... child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote," Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners. He is a joy to be around ... Thompson. As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in ... one of the smartest children in the class, and despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her" teacher's pets" A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he had in his whole ...

... The Hand Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment-to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful. Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, ... for his teacher's hand. Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work. The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might not always say thanks. But they'll ... of her student's art. And they were. But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess ...

... I know I have a long way to go. Still, with their help I keep trying to choose love and learn more about love everyday of my life. One of my greatest teachers is very different from the rest. This teacher is my youngest son. He has a severe form of Autism that limits his speech and keeps him trapped in his own world most of the time. Changes in the simplest things disturb him. The smallest difficulties frustrate him. His mood ... Teachers In Disguise The poet Robert Browning once said," Take away love and our Earth is a tomb" Thankfully, I have been able to choose love and avoid that tomb so far in my own life. I have been fortunate too that God has given me so many great teachers who have shown me what it really means to love. I haven ’ t always been the greatest student and I know I have a long way to go. Still, with ...

... pray" Then they prayed for the girls and asked the Lord for a plan of action. A plan began to take shape." I can't go to school with you everyday, so you will need to stay close to a teacher when you are at recess or in line to go into school" said Edie's mom." If the girls start to pick on you, tell them," I'd really like to be your friend Are you brave enough to do that ... the class as the object of their anger and frustration. They pinched, poked, and pushed tiny Edie and threatened to beat her up. Edie had spent an hour in the principal's office with the three girls and was assured the teachers would be watching. The girls were given a warning. Edie's mother held her little one and comforted her. She learned later, after speaking with the principal, that the girls had been troublemakers at several other schools. They were being ...

... people, to experiences can be our teachers if we are only willing to learn. He explained too that it is always best to learn with enthusiasm and to live with joy. I was truly blessed to have had such a great teacher at such a young age. He opened my mind and started me on the path of a lifetime ’ s worth of learning. I have tried to stay a good student of life since then. I have also tried to be a ... get back from it. He showed me that the school of life is never out and that we keep learning everyday of our lives. He explained how everything from music, to books, to people, to experiences can be our teachers if we are only willing to learn. He explained too that it is always best to learn with enthusiasm and to live with joy. I was truly blessed to have had such a great teacher at such a young age. He opened ...

... ," came the reply." Just get on one and ride" By the week's end, Andy had climbed on, and been thrown off, about eighty bulls. But he learned how to ride. Experience can be a great teacher. Unfortunately, there is only one way to get it, and that is to fall a few times until you learn. Like the employer who told her new employee," I hired you to make right decisions"" And how ... 7 1 / 2 seconds away from making the eight-second buzzer, he decided to enter" Rodeo School" The first day of school he was told to get on a bull. He got on and was immediately thrown off. The instructor said," Get on another one" He was thrown from a second bull. Then a third. And a fourth. He finally asked the instructor," Are you going to show me how to ride these things ?"" That's ...

... Brother Al ended their conversation by praying, after gaining permission, for the Clinton family. At several schools, students met around their flagpoles the next day. At one school 25 students accepted Christ, and 110 at another. A teacher led 22 students to Christ in her classroom. Christian teachers all over North Texas have been able to share with their classes because the students are asking questions about their teachers ' faith. In Burleson, prayers and Scripture are being said over ... intercom. On the east coast, where" See You at the Pole" was delayed because of the hurricane, record numbers of kids showed up to pray. Governor Bush and the Fort Worth mayor quietly came to our pastor's home while the staff were meeting and praying and joined in the prayer meeting. This was not political! Only those who are close to staff members heard about this; the media never knew. A caller to an area Christian radio station said that ...

... industry, and administrators.These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance. 4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. 5. And lastly comes our little finger; the ... To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a" sweet duty" 2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. 3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the ...

... hours of our time and about two dollars in pipe cleaners and candy. I said a silent prayer of thanks to my wife for teaching me to give. May we, in this crazy but special time of year learn from the Teacher of teachers, Giving IS better than receiving. Merry Christmas to all, and a happy new year. [B.J. Cassady-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... Inspirational and Christian MESSAGES-A Gift of Giving. ...

... them to swim early. Mom's Tip #254: Insist on bike helmets. Mom's Tip #255: Learn CPR. Mom's Tip #256: Take them to the circus. Mom's Tip #257: Send an apple for the teacher. Mom's Tip #258: No blue hair. Mom's Tip #259: Remind them when it's your silver anniversary. Mom's Tip #260: Forbid them to put you in a nursing home. Mom's Tip #261: Threaten to ... " No". Mom's Tip #045: Buy chunky peanut butter in jumbo jars. Mom's Tip #046: Run a credit line at the toy store. Mom's Tip #047: Forget suede. Mom's Tip #048: Teachers ARE underpaid. Mom's Tip #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: ...

... Leaguers it's because of YOUR genes. If they're going to State, it's because of Dad's genes. Teach them to swim early. Insist on bike helmets. Learn CPR. Take them to the circus. Send an apple for the teacher. No blue hair. Remind them when it's your silver anniversary. Forbid them to put you in a nursing home. Threaten to haunt them from beyond the grave. Ask them for advice once in a while. Look humble when they ... afford it". Carry Wash'n Dri. Smile when you change that diaper. It's absolutely okay to say" No". Buy chunky peanut butter in jumbo jars. Run a credit 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 ...

... Hated Potatoes A kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his / her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he / she hates. So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he / she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3, while some had up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week. Day after day passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes they were carrying. Those children having 5 potatoes really began to feel ...

... ?"" Yeah, I been punished, if that's what you want to call it" He threw out his small chest," Go ahead I can take whatever you dish out. I always have"" And no thought of your punishment enters your head the next time you decide to break the rules does it ?"" Nope, I do whatever I want to do. Ain't nothin you people gonna do to stop me either" The principal looked over at the teacher who stood nearby." What did he do this time ?"" Fighting. He took little Tommy and shoved his face into the sandbox" The principal turned to look at the boy," Why? What did little Tommy do to you ?"" Nothin, I didn't like the way he was lookin at me, just like I don't like the way your lookin at me! And if I thought I could do it, I'd shove your face into something" The ...

... did not know what was expected of me, so I would sit at my desk and cry, or chew on a pencil, an eraser, a ruler, or a crayon. I was what someone once called a" crayon eater" In other words, I began school not" understanding the rules" But whose rules? Do you need rules to become an artist, a musician, a writer? On my first day of school, not understanding what the teacher expected of me, I just cried, and ate the chalk. (* Another one of my stories). Then, as I proceeded to the higher grades, I still did not understand what it was that my" betters" required of me. In the second grade the teacher shook me because I didn't understand how to add. Well, let me tell you, Mrs. White, since becoming an adult, I have worked as a bookkeeper; and even now ...

... TEACHER Many years ago I had a teacher whose husband unexpectedly died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said," Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day ...

... Web Of Love Listen to how a simple ball of yarn became a web of love for one classroom of high school students. Their teacher seated the students in a circle on the carpeted floor. One member of the group was instructed to toss a ball of yarn to someone across the circle, holding tightly to one end. The recipient took hold of the string and listened as the one who tossed it shared something that she especially liked about him. Keeping hold of the string, he then tossed the ball across the circle to someone else and affirmed something positive about her. The ball of yarn was tossed across and around the circle until everyone had both heard and shared encouragement .and thus the yarn became a woven web of love and good feelings. Before they went their separate ways, the teacher took scissors and snipped through the web. Each person took a piece of yarn away as a remembrance of the special words they heard. Surprisingly ...

... Middle School Teacher Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning. Not only that, I am to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, behaviorally modify disruptive behavior, and observe them for signs of abuse, drugs, and T-shirt messages. I am to fight the war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for guns and raise their self-esteem. I am to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook and how to apply for a job. But, I am never to ask if they are in this country illegally. I am to check their heads occasionally for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of potential antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and ...

... Driving Out Bad Nails A teacher who was lecturing on habits told his class," Anything you repeat twenty times is yours forever" From the back of the classroom came a whispered voice," Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah …" Of course, what the teacher was trying to say is that any behavior, often repeated, becomes habit. The Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus once said," A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit" And if I understand him right, he suggests that saying no to a bad habit is not enough. Instead, we should try to replace it with a good one. Repeat the new behavior twenty times … and it is yours. If any behavior, good or bad, is often repeated, it becomes stronger and more powerful." Since habits become power, make them work for you and not against you ," said E. Stanley Jones. In other ...

... Archibald Campbell Was a Nobody Archibald Campbell was a nobody. He was one of the thousands of Americans living in Revolutionary War times. No tv stars will ever tell us how it was" 200 years ago today" with Archibald Campbell. Archibald Campbell was a school teacher. All he did was teach the boys around Fredericksburg, Va. He tossed out ideas to them. He made his boys read and think. He challenged their imaginations. He was an insignificant school teacher that few people remember. Do you ever feel like a nobody? Only daydreams succeed for some people. Are you one of them? Greatness is destined for the very few. Earthshaking accomplishments might not be your fate. The only way your name would get into a history book is if you put it there .inside the front cover, with your address! There may be thousands of names in somebody's" Who's Who" book, but there are billions of nobodies that ...

... her dad, along with Ashley. Soon, she stopped hanging around with the wrong people, quit doing drugs, got a job and went back to school. And, in time, our relationship healed. Heather didn't return to regular high school though. She started attending the CESA 7 Alternative High School. The school the" bad" kids go to-the ones who don't fit the establishment mold. It's amazing what can happen to a child when there are teachers who don't judge where you've been, and who really care about ALL the kids-not just the" normal" kids. When everyone else in the establishment has given up on these kids, these teachers keep believing. I'm so grateful for their support of my daughter. Heather will graduate June 1 at a small ceremony at a banquet hall (no caps and gowns). She has a new job with a computer printing company, and she'll enroll at the technical college ...

... " I put it on your desk" As I looked at my desk, all I could see was an avalanche of papers, stickers, and books. Seeing my puzzled look, Duane went to the front of the room and retrieved his gift from my desk. As he handed it to me, I noticed the wrapping paper was a napkin from the lunchroom. Carefully removing the napkin, my gift appeared to be a matchbox. Although I had only been a teacher for three months, I had learned the important lesson of asking a child to explain a picture or, in this case, a gift, instead of disappointing him with a wrong guess. So I asked Duane to tell me about his gift. First of all, Duane instructed that I had to use my imagination before opening my gift. He then began to tell me that this wasn't really a matchbox but a jewelry box. Inside, if I would use my imagination ...

... Seven Wonders of the World A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present" Seven Wonders of the World" Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes: 1. Egypt's Great Pyramids 2. Taj Mahal 3. Grand Canyon 4. Panama Canal 5. Empire State Building 6. St. Peter's Basilica 7. China's Great Wall While gathering the votes, the teacher noticed one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied," Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there are so many" The teacher said," Well, tell us what you have, and then maybe we can help" The girl hesitated, then read," I think the 'Seven Wonders of the World ' are: 1. To See 2. To Hear 3. To Touch 4. ...

... A Life That Makes A Difference" How do you account for your remarkable accomplishment in life ?" Queen Victoria of England asked Helen Keller." How do you explain the fact that even though you were both blind and deaf, you were able to accomplish so much ?" Ms. Keller's answer is a tribute to her dedicated teacher." If it had not been for Anne Sullivan, the name of Helen Keller would have remained unknown" Speaker Zig Ziglar tells about" Little Annie" Sullivan, as she was called when she was young. Little Annie was no stranger to hardship. She was almost sightless herself (due to a childhood fever) and was, at one time, diagnosed as hopelessly" insane" by her caregivers. She was locked in the basement of a mental institution outside of Boston. On occasion, Little Annie would violently attack anyone who came near. Most of the time she generally ignored everyone in her presence. ...

... Who Is Landing Your Plane? I heard a funny story: A small plane with an instructor and student on board hit the runway and bounced repeatedly until it came to a stop. The instructor turned to the student and said," That was a terrible landing you just made"" Me ?" replied the student." I thought you were landing !" That story may not be true, but it is true to life. Do you know who is landing your plane? Let me explain. Who is landing your plane when it comes to values? Bill McCartney coached the University of Colorado football team for several years. He shocked the sports world when he resigned at the apex of his career. They were more stunned by his reason for stepping away. The reason he gave for quitting was that he wanted to spend time with his wife and with religious pursuits. He showed the world who was landing his plane. Sports writers struggled ...

... Heaven ’ s Fire When I was a little boy our church was always full of music. We didn ’ t have an organ, a band, or even a stereo. All that we had was one lady with a guitar, but when she sang I am sure that all of Heaven ’ s angels must have joined in. During the week she was the music teacher at our local grade school. Many of the children ’ s songs that still live on in my mind today where learned in her class. It was the songs that she sang during those Sunday services, however, that live on in my heart. I can still hear her sweet guitar and joyful voice leading us in the hymns we sang. Her music and her spirit were full of Heaven ’ s fire. They brightened you up, warmed you up, and lighted a fire in your own soul as well. My hymn leader, music teacher, and ...

... the game and gets offended. So he hires a lawyer and goes to court and asks somebody to pay him a whole bunch of money for all the damage done to him. Damaged for life by a 30-second prayer? Am I missing something here? I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game. So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game." But it's a Christian prayer ," some will argue. ...

... Teachers After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said:" Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning. And I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T shirt messages and dress habits. You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem. You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation ...

... you, as Christ leads you"" Then I will tell you what to do ," said Prior Richard." Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you" When King Henry died, a statement was written:" The King learned to rule by being obedient" When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we'll rule together with Him. [Steve Brown-from 'Aiken Drum '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners. How did you do? The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one: List a few teachers who aided your journey through life. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier? The Lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or ...

... fast and opened the door for the shivering man. He wasn ’ t headed to the same town I was but I agreed to give him a ride halfway home. For the next 12 miles then we rode and talked. It was one of the most enjoyable and enlightening conversations I ’ d had in a long time. We talked of education, money, my children, the kindness of strangers, and even touched on spirituality. My passenger was a retired school teacher living on a fixed income, but he didn ’ t let having little money and no car keep him from experiencing life to the fullest. In fact, only one of his 3 bags had actual groceries. Another was full of books and the third carried a new plant for his home. He reminded me again that appearances can be deceiving and that the brightest souls often come in disguise. I felt sorry for all the other drivers who passed by this fine man. ...

... of Christ by saying that Jesus" presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by {the apostles} during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts 1: 3). 5. His Apostles Were Dramatically Changed When one of Jesus ' inner circle defected and betrayed Him, the other apostles ran for their lives. Even Peter, who earlier had insisted that he was ready to die for his teacher, lost heart and denied that he even knew Jesus. But the apostles went through a dramatic change. Within a few weeks, they were standing face to face with the ones who had crucified their leader. Their spirit was like iron. They became unstoppable in their determination to sacrifice everything for the one they called Savior and Lord. Even after they were imprisoned, threatened, and forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus, the apostles said to the Jewish leaders, ...

... 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 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, if her comments contributed to the discussion in progress or encouraged a quieter child to talk. Instead, I would come home and greet her with," Congratulations! Your Dad and I are very proud of your accomplishment, but could you try to tone it down in class ?" The same was true of our younger daughter. Like ...

... our own lives overcome by God's righteousness. Whether that is a disobedient 2 year old, or a teenager facing unthinkable peer pressure-we must desire in our hearts for the evil that tempts them to be vanquished by God's will. We want our children to be free from the fear of abduction, abuse, guns in schools, drugs and an entire laundry list of other evils. As SAHMs we must seek God, and pray as intercessors for our children, their teachers, friends and the world. What is our reward for seeking God? The Bible states we will be filled. We know, of course, that this does not mean we will never have trials, or evil will not touch our lives. But, we must take comfort in the fact that our choice to follow God's will for our lives and our families and become SAHMs has allowed us continual opportunities to intercede. It also allows us the opportunity to see our reward ...

... strengthening my own character, or inspiring others, or helping the world ?" Of course, one must work to earn a living, but it is HOW we do even menial tasks that counts. We must value the work God has given us to do, and do it to please Him and to be a testimony to those with whom we work. Seek happiness every day. If we are not happy today, we will never be happy! Or as an old teacher of mine used to say:" If you are not happy anywhere, you will not be happy anywhere" It took me a few years to figure that one out. But she was right. Be happy today, regardless of circumstances. This doesn't mean that we have to go around laughing all the time. What it means is, be happy within ourselves so that our happiness will shine through us to others, radiating Christ. Cherish love." True love never ...

... said Okay. Then someone said you had better not read the Bible in school-the Bible that says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said, Okay. Remember Dr. Benjamin Spock, who said we shouldn't spank 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 ...

... Yes! You Can Be Great! A school music teacher received this essay from an eight-year-old student concerning Johann Sebastian Bach:" He was a GREAT composer. He had 20 children and had an old spinster in the attic to practice on" Now, I don't know the exact number of children he had, as many did not survive. Nor do I know what he kept in the attic. But the question I have is this: do you believe you should be great? Not all of us can be great at what we do-music, teaching, research, carpentry, sales, etc,-but we can all become great individuals. It's about being great at who we are, great as human beings. Author James Michener learned about the importance of greatness on a stormy night in the South Pacific. His plane was trying desperately to land on the Tontouta airstrip but could not do so. After several attempts in the ...

... in the store. As I was waiting to checkout I glanced at one of the magazines on the rack. I noticed it had a female celebrity wearing a gem studded gown worth four times as much as my friendly cashier could make in a year. When I looked at it, however, I couldn ’ t help but think that nothing on that dress sparkled as brightly or shined as beautifully as that cashier ’ s joyful smile. In this life everyone is our teacher. Some teach us how to live and some teach us how not to live. I think that both the celebrity and the cashier taught me the same thing that day. They both taught me that it is far less important how we dress up our lives and far more important how we live our lives. What use, after all, is an eighty thousand dollar evening gown that will be worn only once. A smile can be worn every single day and its uses ...

... that his Mother and I aren ’ t the only reason he became the blessing he is. That is why I want to give a special thanks to so many who have helped him over the years. His beautiful sister has been a true angel in watching over him. I can ’ t thank her enough. His aide at school has been like a second Mother to him. God blessed us by sending her into his life. I thank too all of his teachers that showered him with praise and encouragement and allowed both his mind and spirit to grow. All the wonderful coaches who allowed him to be equipment manager on their teams over the years deserve a special thanks as well. They gave my son so much laughter and love, and his happiness is so much greater because of them. I also want to thank every student that went to school with my son over the years. Even though my boy was different you always treated him ...

... my Mom and my Grandma whose shining love guided me over the rough waters of childhood and all the storms that went with it. There was my Aunt and my Dad who kept me sailing on through the heartbreak after my Mom and Grandma died and back towards a joyous horizon once again. There were my two brothers and three children who taught me how to find the joy in life even on the fiercest days when the waves crashed against my ship. There were my teachers, neighbors, and friends who showed me the many ways to steer my boat into the peaceful harbors of love and happiness that life gives us. Each and everyone of these people taught me a little more about sailing the ship of my life. Each and everyone of them showed me as well to always look towards God ’ s North Star and to always set my sails with the winds of His love. May all of you always sail on towards greater love and joy ...

... . A vet is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th Parallel. A vet is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang. A vet is the POW who went away one person and came back another-or didn't come back at all. A vet is the drill instructor who has never seen combat-but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account punks and gang members into marines, airmen, sailors, soldiers and coast guardsmen, and teaching them to watch each other's backs. A vet is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand. A vet is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by. A vet is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose ...

... magical sound floats happily through the air from the playground just off the preschool building. It is the sound of children at play. Each day just before I pick up my boy I take in this glorious and happy sight of the preschool children having one last recess before they go home. Many of the parents are there as well smiling as they watch that special joy that their children are creating. I look on as one happy boy swings and calls out for his teacher to watch. I see two smiling girls skip, laugh, and gather handfuls of dandelions to give their Moms. I watch as two boys ride the rocking horses with all the energy and delight that their little hearts can muster. I smile upon seeing a girl hanging upside down from the miniature money bars and giggling at the whole world. As I get my own son he too runs for the swing set for one last ride as well before we head home. He ...

... and my family moved the next year. We still get the county paper in the mail, though, and when I saw your name I had to write you. You see that first year in school was very difficult for me. I was a tiny, sickly, and homely girl that the other children teased everyday. The thing I remember about you is that you never did. You were always kind to me. When we lined up to go out the teacher always put me beside you and you would hold my hand as we crossed the street. You talked to me and played with me. When you were around too the other kids didn ’ t tease me. You saw me as a person, not someone different and I will be forever grateful for that. My whole life was better because of how you treated me all those years ago" I quickly wrote back to my kindergarten friend and we corresponded happily for several years ...

... out the front door. Doris Lessing once said that" Coincidences are God ’ s way of remaining anonymous" I fully believe that to be true. Without the coincidence of my Grandma waking up at just the right second that fire would have cost us our lives as well as our home. Without that coincidence my Grandma, Mom, and Dad would never have touched the lives they did over the years that followed. Without it my brother would never have become a teacher and I would never have written a word. Without it my brothers and I would never have raised seven wonderful children. Without it all the love, learning, and joy my family has shared with others would have been lost. The next time a coincidence blesses your life then embrace it for the gift from God that it is. We are all watched over with so much love. May we make our lives a gift of love as well.~Joseph J. ...

... 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 walker over the curb, but it won't budge. A well-meaning teacher offers assistance, but he brushes her away. With determination, he conquers the curb and is off to laugh and play with his friends. I weep inside for his handicap, but I am inspired by his courage. And I smile as I watch the children play, totally accepting their friend for who he is, not judging him for what he lacks. It's just another day. My son proudly presents the report he did for school. He shares with me the ...

... Life's Lessons I've learned that you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. Age 6 I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we sing" Silent Night" Age 7 I've learned when I wave to people in the country, they stop and take the time to wave back. Age 9 I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it, Mom makes me clean it up. Age 12 I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should try cheering someone else up. Age 13 I've learned although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me. Age 15 I've learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice. Age 24 I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's great pleasures. Age 25 I've learned that wherever I go, the worlds worst drivers have followed me there. Age 29 I've ...

... smiles of handicapped children. I have seen them in the shopping carts of people living paycheck to paycheck, who still buy something extra to donate to the local food drive. I have seen them in my community where every car that breaks down will have three others stop to help. I have seen them in the lives of my friends as well. There is my wheelchair bound friend who spends hours each day sending out inspirational messages on the internet. There is my teacher friend who lost first her sight and then her job but now dedicates her life to volunteer work and bringing joy to people who are homebound. There are so many others too whose lives are daily miracles of love. The best thing about little miracles, though, is not that they are all around you but that you can be one yourself. You can share love, spread joy, and help others so much. Remember God made you, God loves you, and ...

... of the Universe gave a gift to this world on that special night, so long ago. This gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. It was a ray of warm sunshine in a cold, dark land. It was a gift of hope in a world gone wrong. It was God putting on skin and walking among men. This baby we celebrate was not only Jesus of Nazareth, as some would say. A good man. A teacher. Maybe a prophet, but at any rate, at the very least a wise and just rabbi. No. He was much more than that! He was the Christ; the son of the living God. And he still is! Addendum-See Luke 2: 1-20. Have a true Merry Christmas everyone. [Author Unknown-from Anonymous] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... my child ever gives me is when they come to me with a problem or want to talk about something that is really important to them. I know that they have many choices about who they share their thoughts and feelings with. When they were in elementary school their mother or I most often heard about the events and concerns that were nearest their heart. But as they got older and our parental ears were more and more often replaced by their friends and classmates, teachers and coaches, and I know that we were increasingly left out of the loop. It's not easy, but it's natural. Since the opportunity doesn't come as often as it once did, when it does I want to make it count. I may not get another chance for a while. Unfortunately, two very normal responses can make a mess of things in a hurry. Number One: I love them more than anything on earth and I don't want to see them ...

... God given beauty. Dozens of people were fishing peacefully along the banks and in boats. Children were running and playing with their dogs. Families were setting up picnic dinners for later. Some people were just sitting in the grass looking blissfully out on the water. I even saw one young woman praying with a joyful smile on her face as she sat under a tree. Never had I seen so many people spending their time so well. The day after the great teacher and writer Leo Buscaglia died a note was found in his typewriter. It simply said," Every moment spent in unhappiness is a moment of happiness lost" I for one don ’ t want to lose any more moments of happiness that I have left in this world. I want to use and enjoy every single one of them. It doesn ’ t matter if they are spent working, playing, eating, reading, singing, praying, or just walking in the ...

... by his trim appearance. He's aggressive on a basketball floor. (" The guy's all elbows !" says a friend who guarded Kurt once) and a fount of seemingly endless energy when pounding the drums for his church's worship band. Kurt's favorite fuel for all that energy is burgers and fries. This kind is hungry all the time. He's always happy to eat your leftovers and has no trouble eating a meal too big for most guys twice his size. As a young teacher, he often left a sign in the middle-school cafeteria saying," Please leave all uneaten sandwiches for Mr. Gar-land"" I'd feast on roast-beef day !" says Kurt," None of those kids liked the sandwiches, so there was always plenty left for me" With such a healthy appetite, Kurt thought he'd found the perfect job; manager at a local McDonald's!" Anything left over at the end of the day was fair game. I never went ...

... onslaught in our courts and other public institutions" This secularist onslaught began gaining rapid momentum only thirty-seven years ago-in 1962-when the Supreme Court ruled that an officially sponsored prayer recited in New York public schools was a restriction of our freedoms. Here is the prayer, in its entirety, that was found to be so offensive and dangerous:" Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence on Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country" I truly believe that such a simple prayer could have a sweeping impact in our nation's schools today. The prayer establishes no religion and offers only hope of betterment through a dependence on a merciful God. Instead, our nation's students are inundated by aimless and empty doctrines that discourage absolute concepts of faith and truth and that discourage them from understanding the precipitous price of our precious freedoms. On June 12, 1775, our nation's Congress actually called for" ...

... I realized that it is now almost 15 years since her death. Thankfully, over the years the pain and sense of loss have eased while the memories of her life and her love have remained. I can still feel her presence as I write this. I am sure that she is not only smiling down on me from her picture on the wall, but from Heaven as well. I only wish she hadn ’ t left us quite so soon. The great teacher, author, and speaker Leo Buscaglia said that he was often asked by his classes why we have to go through pain, suffering, and even death. He stated that he never did find out why, but at some point in his life he stopped asking the questions and started living the answers." That ", he said," made all the difference" How do we live the answers? I think we do so by choosing love, joy, and oneness ...

... mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life-like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? ' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long ' That's one really smart kid. Live simply-Love generously-Care deeply! Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on ...

... to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues. May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, and may your check book and your budget balance and may they include generous amounts for charity. May you remember to say" I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parents, your friends; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor. May we live as God intended, in a world at peace and the awareness of His love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart. A Very Happy New Year to All! [Author unknown-from Aiken Drum] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... no concept of reality, and how this concept sets them up for failure in the real world. Rules for life: Life is not fair-get used to it. The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be vice-president with a car phone, until you earn both. If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He or She doesn't have tenure. Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping-they called it opportunity. If you mess up, it's not your parents ' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes ...

... to cross that field unless you are prepared! And isn't that the way it is in life? We have to be ready when the opportunity arises or else we will have little chance of success. Sixth-grade schoolteacher Ms. Shelton believed in readiness. Students remember how she walked in on the first day of class and began writing words of an eighth-grade caliber on the chalkboard. They quickly protested that the words were not on their level and they couldn't learn them. Their teacher insisted that the students could and would learn these words. She said that she would never teach down to them. Ms. Shelton ended by saying that one of the students in that classroom could go on to greatness, maybe even be president some day, and she wanted to prepare them for that day. Ms. Shelton spoke those words many years ago. Little did she know that someday one of her students-Jesse Jackson-would take them seriously (" Leadership ," ...

... listening to the news. They were talking about a wild fire and the need to evacuate an entire community. They used," Reverse 911" That means they called all the homes in that particular area to warn them of impending danger. Now, I've heard that term before, but never paid much attention to it. In fact, I never really understood what they meant. But, like all things in life," when the student is ready, the teacher will appear" It happens when you read a book and place it on the shelf. Years later you are drawn to it, read it again and suddenly you see things in it you never saw before. It changes your life. Why didn't it the first time? You weren't ready. So, it is with" reverse 911" I have been going through some very difficult times recently. Like most of you, finances, health and work related stress has been ...

... My Sons Raising two sons with Autism has been the most difficult challenge that I have ever faced in this life. Watching them deal daily with their handicaps and trying to help them in every way I can has at times been painful, frustrating, and even heart-breaking. Through it all, though, I have gained more wisdom about living than I could have ever imagined. My two sons have been my teachers as well as my students on how to live and how to love. They have taught me more than I could ever have learned on my own and they continue to show me more each day. I have learned from them that I am no better than anyone else in this world. I may be able to do some things that they can ’ t, but their lives are just as precious and just as valuable as mine. As I watch my oldest son be a friend to everyone in his school and share his simple ...

... the boss at your house? Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because Dad is such a goofball. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad. What's the difference between moms and dads? Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just work at work. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power because that's who you have to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. What does your mom do in her spare time? Mothers don't have spare time. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long. What's the difference between moms and grandmas? About 30 years. You can always count on grandmothers for candy. Sometimes moms don't even have bread ...

... . This car was older than I was at the time and drank more gas than a dozen pick-up trucks. It had rotted wiring that my dad had to replace more than once. The windshield wipers were broke. The battery died often. The radio didn ’ t work and I only had one, scratchy cassette for the tape player. It often took quite a while to start and would backfire loud enough to be heard in the next county. My friends and teachers would often joke that they noticed buzzards circling my car when I was in class. Still, this was the car I depended on to commute long distances everyday and more often than not it got me there. In a lot of ways too this car was a lot like life. The more you complained about it the worse it got. If I would complain about the gas milage one of the bald tires would blow out. If I would grouch about the sputtering engine ...

... , we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give" I can remember one of the first loving thoughts that was cast into my own heart and the angel who placed it there. I was a young boy and my parents, brothers, and I were spending the afternoon at the home of a family friend. This friend was the hymn leader at our church as well as the music teacher at my grade school. I remember I used to sit and listen to her play songs on her guitar for hours at a time. On this day my dad was outside once again working his mechanic magic or her ailing, old car. My mom was setting up a picnic for everyone and my brothers were in the yard playing. I was inside talking with our friend and listening to her sweet music. I don ’ t remember exactly what we were talking about, ...

... is good for us all. A fool talks, it is the wise man that listens. Haste makes waste. No-one knows what he can do until he tries. Genius is 1 %inspiration and 99 %perspiration. The beginning is the most important part of the work. A good name is greater than riches. When you reach the bottom, there is only one way to go, UP. Do not underestimate the capabilities of anyone. We need to be teachers not suppliers. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach him how to fish and he will eat forever. We should not pray that the problem would be removed, but that the Lord would be glorified through the problem. Quitters never prosper, cheaters only cheat themselves. You don't have to fight to be a man, but sometimes you have to fight when you are a man. Walk away from trouble when you can. War is ...