angel headquarters once a week. For more about the Corporate Angel Network visit: Corporate Angel Network [By: Scott McCormack (Forbes)-Reader's Digest-from 'WIT and WISDOM '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... he was talking with something about" a thousand marbles" I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say." Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital" He continued," Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities" And that's when he began to explain his theory of a" thousand marbles"" You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. Now then, ...

... tough on an old car. More than once I have stopped to help a motorist whose car didn ’ t quite make it all the way. The latest time I did so was for a grandmother and her granddaughter. A visiting pastor had already pulled over to help and together we were able to push her old car to a wide spot off the road. She thanked us both and then thanked me again after I dropped her and her young granddaughter off at her daughter ’ s house. That simple" thank you" brought a warmth of joy to my heart. It felt good being able to help another soul. It felt great being able to share a little kindness in this world. I drove away feeling like the richest man in the universe. I was remembering this time again while the news was talking of the latest financial scandal. It made me think of what the great journalist Charles Kuralt once said:" The everyday kindness ...

... something both good tasting and good for you when he suddenly reached over, wrapped his arms around me, and gave me a hug. This made me smile with both laughter and joy. I realized then that even though I hadn't been able to teach my son everything over the years, I had at least been able to teach him how to hug. I am so delighted too that all of my children have learned this lesson so well over the years. My daughter's hugs brighten my days and uplift my soul. I have been blessed a million times over by the love and joy she so freely shares with me. My two sons ' hugs always bring happiness to my heart as well. It makes me feel good to know that they have learned two of the most important things in life: how to choose love and how to spread joy. Remember then that every loving act you do, smile you share, and hug you give ...

... country. It is so delightful to be able to walk into my backyard in the evening and gaze up at them all. In recent years, however, I had forgotten just how spectacular the night sky could be. The dawn lights along the road where I live kept all but the brightest stars from shining through. At night I could see only the moon and a few dozen stars from my home. The other evening, though, while I was picking my daughter up I found myself on a small farm far from the dawn lights, car lights, and building lights. It was then that I felt a gentle urge in my mind to look up at the clear, night sky. The sight was so glorious that I could feel my heart swelling with joy. There was no moon, but the stars were everywhere. The entire sky was filled with them. Thousands upon thousands of them were glowing and shining with happiness. It ...

... . Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. #1. WHAT IS A DAD? A dad is someone who wants to ...

... I rub my eyes and get up to ready myself for just another day. It's just another day .I look out my window to see the sun beaming down, caressing the Earth with its golden rays. Above, white clouds float in the brilliant blue sky. I hear a cardinal singing to his mate as he perches upon my back fence. And a bed of crocus open their purple heads to the heavens in joyful thankfulness. It's just another day. My small daughter bursts into the room, her giggle ringing through the house as she hugs my neck tightly. Her small hand fits into mine as she pulls me to the kitchen to show me the card she has made. A stick figure with curly brown hair waves from the paper and beneath it, written in purple crayon are the words," I love you, Mommy" It's just another day as I stand quietly and watch a handicapped child. He struggles to get his special ...

... Fearless Living A woman traveled by plane with her infant daughter. When they landed, they were met in the waiting area by her father, who took the baby while she proceeded to the baggage claim area. Standing there alone waiting to claim her luggage, she was absent-mindedly holding the baby's pacifier. She noticed a flight attendant staring at her, then at the pacifier in her hand. The flight attendant finally spoke:" Excuse me, Miss. Is this your first flight ?" Fear of flying has kept many people home. One woman reminds me that her terror of riding in airplanes actually has biblical roots." We should be wary of flying ," she asserts." In the Bible, Jesus says, 'LO .I'll be with you always "! Other common fears have kept countless people from enjoying life fully. Some of the greatest fears we share are a fear of becoming incapacitated, a fear of financial ruin, fear of abandonment and ...

... Goodness Of God (Meeting Needs) I have a story to tell. It is a little lengthy, so read it when you have time. Sometimes, wonderful things happen in our lives, which are hard to keep to ourselves. Yesterday, my daughter Carol and I met together at Dallas ' Fair Park Music Hall, for our traditional season tickets performance. We were still enjoying the music in our heads as we headed for the parking lot. Behind the car next to Carol's we spotted a bracelet and picked it up. It was not expensive but had a variety of stones embedded on each link. Carol said," Maybe it belongs to the owner of this car. Maybe she will be here in a moment" A step further revealed a flat tire on Carol's car. A big screw in the tire was the culprit. She quickly called Mr. Rescue for help, but the wait was long. We spotted an elderly ...

... mistakes. A woman is dying of Aids. A minister is summoned. He attempts to comfort her, but to no avail." I am lost ," she said." I have ruined my life and every life around me. Now I'm going painfully to hell. There is no hope for me" The minister saw a framed picture of a pretty girl on the dresser." Who is this ?" he asked. The woman brightened." She is my daughter, the one beautiful thing in my life"" And would you help her if she was in trouble, or made a mistake? Would you forgive her? Would you still love her ?" the minister asked." Of course I would !" cried the woman," I would do anything for her! Why do you ask such a question ?"" Because I want you to know ," said the minister," that God has a picture of you on His dresser ...

... . After a long pause, a small voice from the back seat asked," Daddy, are you talking to me ?" I know how that boy feels. Sometimes I want answers to some of those confusing problems we all run up against. I want someone to explain how to get through difficult times or tell me what to do in a tough situation. I just want to get it right. But I think I identify a bit more with the father whose daughter asked him if he would help her with some homework." I'm sorry ," he replied." It wouldn't be right"" Well ," she said," at least you could try" Problem is, I don't always have the answers I need. And nobody else seems too, either. So I blunder ahead worried that I'll never get it" right" But I'm beginning to learn something about not knowing what to do and making a poor choice. That is ...

... find myself saying it when my littlest dog whose belly is only a few inches off the ground still manages to jump up on my chair, climb up my chest, and lick my chin a hundred times. I find myself whispering it when my oldest dog who would be past eighty if he were human slowly gets up and walks across the room just so he can be petted and curl up at my feet. I find myself laughing about it when I see my daughter ’ s young dog perched on the back of the couch like a squirrel watching out the window and waiting for her to get home. I find myself smiling about it when I go to feed my big, watch dog only to find him ignoring the food and cuddling up to my legs instead. I find myself thanking God for that love every chance I can and taking joy in that love every single day. Each and everyday these five dogs show me just how good ...

... Moist Eyes I find that my eyes are watering up more often lately. They were wet when I got my daughter ready for her prom recently. I felt my vision get a little blurry too just the other day when I watched an old home movie with my Mom in it. These days I even find them getting moist from certain songs I hear, stories I read, and thoughts I have. Some think I am getting sentimental in my middle years. I think I am just getting wiser and more in touch with God ’ s love. Not all of my tears are loving and joyful ones, either. I have had tears of sadness while holding my own crying son, because there was nothing I could do to ease the frustration his Autism causes. I have had tears of grief when first my Mom and then my Grandma died. I have even had tears of empathy in seeing the suffering that so many people in this ...

... age. I cannot imagine anything worse than being old. How awful it must be to have nothing to do all day long but stare at the walls or watch TV? So last year, when the President suggested we all celebrate Senior Citizen Week by cheering up a senior citizen, I decided to do just that. I would call on my new neighbor, an elderly retired gentleman, recently widowed, and who, I presumed, had moved in with his married daughter because he was too old to take care of himself. I baked a batch of cookies, and, without bothering to call (some old people cannot hear the phone ), I went off to brighten this old guy's day. When I rang the doorbell this" old guy" came to the door dressed in tennis shorts and a polo shirt, looking about as ancient and decrepit as Donny Osmond." I'm sorry I can't invite you in ," he said when I introduced ...

... of the worst. But parents have to use common sense in protecting their children, and teaching them some basic self-protection rules can go a long way in helping them survive the pitfalls and dangers inherent in growing up. There are several ways to teach basic safety rules. We enjoyed using a cassette tape (today you'd probably use video or DVD) which made safety rules memorable and fun. Having fun with it takes away some of the scariness. For instance, our daughters easily memorized their phone number by using the sing-along song on the tape and inserting their own number at the correct place. They learned that if they got lost in a crowd, they should look for" a mother or grandmother with children" to ask for help. As they got older we carefully used a secret password if I left them at the library, to do some shopping, or if separated for other reasons. I told them they shouldn't go with anyone even ...

... athletes or celebrities you see on television. They are the people who live everyday with courage, strength, faith, and love. My three children are all heros. My two boys deal with the challenges of Autism everyday but still make this world a happier place for others with their sweet laughter and gentle love. My oldest son is only the water boy for his football team, yet his contagious joy inspires the players more than a star quarterback ever could. My daughter is about to graduate high school but already has the wisdom, kindness, and love of one beyond her years. She is going to make a difference in this world even if she doesn ’ t realize it yet. My children aren ’ t the only real heros I know either. I have seen heros in all walks of life. The single parent raising 4 little children on her own is a hero. The terminal patient spending the last years of her life loving ...

... we were thrilled to gaze in awe at this unusual relic of antiquity. To us, everything was new. Every moment an adventure. I'm reminded of the little girl who rode a train with her mother. Looking out the window, she exclaimed," Look! A horse !" And a moment later," Look! Houses !" She gave every indication of keeping this up, so her embarrassed mother apologized to the man next to her." I'm sorry my daughter is going on like this ," she said." She still thinks everything is wonderful" When do we stop thinking everything is wonderful? When we grow up? Does growing older also mean growing jaded? And must we travel to faraway places to marvel once again? Can't we experience wonder and awe today-this moment? A fresh orange or buttered toast is no less marvelous today than when you first tasted it. The building you work in may be an architectural miracle ...

... them with all of their needs, not just the most apparent ones. Care enough, love that person enough to do something about the need presented. Even if you can't do anything personally, you can help them toward a solution. God does not expect us to meet every need in the world, but He expects us to help those He sends our way. In Luke 8: 41-56 Jesus was on the way to help Jairus ' need of healing for His daughter. But He encountered another need along the way and helped both the woman and Jairus toward greater faith as a result. The point is that distractions are not always to be considered bad. They seem like a nuisance sometimes but it could be that God has a reason for that distraction to happen. We must be close to Him so we can see His hand in these types of situations. Give God the glory for what you do. In John 7: 14-18 Jesus ...

... Heartprints Whatever our hands touch-We leave fingerprints! On walls, on furniture, On doorknobs, dishes, books, As we touch we leave our identity. Oh please where ever I go today, Help me leave heartprints! Heartprints of compassion Of understanding and love. Heartprints of kindness and genuine concern. May my heart touch a lonely neighbor Or a runaway daughter, Or an anxious mother, Or, perhaps, a dear friend! I shall go out today To leave heartprints, And if someone should say" I felt your touch ," May that one sense be .YOUR LOVE Touching through ME. [Author Unknown-Aiken Drum (Aiken @AikensLaughs.com)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few believers who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars... perhaps inspired by their faith and trust. I want to believe that some where down the road in life, Mom will find herself reflecting back on moments they spent together, captured like pictures in the scrapbook of her cherished memories. Maybe when she watches proudly as her daughter graduates. Or as her Daddy walks her down the aisle on her wedding day. She will laugh again. Her heart will beat a little faster. Her smile will tell the world they love each other. But only two people will share that precious moment when they ran through the rain believing that God would get them through. And Yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh ...

... night then hundreds of fireflies join in blinking on and off in their light show of love. It is a glorious sight to see. As beautiful as this Summer light is, however, it still can ’ t compare to the soul light that I see everyday. This light burns just as brightly in the Winter too. I see it shining from my youngest son ’ s smile and hear it in my oldest son ’ s laugh. It glows warmly in my daughter ’ s eyes and it leaps out from the words of an inspiring book. It travels from soul to soul on the laughter, prayers, gentle words, and caring hearts of friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers. It sails on the winds of good deeds, encouragement, and loving kindness. It sings in our music, shines in our thoughts, and brightens every part of our lives. It connects us with Heaven. May all of your days be ...

... may not be able to say more than a few words, but his laughter, smiles, and hugs speak volumes. He may face a lifetime of challenges, but he will still be teaching the world about love and joy everyday of it. Having these two sons has shown me just how much God loves us and just how much God wants us to love each other. I try then to share my love and my joy everyday with them, with my beautiful daughter, with my loving family, with my wonderful friends, and with all of you special souls who read my simple words. I hope that you all do the same.~Joseph J. Mazzella~[ by: Joseph J. Mazzella (joecool @wirefire.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... think this may be a good sign, though. They say that time flies when you are having fun. I am sure then that time flies even faster when you are choosing love and sharing joy. I am becoming aware, however, at just how short even the longest life here on Earth is. I see children swinging at my son's school and I can remember when I attended that same school and swung on those same swings. I give my son and daughter a hug and notice that they are almost as tall as me now. I can remember, though, when I could hold them in the crook of one arm while I rocked them to sleep. I mow the lawn near the graveyard by my home and remember all of my loved ones who have passed. Then I realize that my body too will one day be resting under a headstone and that my time on this wonderful world will be over as well. I am ...

... that sometimes the brightest souls come to Earth in disguise. They come hidden in broken bodies and handicapped minds. They come needing our help and care, yet at the same time they show the rest of us how to live. They go around spreading love, sharing joy, and shining God ’ s light. And they help us to realize that we can do the same. Those who know them often become better because of them too. I know that my daughter ’ s kind, giving, and loving heart has grown stronger and more beautiful because of them. She has had to face a lot growing up with two" special" brothers, but she has used it all to become the wonderful, young woman she is today. Her own spirit glows so brightly. She has already become one of those shining souls who makes the world a better place just by being in it. I think that I will remain one glad dad ...

... Packing I helped my daughter move into her college dorm recently. She took a little teasing from her old Dad about all the boxes and suitcases she brought. I thought she had packed way too much stuff, but then I saw what the girl down the hall had brought. I guess my girl was traveling light, after all. I knew, though, that she had already packed every essential thing for this next great adventure in her life. It was just packed in her heart, soul, and mind. It is what we pack on the inside not the outside that really determines how well we live. If we pack love in our hearts then our days become filled with happiness. If we pack wisdom in our minds then our lives become full of goodness. If we pack joy in our souls then we make the whole world better. The nice thing about this type of packing too is that there is always room for ...

... Spiritual Medication Demographic experts tell us that there is a general spiritual awakening among people of various faiths. Some are returning to" organized" religions. Others are seeking spiritual answers along other paths. However it is done, people are realizing the importance of a healthy spiritual dimension to their lives. One man tells about a time when his wife suffered from a headache. She took medication and lay down, but nothing seemed to help. Her six-year-old daughter was concerned about her Mommy's health, so the ailing woman asked her if she would like to pray for her. Little Leia said that she would. Leia put her hand on her mother's head and prayed the only prayer she knew:" Lord, thank you for this food" I imagine that the words she uses are not important. In fact, I don't know if any words are really adequate to express our deepest spiritual desires. Moreover, what seems most crucial is not so ...