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... make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping. And God smiled and said," Yes, but if I make him childsize ... creating fathers, He started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said," What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed ... know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup a child's face" And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders. The angel nearly had a heart attack." Boy, this is the end of ...
... parents did find out and were not too keen on her studying any further, moral support came from the creche which Anjana used to go to as a child. Nirmala didi (Nirmala Hiremath) who heads the creche convinced my parents that I should stay in a hostel and continue studying. CHANGING LIVES This creche ... A Home Away From Home Children learning at the day-care centre / Photo credit: Tara Mobile Creches The concept of mobile creches for children of construction workers has begun to yield rich dividends in Pune, a city in western India. Catering to more than a thousand underprivileged children, these day-care centres provide an informal learning ... with TMC for about 20 years. Interestingly, many among these children come back to provide inputs to TMC. Malinath Shinge, for example, spent his childhood with Tara and then after qualifying as a teacher, chose to come back and work with Tara. It is important to spread the message that knowledge is ...
... explained," so she's retreated from the world" She had, he went on, killed her husband in a fit of insane jealousy. But this child-she could have been my own small, lovable niece except for those blank, desolate eyes. Dear God, I thought, what horror has entered the ... you like to look at them ?" Mechanically, she opened each book, closed it and resumed her former position. The bell rang then, and the children burst in on a wave of cold, snowy air. When they saw the valentine materials on my desk, they bubbled with excitement. There was little time ... try ," she told me. I sent a note to the principal to remove Mary from the room for a short time. I needed to enlist the children's help before recess, before they could taunt her about being" different"" Mary's been hurt badly ," I explained gently," and she's so quiet because ...
... churches, the Clinton-based ministry provides food and clothing to low-income residents of the area. In October, he posted a sign there reading," If your child doesn't have a bike and wants one, see me or Lula Bell (Puckett, the director)"" I gave a few bikes away and told children ... Frank Riddick was growing up on a farm in western Tennessee, having a bicycle seemed as remote a possibility as owning a new car. One of six children, he always had plenty to eat and wear, but there wasn't much left for luxuries. Remembering those childhood longings, two years ago he decided to provide ... to youngsters whose families couldn't afford to buy them one for Christmas. To initiate the effort, he turned to the county mission house. Supported by various churches, the Clinton-based ministry provides food and clothing to low-income residents of the area. In October, he posted a sign there reading," If your child doesn't ...
5. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Burdens [Stories]
... over me. Light surrounded me as I regained consciousness. I focused on its source: the figure of a man standing before a cross." My child ," the person asked," why did you want to come to Me before I am ready to call you ?"" Lord, I'm sorry. It's just ... never been to see a dentist. And I'm tired of dressing them in hand-me-downs"" My child, I'll supply all of your needs. and your children's. I've given them healthy bodies. I will teach them that expensive clothing doesn't make a person valuable in My sight" Then He lifted out the figure of ... another ?" He asked quietly. I tested several. Paula's felt heavy: She was raising four small boys without a father. Debra's did too: a childhood of sexual abuse and a marriage of emotional abuse. When I came to Ruth's burden, I didn't even try. I knew that inside I would find arthritis ...
... head is down in despair because you cannot believe it .you're lost! You might think because of the title of this story I was indeed talking about a child. The truth is I have felt that way as an adult. I was reminded of that on Saturday when Marianne and I were in a local Barnes and ... beautiful !" I don't just make it up, I mean it. It was while wandering that I saw him. The store was packed with parents and children because, believe it or not, Santa was there. I should have known something was up when we were greeted by five or six young ladies wearing reindeer ... I heard one woman say," Is he okay ?" She didn't stop to find out. I did. I carefully followed him in and around the children's section. I sadly say carefully, because in times like this, a perfect stranger, let alone a man, following a child, could easily be misconstrued ...
7. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Vacancy. [Stories]
... while another exacts a proclamation of equal conviction with general disagreement on all sides while I quietly gaze at my own daughter, who is without question the cutest child by far. I turn and look near the fireplace, the rest of the guys are working on a jig saw puzzle (well over a million pieces if ... serves). Our children perform grand and glorious firsts-moments worthy of a TV movie of the week and our wives are chanting their praises as the men set bleary eyed, not willing that any puzzle piece should perish for lack of immediate placement. In time, we eat turkey and are served a full compliment ... neither the gift nor the giver being recalled. A clash of cultures takes place between those who have children and those that do not. Invariably, a childless in-law (generally male) cheers like they're at a football game, 50 yard line, 5th row, isle seat. Why? They are the first person ...
... and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child-five months before-in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it" that afternoon"" Before they call, I will answer !" ... Your job is to keep the baby warm" The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem ... " And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her ?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say," Amen ?" I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, ...
... " I can't wait any longer !"" This is heavenly ," mother says." You are an angel ," father adds. Then, from the smallest child comes the biggest question." Grandmother, when you go to heaven can we still visit ?" the child asks. Grandmother takes her place at the head of ... closes and the signal that makes you jump to your feet. the baking sheet sliding off the rack .you're home. Mom and dad rush to get the children up. Running down the hallway they pause for moment to inhale the smell of fresh coffee. Not just any coffee. This coffee is created in the same ... Grandmother takes her first bite of the cinnamon roll, places the fork back down and leans toward the child. Smiling, she places her finger on the child's heart and says," I'll be right here. Somewhere in between" Who says you can't go home?" I believe in You !" J~Bob ...
... the hospital, and what was left would go toward purchasing toys for the children. I also had arranged with the hospital a t-shirt painting activity for any child who felt well enough to participate. Thanksgiving Day seemed the most appropriate day of the year for the mission, and so it was all arranged. My husband ... my purpose. Having donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, for years, I had always felt a connection and empathy toward the children living with cancer who were being treated there. What a truly magnificent place, especially knowing that no patient was ever turned away regardless of ability to pay. ... Truly, life couldn't have been any better-however, I still felt something missing and longed to find my purpose. Having donated to St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, for years, I had always felt a connection and empathy toward the children living with cancer who were being treated there. What ...
11. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Pappy. [Stories]
... ." Oh, thank you, sir. Grandpa will be so happy"" Okay, little lady. Okay" Pappy felt good about helping the child; he knew, however, he would miss the bell." You must promise to take good care of the bell for your grandpa-and for me ... Have you changed your mind ?"" No ," she grinned." Momma says it's for you" Before Pappy had time to say another word, the child's mother stepped into the doorway, and choking back a tear, she gently said," Hello, Dad" The little girl tugged on her grandpa's shirttail. ... many treasured moments from his past. He handled each item with care, and sometimes he would close his eyes and pause to relive a sweet, simple childhood memory. One day, Pappy was working to his heart's content reassembling an old railroad lantern. As he worked, he whistled the melody of a railroad tune ...
12. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Midlife Crisis. [Stories]
... Midlife Crisis A glance in the mirror. Simple. Yet altering somehow. I am not the child I once was-yet I can still see him there-bright-happy-outgoing. But wait, I pause to truly see the me I am today-lines and crevices mar the unspoiled face of ... mirroring the many paths I could have chosen. I am not sixteen, I am not twenty, and I am no longer thirty-five. Time has marched across my features and I can scarcely remember the Never Neverland of childish imaginings. Yet as I continue to gaze in the reflection I see the features of family older ... wiser in the shape and contour of my face. These family members gaze at me knowingly and understand the path I tread. A few of these family members remain while others reside in my memory only. One day these gathered in my mind will be the stuff of legend with a bit of fable thrown in. ...
... you giggled over the simple things in life? If it's been too long, won't you be determined to see life once again through the eyes of a child? The Bible says," Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" Are there some things a child could ... nursery rhymes and children's songs. Two-year-old Katie chattered away. Five-year-old Hannah told us all about kindergarten and even read to us. (It's amazing how quickly children can learn) When Pa went to take the garbage to the dumpster, Hannah went along. She had a blast! She giggled as she told me how ... many people. We ate our cereal on the back porch. We called our lunch a picnic when we took it outside. We sang nursery rhymes and children's songs. Two-year-old Katie chattered away. Five-year-old Hannah told us all about kindergarten and even read to us. (It's amazing how quickly children can learn) When ...
14. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Kitchen Windows. [Stories]
... sink. Many a young girl envisioned herself growing up and marrying the prince of her dreams as she completed her dish-washing chores. Mothers could solve their entire child rearing problems as they sanitized their pots and pans, while gazing through the kitchen windowpane. On rare occasions, when a man could be talked into this dreaded ... could understand the entire" why's ?" of this world if these fragile visionary panes capable of shattering even our dreams, could only communicate with us. My children will never forget my peering through the porthole of the kitchen into the backyard. I often stood there cleaning up and watching over their backyard play, their childhood ... and their playful explorations. If they were doing something they shouldn't, they would glance up to see me shaking my finger, admonishing them. My smile often met their eyes when they achieved a feat they were attempting, or when I was admiring their camaraderie. With four siblings, the latter was not always attainable ...
... Children's Bible in a Nutshell A child was told to write a" book report" on the entire Bible. This is amazing and brought tears to my eyes. I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand what we are teaching ??? Through the eyes of a child.... In the ... , which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light! ' and someone did. Then God made ... Children's Bible in a Nutshell A child was told to write a" book report" on the entire Bible. This is amazing and brought tears to my eyes. I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand what we are teaching ??? Through the eyes of a child.... In the ...
16. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Because of Me. [Stories]
... he's ugly! How can that pretty lady stand to look at him ?" The mother glanced toward the couple her daughter was pointing at, quickly taking her child away. But every day during the sea cruise, they saw the couple. Whenever they did, Nancy buried her face in her mother's clothes." Mommy ... something to him, bent his head towards hers. He had been used to being looked at scornfully. He had heard the remarks of both adults and children alike. He had learned to ignore them. But he was not expecting what Nancy had to say." Mr. Lionel ," she said, smiling up ... although quite embarrassed, nodded her consent." First ," began the young woman," My name is Rosella. What is yours ?" Learning that the child's name was Nancy, and her mother's was Marie, Rosella invited the two to a table, and ordered three glasses of lemonade. And then she began her ...
17. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Rain Washed. [Stories]
... got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught ... . They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away ... would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith." Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the ...
... she just decided to rebel. I remember looking at her with my mouth open, speechless for a moment. We had never had to discipline our youngest child, really. She never needed more than a look from either of us, to teach her right from wrong. For the first time in her ... my ground, insisting on having NO part in this decision, with hopes that she would see things my way, and wait till she had her own children first. But I didn't. The bottom line, I decided, was that she was my daughter, and I would love and support her no matter what ... , the lump in my throat was obvious as I responded back, in self-defense. I reminded her of the jobs I held outside the home during her childhood, working graveyard shift, so that I could be home when she and her brothers needed me. Through uncontrolled tears, I pointed out the sacrifices I ...
19. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Spelling Lessons. [Stories]
... one from the evils in the world. Suddenly, everything we say or do is evaluated in light of the effect it has or might have on the child. For our family this way of thinking is a standard that has been passed down by our ancestors for who knows how many generations. There are several reasons ... delivery room When Tessa came into the world, at that moment everything changed. It is beautiful to behold the transformation in another person, especially our own children. As Jeremy s mother, it was a little like a flashback to the time when he was born. The change happens because of an overwhelming love ... of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen There is a children's song that very simply explains this way of thinking: Oh be careful little*mouth what you*say. Oh be careful little*mouth what you ...
... our pet canary died. I called Information Please and told her the sad story. She listened, then said the usual things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was unconsoled. Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of ... meant to me during that time." I wonder, she said, if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children, and I used to look forward to your calls. I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could ... never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the hall table. Yet as I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me; often in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient ...
... came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face. Grandfather said," Come, sit, tell me what has happened today" The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut brown face and the kind dark eyes; the child's anger turned to ... -Gray Wolf (Parable) There was grandfather, his little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face. Grandfather said," Come, sit, tell me what ... " The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut brown face and the kind dark eyes; the child's anger turned to quiet tears. The boy said," I went to the town today, with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over ...
22. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Ant And The Grasshopper - Surprise (Easter Parable). [Stories]
... have just enough food for myself" So the ant lived and the grasshopper died. But your son ended the story in a way different from any other child, ever. He wrote," So the ant gave all of his food to the grasshopper; the grasshopper lived through the winter. But the ant died ... , most of the students said that the ant shared his food through the winter and both the ant and the grasshopper lived. As always, a few children said, 'The ant said," No, Mr. Grasshopper. You should have worked in the summer and not played. Now, I have just enough ... grade class. Your son did something that surprised me so much that I thought you should know about it immediately" Mother's seldom want to hear from their child's teacher in the middle of the day. The mother was uneasy and nervous by such a beginning to a phone call." What now ?" the mother wondered ...
... near the coach's corner, ready to give him advice if need be, a friendship began between Karen and I. Tracy was so sweet and a loving child toward her family. I commented on this to Karen, and then she told me Tracy had leukemia and was in remission. She wanted more than anything to ... , freelance writer and author of two books. She is married to Stephen and they reside on the Carolina Coast. They are the parents of three grown children and three grand gals. You may visit Diane s website and see more of her work at www.DianeDeanWhite.com [By: Diane Dean White Copyright 2002-submitted ... her brothers. One evening after a winning game our families went out to eat. Over pizza and salad, Karen told me Tracy was going to the children's hospital the next day for her yearly check up. We wished them well, expecting things to be just fine. A couple of days later when we were ...
... eyes, trying hard not to let the tears escape. I wanted to shout at the children, tell then to" shut up !" But I didn't have to. Lucile, the oldest girl, was a very softhearted, caring child, too grown-up for her twelve years. She saw my distress and asked," Mom? What's wrong ?" It was then the tears really came. And you could have heard a pin drop. The children all clambered around me, ... I Only Wanted A Break Totally exhausted after a day of chasing goats, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs and cats, and three preschool children, I dropped into my lazy boy chair. I had no sooner dozed off when the six school-aged children burst in from school, all tumbling over each other, trying to be the first to tell me about their day. Usually I welcomed their enthusiasm, but today I just wished the whole world would vanish, and ...
... was reported for her acts of kindness." The wonderful thing about this ," commented Laurie," was that the report was put in by a youngster who was so shy he had never even spoken to the crossing guard" A child who held the reputation of being arrogant was suddenly helping another clean out her desk. One lonely child reported on a classmate:" When I needed a friend to play with, she was there" The reports went up weekly but not ... Little Things Mean A Lot Is it possible to alter the actions of school children; to take the focus from bullying and tattle tales for inconsequential things to that of filing positive reports on one another? Well one young woman thought so and she worked all year to achieve this goal. Laurie Braun, a concerned and caring individual, a woman with a lot of imagination and the determination to make a difference, became the igniting force behind an avalanche of kindness in a ...
... -almost -anything. He never went to obedience school. He wasn't discovered by Hollywood. He didn't receive FAME in Riley's Believe It Or Not. No. The only fame Scruffy received was from his family -us, and from all the children and grownups who saw his performance. Scruffy was born on Friday, the thirteenth of September, the last in the litter, the runt -the thirteenth. He was unwanted by his mother, and his siblings did their best to crowd him ... in David s classroom, decided Scruffy s future for him. From that day on he was invited, not only to go back to David s classroom, but to go, as well, to all our other children's classrooms for his performances. And his fame spread further. He was invited to care homes. It was a delight to see the faces of sad elderly men and women break out into smiles when they saw Scruffy marching down the hall. ...
27. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Sacrifice Play [Stories]
... , Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be main streamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all that attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out," Where is the perfection in my son Jerry? Everything God does is done with perfection. But ... Sacrifice Play In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be main streamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all that attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out," Where is the perfection in my son Jerry? Everything ...
28. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Little Shepherd Boy (healing at Christmas). [Stories]
... ' We are going to Bethlehem now to see this thing which has happened" Aram was beside himself with excitement." Can I go too, Father ?"" Yes. Come with us. We will all go to see this child" Bethlehem, basking in the silvery light of the bright star overhead, was even more crowded than Aram had imagined. Travelers were sleeping in every available space, their cloaks pulled up over their chins to ward off the biting air. ... head. To the amazement of all, he held the child securely. Aram smiled at the sleeping infant in his arms. Then he asked Mary," What is his name ?"" Jesus ," she replied softly." The child's name is Jesus" ~~~~~~~ A few moments later, the shepherds bid their goodbyes to the family and left the cave. At the top of the hill, they turned right and headed out of Bethlehem, toward their flocks still grazing in ...
29. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Letter To God. [Stories]
... Dear God, Never let it be said that I won't admit it when I'm wrong or that I never apologize to people when I should. And I have been wrong about you. I thought you'd made a terrible mistake when my child was born and I said some pretty rotten things to you and about you. It seemed so unfair though. I couldn't believe that you'd given me this child as part of" the plan" I was sure you'd made a horrendous mistake ... to a speaker at a conference and one of the questions she asked was," If given the choice, would you choose 30 million dollars or peace and happiness ?" I was in a room with close to 30 parents who had children with disabilities and not a one of them raised their hand for the 30 million. (Although I briefly thought that 30 million would buy some quality child care and help further the cause for equality) However, I did realize that it ...
... should stay a bit contemporary in thought while meshing wisdom with the reality of their age. Youth is fun and age is stability-what a wonderful combination. If only we adults could look at the world through the eyes of a child, we would be more accepting of the things that are important. We adults become demanding. Things desired become essential. We judge prematurely as our eyes lie to us. When did we graduate to the point we need a referee to ... I looked around at the untidy interior of my own vehicle and wondered how another older adult might judge me because of my messy van. We adults often find irrational reasons for judging, and complicated reasons for liking things or people. Children don't need complex reasons for enjoying or loving. We adults seem to have to seek reasons to love and to appreciate. Children just do. Maturity should bring with it lessons learned, but often wisdom is seen in the heart of a ...
... strongly that we give the baby up for adoption. Again my daughter cried and cried. She said," I can't give my baby up, I can feel it moving inside. I don't want to go around wondering if this child or that child is mine" I could understand her feelings having had two children of my own, but she didn't understand how drastically her life was about to change. She couldn't comprehend how she was also changing my life and her sister's ... . I felt she got pregnant on purpose. I told the pastor to give us time to think about all that he had said and told him I would get back with him. We went to the first doctor appointment to see how far along she was in her pregnancy. We thought she was about 8 weeks or so. She never gained weight, no signs of pregnancy at all. Once again, I felt as if someone hit me with a stun gun of ...
32. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Jeremy's Egg [Stories]
... likes it here" Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why waste any more time ... them to come to St. Theresa's for a consultation. As the Forresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them," Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students !" Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke." Miss Miller ," he said," there ...
... Will the Christ Child Come? One Christmas we had an interesting experience that I would like to share. Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning! We waited excitedly for the next night's surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd ... night the Baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child. We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of ...
34. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Mother's Crown. [Stories]
... . For all the nights by their bedside, You stayed till the fever went down, For nursing every little wound, I add this emerald to your crown"" A ruby, I'll place by the emerald, For leading your child in the right way, For if you hadn't taught them about me, They wouldn't be here with you today. For always being right there, Thru all life's important events, I give you a sapphire stone, For the time and ... For He was the light of Heaven, Reflecting off each of the stones." The first gem ," He said," is an emerald, And it's for endurance alone, For all the nights you waited up. For your children to come home. For all the nights by their bedside, You stayed till the fever went down, For nursing every little wound, I add this emerald to your crown"" A ruby, I'll place by the emerald, For ...
35. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Dark Candle [Stories]
... The Dark Candle A man had a little daughter-an only and much-beloved child. He lived for her-she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health. His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his ... He was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic child carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl. Rushing to her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and then asked: ...
... . With tears in her eyes she said," That's so sad "! Well, there was a time when I felt that way too. Finding out in my 20's that I couldn't have children was devastating. I immediately left the child care field and went to work building cables for the B-1 Bomber! The physical, repetitive labor was very good for me. Towards the end of the three years, I found that I was just borrowing my co-workers ' children to do ... until I saw the look on her face. With tears in her eyes she said," That's so sad "! Well, there was a time when I felt that way too. Finding out in my 20's that I couldn't have children was devastating. I immediately left the child care field and went to work building cables for the B-1 Bomber! The physical, repetitive labor was very good for me. Towards the end of the three years, I found that I was ...
37. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Lady's Hug. [Stories]
... a red suit, there is something called the Christmas Spirit. But when children are very little, it's hard for them to understand the Christmas Spirit so we say that someone named Santa is responsible for Christmas. Parent's know when a child asks whether Santa is real that they're old enough to understand the Christmas Spirit" Frankie looked surprised." What's the Christmas Spirit ?"" The Christmas Spirit is love-pure and simple. Every year, right around December, there's a ... taillight." Merry Christmas honey" My confused look made the woman laugh." I said, Merry Christmas honey. Don't worry about this here car. I'm fine and so are you. Go on and take care of those children. My husband will take care of this" I suddenly noticed a gray haired man standing on the passenger side, nodding and smiling. Overcome with relief, I hugged the woman. The woman hugged back and whispered," Merry Christmas ...
38. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Becoming "Dad". [Stories]
... I was under the umbrella, she was already greased up and ready to face the sun. Off to our right this young couple arrived loaded with all the equipment necessary to feed and protect their newborn. I learned later that the child was just 6 months old. Mom carried the child Dad carried everything else. Both had an important role to play, for this was their first time ever at the beach as" family" It is a new beginning, a ritual ... now this wet-behind-the-ears father I see before me will one walk this same beach with his grandchild. He's struggling with what he needs to do next and I have already seen his future. How? I walked this beach before with my children. For now I am in limbo between Dad and Grandpa. In the meantime Marianne and I cherish these few days together alone, waiting desperately to play the part and walk hand in hand with my grandchild. Perhaps I will be here ...
... The Faith of a Child Brings Answered Prayer It's a quiet summer day-the sun is brilliant against the sapphire sky and the slightest breeze gently rustles the leaves that dress the trees. Beneath the stately maple can be seen the small figure of a child-a little girl with curly blonde hair that is tussled who looks to be about 5 years old. She sits with her back against the trunk of the tree and looks up toward the sky." God ", ... says, as she lifts her tiny hands toward heaven," Where are the missing children? Why have they left us? And why, every time I ask Mama about them, she begins to cry ?" The little girl's attention turns to an object on the ground beside her-a blue box about the size of one that might hold a ream of paper. She picks it up and places it on her lap. The box is hinged and she gently lifts the ...
... of the program. At the end of the program suddenly a Ho! Ho! Ho ! resounded from the door and everyone s attention was drawn to where Santa entered with his pack full of small brown bags. Every child was given one of the bags that contained hard Christmas candy ribbon and various other hard candies. The bag was topped off with a big round orange. The gifts under the tree were given to their recipients and at the end there was ... The Christmas Program At Baring School Shhhhhhhh, You must be quiet while the other children are practicing ! We often heard those words as Mrs. Miller shushed us yet another time. She was really quite lenient with us because it was Christmas time and she knew how excited we were. She didn t really care if we whispered quietly but we knew better than to be loud or rowdy. After all, it was nearly Christmas and those proverbial visions of sugarplums ...
... tomorrows are in the seeds of today" Robert H. Schuller" Just then his children came running through the door." Here comes tomorrow's flowers ," he said." Daddy, could we plant Daisies again this year ?" one child asked." Yes, of course. They were Mom's favorite ," he said." Ours, too !" they said in unison." That doesn't surprise me ," Dad said as he smiled and kissed them.~Bob Perks~ ... " About five years ago, my wife died. One never plans for that. How could you? In life there is a season for that and we hadn't even come near that time. Using the same comparison, our two children were in their growing season. Like in gardening we tended to their needs with nourishment, special care and lots of love. The saddest thing is we never got to the best season of all ," he said as he shook his head ...
42. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Parent Talk. [Stories]
... watching another family, remembering the days when they were young, the children small and life filled to the max with love. I then reached down and in an effort to assure them I could relate, I held my own little child. Yes, this past Father's day I was given a new addition to my family. His name is Phil. Who is Phil? A Chihuahua mix now just 12 weeks old given to me by my wife. Yes, we now ... looked at me and wondered why I was standing there. I looked at them and wondered if I did indeed frighten them. I stood my ground as they appeared more nervous never turning their backs on me. They spoke with their children reassuring them that they were near and all was well. I immediately connected with them because we were both parents. Maybe I should have said something, but I am not sure they would have understood or even trusted me more. Besides ...
43. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Daddy Hands. [Stories]
... and once again, I was amazed at this wonderful man who is the father of my children. When many fathers would have gladly handed over the parenting duties for some much needed sleep, my husband stayed stubbornly and resolutely with our child. When morning finally came, we called the doctor and were told to bring him in again. We already knew that he would probably put Noah in the hospital. So, we made arrangements for the other children, packed bags for ... vibrations of his voice. Noah is deaf. Learning to comfort him has brought on a whole new way of thinking for us. We relied on our voices, a soothing lullaby, audio toys, and music to comfort our other children. But with Noah, we need to use touch, his soft blankie, sight, the feel of our voices, and most importantly, the use of sign language to communicate emotions and a sense of comfort to him. My husband ...
44. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Porch Sittin [Stories]
... I asked Willie as I passed by his house on my way home. Awwww I m just doin some porch sittin he replied as he swung back and forth ever so slightly on his porch swing. As a child, I would often see Willie out on his porch. He was an older man who still worked hard around his place but he often took time off for some porch sittin . I got the radio on and the Cardinals ... hooks on the porch ceiling. Most swings held two or three people and if neighbors showed up to sit a spell then more chairs would be brought out from inside the house. The younger folks might sit on the porch steps while children played in the yard or found a tree to climb. The porch was like an extension of the living room because it was cooler out on the porch when the summer s heat became uncomfortable. There wasn t air conditioning so ...
... Learn To Speak Their Language A woman was explaining her theory of putting her children to bed:" I never tell bedtime stories that begin with 'Once upon a time," she said." If I really want to put them to sleep, I start off with, 'Now, when I was your age" It's nice to understand people so well that we know just what to say! Here is a mother who could speak her children's language. The story is ... of the most famous elephant in the world-a huge, beautiful and gentle beast named Bozo. Children extended open palms filled with peanuts for the Indian elephant, who gently plucked them from little hands and seemed to smile as he ate his treats. But one day, for some inexplicable reason, Bozo changed. He almost stampeded the man who cleaned his cage. He charged children at the circus and became incorrigible. His owner knew he would have to destroy the once-gentle ...
... cigarettes. I went through eight and a half grueling months of chemotherapy and I still didn't quit smoking. When I was about forty five, I was learning just how hard it is trying to get by on disability payments with no child support and yet somehow I still found the money for my cigarettes. Christmas was upon me. I was flat broke and very depressed. Fortunately, one of the local churches sponsored families for Christmas and we were picked, so my children ... smoked, I really smoked and that meant it was about two packs a day, non-stop, that I was smoking for most of my life. When I was in my late thirties, I got pregnant and had my two youngest children one right after the other. When I was in my forties I got Breast Cancer and had a mastectomy. The first thing I wanted after my surgery was a cigarette and during my entire stay in the hospital I spent much of my ...
47. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Secret Day. [Stories]
... They all continued on their morning rituals. As always, Dad left for work first for his drive into the city took extra time. Mom, stood outside and waited for the school bus before heading to her office. Kissing her child goodbye she watched as she boarded the bus. Climbing up the steps, she turned and said," Happy Secret Day, Mom !" Throughout the day both Mom and Dad discovered more hand written notes with the same message neatly printed in ... sock drawer ," he said. They exchanged notes." Did you plan this with her ?" he asked." No, I didn't. She obviously did this on her own ," Mom replied. They both headed to the young child's room and upon entering they found her standing there, already dressed and ready for school. This was quite a shock for it usually took a few attempts to get her up and going." This is such a wonderful surprise ," Mom ...
... shepherds-who had hurried to the stable because angels had told them the Christ had been born there-the animals again fell silent. The only humans who had heard them were Mary, Joseph and, of course, the Christ child. The legend of the talking animals persists to this day in Scandinavia. And every Christmas Eve, wide-eyed children creep into stables just before midnight to hear the animals praise God for the wondrous birth of His Son. Of course, adults ... The Night The Animals Talked In the frosty mountains and on the snowy fields of Norway, there is a legend that draws children to all kinds to stables and stalls throughout the country on each Christmas Eve night. They are hoping to hear a miracle. They are waiting to hear the animals talk. Over 2, 000 years ago, Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem. This was no abandoned place, but was a working stable, filled with animals of ...
49. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Missing Jesus [Stories]
... or California. Those packing mistakes happen all the time. He suggested just put the extra Jesus back in the box and forget about it." Put Baby Jesus back in the box! What a terrible thing to do said the children"" Surely someone will call ," mother said." We'll just keep the two of them together in the manger until someone calls" When no call had come by 5: 00 PM on Christmas Eve, mother insisted that father" ... I told her you could fix that oil furnace in a jiffy. My mother strode off to the kitchen to warm the milk while my brother and I wrapped up the five little children who were huddled together on the couch. The children's mother explained to my father that her husband had run off, taking bedding, clothing, and almost every piece of furniture, but she had been doing all right until the furnace broke down." I been doin ' washin ' and ...
50. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Freedom's Price. [Stories]
... our relatives while Daddy showed me his brother Arthur's grave. He had died when he was just one year old in an accident. Daddy didn't remember him because he was one of the oldest of ten children and Daddy was the youngest child. Yet, he always paused a moment in front of Arthur's grave to pay his respects and place a flower there for the brother he never got to know in this life. We also attended the Memorial Day service that was held every ... Mama reminded us to be respectful because we were to honor the final resting places of those buried in the cemetery. Mama placed some of the flowers on the graves and she and Daddy spoke about some of the relatives and told us children a little about each one. There were many small American flags at grave sites across the cemetery. Daddy and Mama talked about how those flags were placed there by veteran organizations to honor the soldiers who had served our country, many of ...
51. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Show. [Stories]
... Mom said. Her daughter didn't move an inch." Mommy, you're just kidding me right ?" the young girl said." Kidding? About what ?" asked Mom." I didn't know the snow had ears ," the young child replied." Ears ?"" You said the snow listens ," the child repeated as she rolled over. Mom, being careful not to make fun of her, held back the laugh as long as she could. Then, struggling to ... her own. Of course Mom was always close behind. Not that this was a dangerous hill, but this was the first time Mom was beginning to let go. You know, from the first day we begin to teach our children to be independent, we begin to experience that special pain. The one that tugs at your heart every time they take another step in the direction of adulthood. This moment was far from that, but still it was a first. ...
... Learn To Speak Their Language A woman was explaining her theory of putting her children to bed:" I never tell bedtime stories that begin with 'Once upon a time," she said." If I really want to put them to sleep, I start off with, 'Now, when I was your age" It's nice to understand people so well that we know just what to say! Here is a mother who could speak her children's language. The story is ... of the most famous elephant in the world-a huge, beautiful and gentle beast named Bozo. Children extended open palms filled with peanuts for the Indian elephant, who gently plucked them from little hands and seemed to smile as he ate his treats. But one day, for some inexplicable reason, Bozo changed. He almost stampeded the man who cleaned his cage. He charged children at the circus and became incorrigible. His owner knew he would have to destroy the once-gentle ...
53. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Hands. [Stories]
... have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my life. They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I ... off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle. Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and ...
... strength. If God were real He sure wouldn't do some of the dumb things people said He did. His wife, however, did believe in God and was always quick to say that she was born again. She raised their children to also have faith in God despite his disparaging comments. One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him, as always to come, ... Why Chistmas Is Important There was once a man who didn't believe in God and he didn't hesitate to let others know that he felt religion and religious holidays, like Christmas, were a lot of childish fairy tales. He said that religion was a crutch for people who were too stupid to figure things out for themselves or too fearful to live by their own strength. If God were real He sure wouldn't do some of the dumb things people said He did. His ...
55. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Look Closer. [Stories]
... November 5th. That's when I began thinking Christmas and doing Christmas things. I will admit that I thought, no I believed that this would be the year my son and his wife would be announcing the approaching birth of their first child. That's how I justified pulling decorations out of the attic and down into my living and dining room so early. I even placed a count down on my cell phone and marked it," The best Christmas yet !" As life would ... and I did indeed decorate my home. But I never really saw Christmas until Sunday." How many things in my life am I really not seeing ?" I asked. I am a father, but do I really see my children? I need to" look closer" I am a husband, but do I really see my wife? I am employed by someone part of my time. But do I really see what it is I do? I am a ...
... A Special Child and The Truck-Stop Grab a Kleenex, and enjoy a nice story about one of God's" special children" It'll help you see what Jesus meant when He said-" Love one another" Trying not to be biased, I was hiring a handicapped person. His placement counselor assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. I had never had a mentally handicapped employee, and I wasn't sure I wanted one. I wasn't sure how my ... would react to Stevie. He was short, a little dumpy, and had the smooth facial features and thick-tongued speech of Down Syndrome. I wasn't worried about most of my trucker customers, because truckers don't generally care who buses tables as long as the meatloaf platter is good and the pies are homemade. The four-wheeler drivers were the ones who concerned me; the mouthy college kids travelling to school; the yuppie snobs that secretly polish their silverware with their napkins for fear of ...
... Lessons From a Child Two of the greatest teachers in my life are my children. There is no doubt in my mind that parenting has taught me more than any other life experience. My lovely daughter offered a lesson today on the way home from school. Every conscious man who has ever raised a daughter can testify to a special bond between himself and" daddy's girl". This idol status can be amusing, but one has to be careful when they know they ... on a pedestal. It takes a lot to foul up, but when you do it is more critical than if you were just an ordinary guy. Today my status suffered a slight stumble. We have two dogs. We took in both, mixed breed dogs, after they were abandoned in the country. We live at the intersection of country and city. Horses and cows in two directions; new subdivisions in the other two. Thousands of acres of woods and farmland ...
58. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Child's Angel. [Stories]
... A Child's Angel Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you. But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, ... A Child's Angel Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you. But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, ...
59. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Who's Your Daddy? [Stories]
... and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy. 'Wait a minute! ' he said, 'I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God ' With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said: 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it ' With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out ... Isn't that a great story ?" The professor responded that it really was a great story! As the man turned to leave, he said," You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything !" And he walked away. The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her," Do you know who that man was who just left who ...
... strange, slouching creature with a pencil-thin mustache and adolescent angst oozing from every pore. This extraterrestrial I once called flesh and blood, whose mood swings dwarf the Grand Canyon, seems intent on bungee jumping from that rickety bridge connecting a child with adulthood. And I think he plans on dragging his rapidly aging mother along for the ride. A drastic language change was the first indication of alien infestation in my once-cherished offspring. The rosy-cheeked cherub who used to run to me, ... on to those severed apron strings. I may need them to strangle him.~Jackie Papandrew~2008, All Rights Reserved Jackie Papandrew is an award-winning writer, syndicated humor columnist, coffee addict and mom to a motley crew of children and pets who provide a steady stream of column ideas and dirt. She's also wife to a very patient man who had no idea, years ago when he still had time to escape, what he was getting himself into. Visit her ...
61. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Old Fisherman [Stories]
... he said," Could I please come stay here the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair" He paused a moment and then added," Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind" I said he was welcome to come again. On his next trip the fisherman came a little after seven that morning. As a ... . He was grateful that he had no pain from his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, I put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if ...
... his turn to burn the burgers while leaving a happy memory of family time for our kids to recall in years to come. Many years from now the smell of freshly cut grass will bring the same aroma therapy of youth to our children as it does to us, their aging parents. Back in the summer of our youth every boy's bike had a baseball mitt hanging from the handle bars. On hot muggy nights moms and dads visited with neighbors on front porches while kids ... fit in the back of my father's old Edsel, but we did. These days of summer are definitely different from the days that I remember. But, there are similarities-like the laughter of children enjoying the summers of their childhoods that can spark in our youthful hearts, our own mid summer's memories. Good bye summer till next time, when the beautiful rays of sunshine will once again warm our happy hearts while leading us to the bliss of new beginnings.~ ...
... Brandon comment," You have colored in this book. You are a good colorer"" No, I didn't color these pictures. My grandchildren did"" What are grandchildren ?" Brandon asked curiously." They are my children's children. I am a grandfather"" What's a grandfather ?"" Well, when you grow up and get married, then have children of your own, your dad will be a grandpa. Then, your mother will be a grandma. ... hear Brandon comment," You have colored in this book. You are a good colorer"" No, I didn't color these pictures. My grandchildren did"" What are grandchildren ?" Brandon asked curiously." They are my children's children. I am a grandfather"" What's a grandfather ?"" Well, when you grow up and get married, then have children of your own, your dad will be a grandpa. Then, your mother will be a grandma ...
64. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Living Tree. [Stories]
... The Living Tree The small Canadian Hemlock shook her lacy branches in the wind, like a little girl swinging her petticoats. Like a small child, I had become alive with hope. We stood there, in the windy Christmas tree lot, and each of us was filled with the joy of Christmas. There was no way that we would say" no" to the small Canadian wonder. For she was beautiful. The perfect tree. Due to my deteriorating asthma ... now darkened except for the lights of the tree, was a breathless, magical moment. Tears rolled down my cheeks, as I thanked God, for giving me back my Christmas. We went a little wild, carefully placing every childhood token, every home-made gift, and every bauble and bead, that we had packed so long ago, only to be forgotten. But not this Christmas. Our little living tree became filled with a lifetime of love and sharing. Christmas ...
... baseballs sitting about the room. I told him I had been raised in a Jacksonville, Florida orphanage and that during my entire childhood that I never once owned anything of my own. I told him that these presents were for the children themselves and not for the orphanage. After taking for a few minutes the driver told me he had to leave. He waived and began walking back down the driveway. I turned around, locked garage door and began walking up onto the ... the wooden bench. He and I stood talking about the numerous baseballs gloves, baseball bats, helmets and baseballs sitting about the room. I told him I had been raised in a Jacksonville, Florida orphanage and that during my entire childhood that I never once owned anything of my own. I told him that these presents were for the children themselves and not for the orphanage. After taking for a few minutes the driver told me he had to leave. He waived and ...
... wonderful man and an answer to her prayers. Soon they were married." Chris is a caring husband, and a wonderful stepfather to our daughters ," Sherry says." And he never once mentioned his regret at not having a child of his own" But Sherry knew how he felt. And when she consulted her physician, he believed that there was a chance Sherry could become pregnant again." We began an agonizing journey ," Sherry says." And finally things ... Moore Budniak of Lagrange, Kentucky, had never thought of dreams as special. She had just had her third daughter and also had gone through a tubal ligation, due to her rocky marriage. She would not bring any more innocent children into this household, she had decided, where things were more like a nightmare than a dream. But her husband still wanted out, and soon left her. Sherry worked hard to keep her little family together, and try not to ...
67. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Riding Tandem. [Stories]
... Riding Tandem" When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer" -Corrie Ten Boom Teaching a child to ride a bike can be difficult. I watched as my daughter worked with her son as they went back and forth on the street in front of the house where we were all staying on vacation. I sighed wistfully as I watched because it didn t ... and in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". It's available by freewill donation. More info, and a clip from the CD, is on her website at: http ...
... the tween and teen years that added growls, gray hair, and sleepless nights to my repertoire. An old Yiddish proverb said it best-" Small children disturb your sleep, big children your life" Still, every" big child" starts out a cute, cuddly cutie-pie. The more I get used to this whole Grandma idea, the more I like it. Yes, I'm still working full-time, but I think I'll have more time and patience for a Grandkid ... enjoyed pregnancy and the babyhood of my kids. It seems to me it was the tween and teen years that added growls, gray hair, and sleepless nights to my repertoire. An old Yiddish proverb said it best-" Small children disturb your sleep, big children your life" Still, every" big child" starts out a cute, cuddly cutie-pie. The more I get used to this whole Grandma idea, the more I like it. Yes, I'm still ...
69. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Hoo Hoo Fraks. [Stories]
... will ever forget his first train ride with his" PawPaw ," and I doubt many of our companions that day will forget it either. Josh taught us all a lesson. If we could only see things through the eyes of a child, see them new and fresh every time, life would be more interesting. When I feel bored over the things I see everyday, I think of" hoohoo's" and" fraks ," and remember to see it through the eyes of ... my lap. A grin split his face in half, as the train continued it's journey. At that moment I looked to the back of the car and saw a sea of smiling faces. Everyone was watching Josh and grinning. Children give such a beautiful gift-innocence. Josh was yelling and squealing about the" hoohoo's" and" fraks ," without a clue as to how he was affecting the other passengers. It was impossible not to smile. They all watched ...
... I delivered my precious daughter. When Lorena was a year old, we were finally shipped back to American soil. It was a bitter sweet home coming because my beloved grandmother wouldn't be there to welcome us back. My two younger children would never know her or be held and hugged by her. While showing off my three children to my favorite uncle, he asked me if I'd like a" trinket" from Grammie's jewelry box. I was thrilled to be able to ... Grammie's house once again. I'd spent many happy childhood hours there-playing the piano, playing Monopoly with Uncle Reggie, or exploring the magical upstairs of Grammie's sea captain type house and marveling over the beautiful hand pieced quilts and crocheted bedspreads, the oak dresser with oval mirror, and bath tub with feet. I loved looking from the alcove window in Grammie's downstairs bedroom to watch fishermen as they came to sell their lobsters at my uncle's wharf. I loved sitting at the ...
71. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Circus [Stories]
... a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me. There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. By the way they were dressed, you could tell they didn't have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean. The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in ... him as if to say," You're my knight in shining armor" He was smiling and enjoying his family. The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded," I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus" The ticket lady stated the price. The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. Then he ...
... visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer." Had she lost a child? -No -she has no idea what I'm feeling ," Sandra shuddered." Thanksgiving? Thankful for what ?" she wondered." For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life ... , and she faced major surgery"" Ouch !" said Sandra." That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel"" What did you do ?"" I learned to be thankful for thorns" Sandra's eyebrows lifted." Thorns ?"" I'm a Christian, ...
... Oh Lord, What Did I Ever Do? This is a true story. That's all I will say. Enjoy! Many years ago when my children were very little, I asked the question, Oh Lord, what did I ever do? It was a very rainy day and rained right through the night. We awoke fairly early in the morning to one of the most memorable mornings of our lives. It started normal enough until I opened my boy ... been a life at all.~Bonnie May~All Rights Reserved Bonnie was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania in 1945. Poetry has been her passion for 50 years and she has had many of her poems published. She wrote a children's story as a senior in high school, that was later published as:" The Tale of a Rabbit's Tail" Since then she has published:" Grandpa, When Animals Die, Do They Go to Heaven ," children's book and two ...
74. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Christmas Love. [Stories]
... snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage-held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing" C is for Christmas ," a child would hold up the letter C. Then," H is for Happy ," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message," Christmas Love" The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly ... she had no idea they were laughing at her as she stood tall, proudly holding her" W". One can only imagine the difficulty in calming an audience of young, giggling students. Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood-the reason we were there, why we ...
... out a fellow performer, Carlos, on a three-day" spot date" performing in Rochester, New York. The last note from a twelve-piece band lingered as the ringmaster's deep baritone boomed over the mike." Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages !" During his introduction, snarling tigers were pacing back and forth in a long row of cages stretching out from center ring. Backstage, elephants were trumpeting and skittish ponies were prancing, impatient for their debut. Concessionaires swarmed ... Wouldn't Change A Thing Have you ever dreamed of running away and joining the circus? At age twenty-four, my childhood fantasy came true when I seized the opportunity to do just that. Every morning when I woke up, I marveled at my blessings." People aren't supposed to be this happy when they grow up, are they ?" It all started one hot August night when a skydiving buddy invited me to try trapeze at a local YMCA. The first time that ...
76. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Box Of Kisses [Stories]
... A Box Of Kisses The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said," This is for you, Daddy" He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he ... would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. [Author Unknown-from Denial Bahney] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
77. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Grandma's Hands. [Stories]
... used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life." They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war." They have been dirty, scraped and raw, ... newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse." They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand." They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, ...
... Do you believe in Saint Nick? The child asks," Is there a Santa? Is he really real ?" I must reply," He is my dear, so let your heart be still. You see I know he did exist, a man of flesh and bone, he loved the Lord and felt the call to protect the faith and the ones the Lord calls His own. He lived in small town in what is now Turkey. He was a ... ? Who really cares? His love shines on, no matter how the deed was done. On the night to remember God s greatest gift, His coming as a babe, Saint Nicklaus gave small gifts and candy to poor children who came to his church door. He stood and told one and all the story of the Christ child s birth. His death and resurrection and all that is worth. All this was done to remind them, and us, ...
79. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Silver what? [Stories]
... be out of the door in a flash to help you out. What an incredible father he has been. I know he loves our girls as much as I do! He has never complained about how much I've spent on either child .no matter how out of budget I went. Since he knows how I hate to cook .he hasn't complained (much) about the 20, 000 fast food meals we've consumed. He almost drowned as a child .which is why he doesn't ... and maybe if we didn't make fun of his ultra white legs he'd wear shorts. He doesn't drink alcohol and is forbidden to use the words that are unacceptable to children's ears (and mine). He hates to leave our sleepy little town but, encourages me to go where I want to and he always seems happy to see me as I make it back up the driveway. I cannot begin to tell you the number of conversations I've had with God about him. ...
... Pinewood Derby (The wisdom of a child) My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to" dad". That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the ... Gilbert ?" To which my young son answered," Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I wouldn't cry when I lost" Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the outcome. Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars ...
81. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Listen Or Wait. [Stories]
... He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see` that everything was going to be okay." Thank you and May God bless you ," the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar .a long, slow walk. He never did repair the side door. He ... was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit to fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids running out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and reversed back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid who threw the ...
82. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- LUCY. [Stories]
... anyone can give their cast-offs away. True generosity is giving that which you cherish most. Honest benevolence is a three-year-old offering a treasured, albeit shabby doll to a little girl she doesn't know with the hope that it will bring this child as much pleasure as it brought her. I, who had wanted to teach, had been taught. The boys had watched, open-mouthed, as their baby sister placed her favorite doll in the box. Without a word, Brad rose ... eyes wide with confusion and fear. The article that accompanied the picture gave the clothing sizes of each family member. With growing interest, I noticed that their sizes closely matched ours. This would be a good opportunity to teach my children to help those less fortunate than themselves. I taped the picture of the young family to our refrigerator, explaining their plight to my seven-year-old twins, Brad and Brett, and to three-year-old Meghan." We have so much, ...
83. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Keep Singing [Stories]
... he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive. She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. He looks like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows," Get that kid out of here now! No children are allowed in ICU" The mother rises up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line ... " He is not leaving until he sings to his sister !" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing. In the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sings:" You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray" Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady. Keep on singing, Michael." ...
84. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Night Before Christmas (An African Christimas Story). [Stories]
... really did come to our village that night, but it did not come in the cars or with the travelers. It came in the birth of my nephew in the midst of our suffering. We saw hope in what this little child could do. This birth turned out to be the universal story of how bad things turned into universal hope, the hope we found in the Baby Jesus. A miracle occurred that night before Christmas and all of a sudden I knew we ... consumed at the Christmas Eve dinner and the Christmas Day dinner, I knew I could not taste the rice, chicken, goat, lamb, and fruits of various kinds. The houses were always decorated with beautiful paper ornaments. The children and all the young people loved to make and decorate their homes and schools with colorful crepe paper. All of us looked forward to the Christmas Eve Service at our church. After the service there would be a joyous possession through the streets ...
85. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Jack's Lily. [Stories]
... the filed of lilies. No other name would have done her justice. But Lily never had a chance. When she was two, her mother walked out, announcing that she did not want to be tied down to a crippled child. Jack wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Hatred and self pity overcame him out of the depth of his conscience. He never knew where his wife went, but his life hit a downward path-too much drinking and gambling ... many fights. He recalled with an oath that the last fight over a game of cards when tempers and blood ran hot together. He was doing time now on a manslaughter conviction. Lily had lived out her days in a crippled children's home. She never walked in her five short years of life. The only kind spot in Jack's heart was for the nice elderly couple who had cared for Lily in the home. Jack stared at the ceiling remembering every detail of Lily's ...
... age of 21 through 50 all held one common denominator, Customer Service related duties. Whether I was a receptionist or in management I always dealt with the public. During this time period at the age of 31 I had my first child, a set of identical twin boys, two years later I had my third son. One year later I was divorced. Life was hard. I was financially devastated, overwhelmed with massive responsibilities, and three beautiful sons who made it ... January 05 I watched a T.V. program called Airline, it depicted the everyday happenings of Southwest Airlines travelers. They profiled a Flight Attendant (not Stewardess anymore) that was a 50 year old widow, living alone since all her children were grown and had left home. She said she loved working with people and needed to get out of the house, her name was Billy. She said she had seen an advertisement for a Southwest Airline open house for flight attendants. ...
87. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Sometimes. [Stories]
... say attitude is everything so choose a better one than that. Third .take on the challenge to change the perception of being old. It's nice playing cards in the park. Why not be proactive in your community. If you have children, prove to them it's never too late to begin again. The truth is sometimes you win but you always learn from losing. That's a win, too" The man stood up to shake my hand." Sometimes ," he said ... was raised. Now that I look back I see how limiting that was and wonder how much more I could have accomplished ," he said." What's stopping you now ?" I asked. It was a simple word but in his childhood it was more of a philosophy. Sometimes. I watched that day as two men played cards in a nearby park. It was a warm, sunny day blessed with an occasional breeze just when you needed it. I saw it as ...
... the rights of a family member. Still, I could not leave with a pure heart without an equal measure of both ," Miriam said with a tear gleaming in her eye. The man smiled broadly and replied," My dear child, you shall indeed have both-Mercy and Grace. For in my mercy I will not exact a punishment that is justly deserved and in my grace I will give to you what can never be earned" Point of Encouragement: This ... is a picture of how God deals with us. It is His mercy that embraces us in our sin offering forgiveness and it is in His grace that we find that we are given the right to be His children. Like Miriam, the only way grace can be ours is to accept the gift of Jesus Christ that is offered to us by God Himself. God did not have to forgive us (show mercy ), nor did he have to allow us to become members ...
... 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, ... we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that read," Daffodil Garden" We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat ...
... I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder. Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?" Good afternoon, can I help you ?" The shop clerk's approach startled her." I .I need an arrangement ," stammered Sandra." For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the ... into drugs, and she was facing major surgery"" That same year I had lost my husband ," continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel"" So what did you do ?" asked Sandra." I learned to be thankful for thorns ," answered the clerk quietly." I've always ...
... Leaf and Wind said softly," You can Hear Life's voice in me" Whenever it blew past, be it a breeze or gale, the little green leaf waved a joyful greeting to Wind-like the hand of a happy child to a loved one." I will love you for all time ," Leaf whispered to the moving air around it." I could not be happier" Hearing this promise Tree itself shook and emitted a deep chuckle." I am ... . One day in springtime Wind rustled past Tree and heard Tree telling all the young leaves about the Leaf that had loved the Wind and perished in the dirt. Wind came back through Tree singing a breezy tune," Listen my children, but not to those who tell you that your fate is in the dirt. Listen to me instead. I will tell the tale of how you will become Heaven's Dust. Believe and you will never dread" If ever you wonder ...
... . Nick of yuletide fame still carries faint reminders of this ancient man of God. The color of his outfit recollects the red of bishop's robes." Making a list, checking it twice ," probably recalls the old saint's lectures to children about good behavior. Gifts secretly brought on Christmas eve bring to mind his humble generosity to the three daughters. Yet if he were alive today, this saint would humbly deflect attention from himself. No fur-trimmed hat and coat, no reindeer ... The Real 'Saint Nick ' You'd hardly expect to find old St. Nick in jail. But St. Nicholas is more than a children's Christmas legend. He was flesh and blood, a prisoner due to his belief in Christ, bishop of the Mediterranean city of Myra. What do we know about the real St. Nicholas? He was born, ancient biographers tell us, to wealthy parents in the city of Patara about 270 A.D. He was still young when ...
93. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- You Are Loved. [Stories]
... loved. You are loved every second of everyday of your life with a glorious love that will never end. Know that you are loved. Know that God loves you always. Rejoice in this love with the joyous heart of a child. And then, like a jolly laughing Santa, go out and share it with the world. [By: Joseph J. Mazzella-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... the local grade school on the last day before the Christmas holidays. Near the end of the day I was summoned to the principal's office and asked to be the Santa who visited all the classrooms. Being a great lover of both children and Christmas I agreed. I can still remember going from classroom to classroom doing my best to sound both old and jolly at the same time. I was about 50 pounds heavier then so I had the round little belly part down fine ...
... sold almost all of our toys; and all of the layaways, except one package, had been picked up. Usually we kept the store open until everything had been claimed. We wouldn't have been happy on Christmas knowing that some child's gift was still on the layaway shelf. But the person who had put a dollar down on the package never returned. Early Christmas morning we and our twelve-year-old son, Tom, opened gifts. But I'll tell you, there was something ... about this Christmas. Tom was growing up; I missed his childish exuberance of past years. As soon as breakfast was over Tom left to visit his friend next door. Herman mumbled," I'm going back to sleep. There's nothing left to stay up for" So there I was alone, feeling let down. And then it began. A strange, persistent urge. It seemed to be telling me to go to the store. I looked at the sleet and ...
95. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Our Time. [Stories]
... .Mom, I'll be there for the funeral ," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack ... , and nothing could stop him. Over the phone, his mother told him," Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday" Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days." Jack, did you hear me ?"" Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago ," ...
... so sorry that Dad left us Mom. But I just wanted you to know we still have each other" Happy Valentines Day, Love, Your son, Adam What better love on Valentine's Day then the love of a mother and child." I believe in You !"~Bob Perks~" Reflect upon your present blessings-of which every man has many-not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some"-Added by Editor: SkyWriting.Net [ ... that would touch her heart. But we all know that the essence of true love and commitment is in the little things. She stood there in the doorway and he motioned to her to sit next to him. Not trusting the childish grin he now had on his face, she hesitated for a moment, but gave in. She always did. She sat at the far end of the couch teasing him, he quickly responded by sliding right next to her. She ...
... -a great big box of tissues. Now, a box of tissues may not sound like much of a gift to you, but they were one thing we never had in our house when I was growing up. With seven children and very little money, tissues were a true luxury item for us. My mother never bought them and for an obvious reason-they would be gone in a day or two. I laughed out loud thinking of how my mother always ... From Time To Time When I noticed the unused tissue on top of the neatly folded towels in the bathroom, I drifted back in time to my childhood... The weather had turned sharply colder and Christmas was nearing. Feeling grown up, privileged to know that Santa was" in spirit" and didn't really come down chimneys, I decided that the mature thing to do was to get a gift for my mom. We were poor, but only in money ...
98. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Making A Life. [Stories]
... . If you have faith don't just apply it randomly. Often times we do the right thing when it doesn't take much effort. Making a life means being faithful. Have fun. Take time to be silly. God loves the child in us, not just the children. Making a life means living fully. Laughing often. Love. Take time to love unconditionally. Our faith tells us to love one another not just a select few. Not just those who are ... us. All people. Making a life means loving the life in others. Finally, sacrifice. Stop asking for what you can get, ask what you can give, what you can do. Making a life means giving life to others." You are not making a life for a day, you are making a lifetime from it"" I believe in You !" J~Bob Perks~[ by: Bob Perks Copyright 2009 (2believe @comcast.net)- ...
... had been watching over him all the time, even when he stumbled and fell. That view from my kitchen window has remained in my mind until this day. In one way it is a literal picture of the need of a child for a father s good example. It is also an illustration for all of us. We also need to follow our heavenly Father a step at a time and then wait for the next step like Jeremy did with his earthly father ... as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD ...
100. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Scars. [Stories]
... to be at this point in life." Too tall"" too short"" too fat"" too thin"." my parents"" my family"" ever since my divorce"" ever since we had children" and on and on. All scars that never heal because we keep picking at them. I swore I would never do that, yet, today I didn't even hesitate to show Doc my scar. It's okay. I see it ... reverting back to my childhood. If you are of the Christian faith, I suggest that you turn to the One who bore the scars of death for you. Then you will have no excuse. What scars do you have?" I believe in You !" J~Bob Perks~[ by: Bob Perks Copyright 2009 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
101. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Sunrise Service. [Stories]
... said this, he breathed his last As soon as the scripture was finished Suzanne and I began to sing the old spiritual, Were you there when they crucified my Lord ? and I knew in my heart even as a child that in some mysterious way, I was there and that the Lord paid a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I couldn t pay. When our duet ended, the narrator began reading the words: Now ... as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD ...
102. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Teach the Children. [Stories]
... Teach the Children This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out." What are you doing ?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement." TEACH THE CHILDREN !" I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said," Teach the children! ...
... and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out." What are you doing ?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat, and I saw that he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement:" TEACH THE CHILDREN !" I was puzzled, what did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said," Teach the children. Teach them the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning of Christmas that nowadays has been forgotten" Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. Teach the children that the pure green color of ...
... . It takes my breath! The young mother set her foot on the path of life." Is this the long way ?" she asked. And the guide said" Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning" Since the young mother was happy, she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog, and do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried," Nothing will ever be lovelier than this" Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and ...
105. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- My Special Valentine. [Stories]
... bark, Chrissie and Scruffy's excited yapping, and the three geese honking -triggering the disappearance of the three preschoolers out the door that I realized what time it was. Licking my fingers, then wiping my hands on my apron, I hustled the cake into the cupboard, and the dishes into the sink." I wonder if Dean will keep our secret ," I said to myself as I rinsed the evidence off the dishes. But I hadn't long to wonder as the children burst through the door, dropping their lunch kits onto the counter, all trying to talk at once." I didn't tell, Mommy" I heard the piercing announcement through the din of eight other youthful voices. I smiled at the four-year-old, and stood watching the excitement of the children." I got twenty-eight valentines ," piped six-year-old Dennis. To him Valentine's Day was a new experience, and clutching them all in his hand at once, he came toward me. ...
106. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Walk In The Forest. [Stories]
... A Walk In The Forest It started out as just an ordinary Sunday walk with our nine foster children. It was a beautiful, crisp December day, just after the first snowfall of the season. Our intention was to find the perfect Christmas tree, mark it, and come back in two weeks to get it, just in time for Christmas. The children ranged in age from four to fourteen. As we walked, the younger children would point out different plants, or spot a bird, and ask their names. It became a game amongst us all, to see if we could name them correctly. The older children, having recently learned in school, about forest Flora and fauna, were more knowledgeable than my husband and I were about the subject. But soon the game became stale and the children began flopping in the fresh snow to make snow angels. And that's when we heard it. It sounded like a gunshot. ...
107. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Easter Gift. [Stories]
... The Easter Gift It had been a busy time adjusting to a new school for the children as well as making friends and feeling settled in a suburb of Atlanta. With two in elementary and one in junior high, it was a fragile age, and building friendships without peer pressure was important. The days were warm and the azaleas were out in full bloom by mid-March. The new life and spring flowers helped us to enjoy our new home. We had joined a nearby church and met a number of people who were friendly and included us in the social events, always thinking of our children as well. We knew Easter was coming and our family was back in Michigan. At night, as my husband and I were talking, I shared some of my feelings about the area still not feeling like home, and I was concerned about the kids and how different it was for them in a Southern city, coming from Northern roots. ...
108. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Create Spring. [Stories]
... Create Spring" Long after the cold, bitter and lost days the warmth of hope and ideals renewed still remain ," he said. It might seem strange to you. But I get the same relaxing feeling lying on my back in the snow as I do lying on the beach in summer. I close my eyes and listen to the world around me. I hear children laughing and the sun keeps me warm. I have learned to be where I want to be just by closing my eyes. We've had some snow here where I live. The kind of snow that calls the hearts of young and old alike." Come play! Ride the hill and slide down the mountain. Laugh and create tomorrow's memories while you can" So now that my children play no more beside me in the snow or on the beach, I have all I can do to remember. I bring them back into my life just by lying in the ...
109. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Christmas Story [Stories]
... and came out with an armload of wood -the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something." Pa ," I asked," what are you doing ?"" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately ?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?" Yeah ," I said," why ?"" I rode by just today ," Pa said." Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt" That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high ...
... fly. Then, perhaps it was the warmth of her hands or the welcoming response to the attention it was given, but the butterfly began to walk slowly up to her palm." Poor little butterfly ," she repeated again as she brought it closer to her face." If I could kiss you I would," she said. The butterfly, appearing to respond, slowly opened its wings, to reveal its beautiful designand colors. Now open fully, the child brought it closer and gave an angel's kiss of love. Just off in the distance watching this precious moment, her grandmother walked toward them." Oh, you have found it ," she said." I was waiting for it and wondered where it was" The child looked a bit surprised and said." You were waiting for this butterfly? Why ?"" It is sent to remind us ," grandmother said." But it is dying. I feel sorry for ...
... following two years we had our own little in-house, full-time daycare. After the girls had been with us for about six months, I attempted to get involved in a Bible study group at our church. One thing or another always seemed to prevent me from attending. I was feeling a little discouraged, but I'd purchased devotional tapes and a study guide and thought I could keep up with the Bible study by myself at home. One afternoon, after I'd put the children down for their naps, I tackled a mountain of laundry that had piled up on the sofa and needed folding. As I was folding, I began discussing my plight with the Lord." You know, Lord, I've started attending this Bible study and I'm trying to find time for You and everything I need to do, but I just can't seem to find any time. I've tried getting up before daylight, but one of the kids always hears me and gets ...
... work, just to do something pleasurable. I inherited some traits from my father that I could have done without, but one thing I wish that I had gotten from him was some of his daring He never would back down from things that were scary or dangerous. He never lacked the courage to do the seemingly impossible. My father taught me love. I never once doubted my father s love. He would have died for any one of his children, if the need had arisen. Personal comforts were not in his vocabulary. He sacrificed in order to send us to a Christian high school and Bible school. He went without himself, in order for us to have an education, and the essentials of life. I do not remember my father ever saying, I love you He didn t have to. Actions speak louder than words. In the days when I was growing up, being ...
113. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Angel Project. [Stories]
... as though everyone had been touched by something magical. Finally we could see into the building and I was overcome with emotion as my eyes took in hundreds of overflowing boxes. Each box filled with care represented not only hours of time on the part of volunteers, but the generosity and caring of hundreds of people. The boxes were filled with food for empty stomachs. Some boxes sported brand new toys, gifts from anonymous individuals throughout the town and area, toys for children who might otherwise go without. I suddenly felt self-conscious, aware that tears were flowing freely down my cheeks. I was touched by the display of kindness. I turned away from the crowds of people to wipe away the tears, and just as I did I was to see everything in a kind of mist and glow-like appearance. How fitting to see the" Angel Project" in this way. It was four days before Christmas and today marked the climax of the Angel ...
... Blessings To All Moms My mother, Irene, bore 8 children in a 12 year span. I was the 7th out of 8 and the last girl. Mother, as we all called her, was a stay at home mom until my brother and I were in Kindergarten and 1st grade respectively. She spent her whole life taking care of, and raising eight strong and independent children. She worked in my elementary school as a librarian, and in my middles school as an aide. She was well liked by the children and the staff and she did special things all the time to make you feel loved and cared for. She was a great cook and an incredible baker. She took cake decorating courses to make cakes that would bring a smile to your face. Never once did she complain about the time it took to make half a doll body look like a princess. She would read us books. She would brush my hair ...
115. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- My Child. [Stories]
... My Child My Child.... You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139: 1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139: 2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139: 3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10: 29-31 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1: 27 In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17: 28 For you are my offspring. Acts 17: 28 I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1: 4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1: 11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139: 15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17: 26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139: 14 I ...
116. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Christmas Scout. [Stories]
... thought struck Frank-he had not done his" good deed" for the day. Before the impulse passed, he knocked on the door." Yes ?" the sad voice of the woman asked." May I come in ?" asked Frank." You are very welcome ," she said, seeing his sled full of gifts, and assuming he was making a collection," but I have no food or gifts for you. I have nothing for my own children"" That's not why I am here ," Frank replied." Please choose whatever presents you would like for your children from the sled"" Why, God bless you !" the amazed woman answered gratefully. She selected some candies, a game, the toy airplane and a puzzle. When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost cried out. Finally, the stockings were full." Won't you tell me your name ?" she asked, as Frank was leaving. ...
... the tiny fingers." That cradle you spent so much time on would be real nice right now, Joseph" She looked up at the cave's low ceiling." You could hang it somewhere. No baby I know has a cradle like that. It's fit for a king" Joseph grinned." Not every boy has a carpenter for a dad ," he said. But he wondered. Why couldn't little Jesus be home in that cradle? Why does this special child the angel told Mary and him about have to be born in this smelly stable? A hill-country carpenter's home is bad enough. Why here? Why Bethlehem? The answer wasn't long in coming. An older boy poked his head in the door, startling the couple from their quiet moment." Is there a baby in here ?" he mumbled apologetically. Then he saw the tiny child. Mary picked her baby up to shield the infant from his eyes. The face disappeared ...
118. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- No Regrets. [Stories]
... No Regrets At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the sport of canoe racing was added to the list of international competitions. The favorite team in the four-man canoe race was the United States team. One member of that team was a young man by the name of Bill Havens. As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill's wife would give birth to their first child about the time that the U.S. team would be competing in the Paris games. In 1924 there were no jet airliners from Paris to the United States, only slow ocean going ships. And so Bill found himself in a dilemma. Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife's side when their baby was born? Or should he withdraw from the team and remain with his family? Bill's wife insisted that he go to Paris. After all, competing in the Olympics was the culmination of a life long dream. But Bill ...
... times I suggested fun activities to keep him occupied, but he would just smile and say, 'That's alright Mommy I'd rather be in here with you ' He continued to follow me and after the fifth trip, my patience wore thin and I asked him why he was following me constantly" He said," My Sunday school teacher told me to walk in Jesus ' footsteps but I can't see him so I'm walking in yours" The greatest way we can teach our children about and show our loved ones the love of Jesus is through the example of how we live, and how we model his love in our everyday life. As another has said," We raise not the children we want but the children that we the parents are" Suggested prayer," Dear God, please help me to so live that people, especially my children (and loved ones ), will see Jesus in me and will want to follow in my footsteps and ...
120. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- It was in the cards! [Stories]
... person, at the right time. Like mushy cards about going fishing and an" always understanding father" They didn't create one for my Dad. Oh, he had his moments, but I always tended to buy" Thanks for all you have done for me" generic cards. My wife loves greeting cards. She even has a membership card to the big card shop chain. But, yesterday I saw them in a different light. Through the eyes of a child. I needed a card for a friend. I had already been standing in the card aisle for at least twenty minutes, when I noticed the young girl." Okay, I need one for Granny and one for my best friend, Jackie. Oh, and one for Mommy and Daddy" Just then a woman walked around the corner." How are you doing this time ?" she asked." Oh, Mommy I think I'm finding the best one's here" ...
121. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Burden-Bearer. [Stories]
... The Burden-Bearer A long-ago legend has it that, there once lived a man of towering strength, a giant of a man. He was a pagan whose strength perhaps led him to believe that he needed no higher power. He made his living by carrying travelers across a broad river. One day a beautiful child came to the bank of the river. As the man bent down to allow the child to climb upon his back, the young lad said," Are you sure you can bear my weight ?" The man laughed." Why, I've carried full-grown men across the river. You, my little one, will be lighter than a pebble"" Very well ," said the boy." But I must warn you. I am heavier than I look" With a grin, the man raised the child upon his massive shoulders and stepped out into the swirling water. But the weight on his back grew strangely heavy. Soon ...
... A Child Shall Lead Them From time to time I travel to town from my new found country home. On this particular Saturday it was Adam's turn to accompany dad on the forty-five minute drive-a coveted pleasure. As we left he promised his two brothers, Tyler and Brandon, he would return with a bounty of candy they all would share. After parking the truck I woke Adam telling him we had arrived. His sleepy brown eyes opened peering out the window." Can we get candy, daddy ?"" Yes, honey. We will get you candy. We need to walk down the street" Adam, 7, is a curious boy who never lacks for questions. As we walked, he asked about the grand limestone church to our left." What is that, daddy ?"" It's a church, honey. That's the house of God. People go there to pray ," I say, trying to avoid a ...
... from the box, clutched it against my chest and inhaled the aroma. Even though it smelled of plastic, it sent a wave of delight through me. Those days flicker memories of the simple life, uncomplicated and easy. It was a life lacking in material possessions, but one rich with appreciation for small things. Events turned the pages of each year. As I grew up in America, life changed. Prosperity visited our marriage, we hurried to indulge our children and we began accumulating stuff. Life became easier, but far more complicated. Gifts cost more and their purchase rang urgent. Eventually, our wants turned to nagging needs. Sadly, what we cherished as children now painted a sorrowful scene. And the peace each Christmas season had previously brought subtly ushered tension instead. But, as weather changes and seasons offer variety, this writer believes we can also change by taking a step back to the simpler life, easier routine and ...
... God Knows Where You Are Do you believe that God not only loves you, but knows where you are and what you're doing every minute of the day? I certainly do after an amazing experience I had several years ago. At the time I was driving on 1-75 near Dayton, Ohio, with my wife and children. We turned off the highway for a rest and refreshment stop. My wife Barbara and children went into the restaurant. I suddenly felt the need to stretch my legs, so waved them off ahead saying I'd join them later. I bought a soft drink, and as I walked toward a Dairy Queen, feelings of self-pity enshrouded my mind. I loved the Lord, but I felt drained, burdened. My cup was empty. Suddenly the impatient ringing of a telephone nearby jarred me out of my doldrums. It was coming from a phone booth at a service station on the corner. Wasn't anyone going to answer ...
125. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- This Is The Moment. [Stories]
... gift and a challenge for me. There are very few people in my life who share that enthusiasm thus leaving me frustrated. The truth is, I have had so many" moments" in my life." When all I've done-All the dreaming, Scheming and screaming, Become one !" Today I have arrived at a pinnacle moment in my life and continue to expect even more. Am I a" chosen one ?" Do I see myself as God's special child? Apparently so. But so are you. Have I always felt like this? No way. I lost years of my life to negative thinking and destructive living. No matter what your situation in life, I promise you that you have had those moments already. You've just chosen not to see them with the magnifying vision of hope and love. It's never too late to capture such moments because you will have more. Remember, I am not talking about awards and ...
... became available, such as the telegraph and telephone, most of them were still too new and expensive for the majority of people to use on a daily basis so they were used for important business or emergencies. Our predecessors had many rules and guidelines for writing letters. Some of the rules depended on the type of letter that was being written while others had to do with etiquette and courtesy. The main types of letters written were either business letters or friendly letters. Children were taught how to write letters in grade school and parents also assisted them in learning to write respectful letters using good manners. Many of the rules seem strange or even funny to us these days but the rules were carefully followed by nearly everyone. A few of the rules found in school books from the past were: Do not attempt a letter unless you have something to say. Do not use lined paper for a formal letter. Don't write on a half-sheet of paper ...
... O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" then silence. The minister began by welcoming everyone and in particular the visitors," Family and friends who return home each year"" In the center of the church you will notice a single seat holding a bouquet of Christmas flowers. It is in memory of a man we called," The Voice of Christmas" The service began building to that very moment they all waited for. Lights dimmed and a young child holding a single candle in his hand walked toward the front. The organist began the intro and the choir stood to sing," O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" There was a sudden hush and the faint sound of one small voice singing." It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices ...
128. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Dear God: What Now? [Stories]
... Dear God: What Now? Dear God: I'm scared. It feels as though I have done one thing my entire life and that is to be a wife and mother. OK, technically, that's two things, but thankfully, You know what I mean! Now that my children are half grown, I find that I have so much extra time on my hands. So much time that I am checking my watch by the end of the day impatiently waiting for the kids to get off of the school bus! I have loved, hugged, bathed, doctored, diapered, played, tied, baked, volunteered, and taxied -all sorts of things! None of which would gleam on any resume! I'm scared, God. What do I do now that they don't want me to play house or need me to read them a story? What do I do now that they turn to best friends for affirmation, consolation, ...
129. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Clover Alert. [Stories]
... Clover Alert Since childhood, I have had this special" gift" of finding four leaf clovers wherever they may be lurking. One sweet summer vacation day, several of my childhood friends and I were playing in a field filled with daisies, when I discovered a four leaf clover-and then another, and another. The hunt was on. While my friends were unsuccessful, it wasn't long before I had bagged several four leaf clovers and a five leaf clover! Then I found a six leaf, then to my surprise and delight, a seven, an eight, and a nine. Many years later, upon opening my childhood Bible, dozens of dried, brittle memories of that day fell out bringing a smile to my face. I'd forgotten putting the clovers there for safe keeping. After marrying Roy, my second husband (another stroke of" luck ") and moving to the house we live in now, he was working on ...
130. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Where Two Ways Met. [Stories]
... there we found the road was drifted so deep it drowned our car and we sat stranded in the road. Charlie got out and began the long walk to our home. He was going to bring our big truck back and pull the car home with it. There was nothing we could do but wait in the car. I told stories and we sang nursery rhymes for what seemed like hours. I was getting more worried by the minute but did not want the children to know I was so scared. Finally my youngest son John who was three climbed over into the front seat beside me and said," Mommy, my daddy is gonna freeze to death out there. And we will freeze too" I said" No John, Daddy will be coming with the truck soon !" But the darkness and blowing snow was covering our car and made it impossible to see anything outside. John climbed over into the back seat and knelt down on ...
131. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- What I Did For Love. [Stories]
... has been assigned responsibility for the annual prayer observance, and they did an excellent job. Only two or three of us knew that the little white-haired lady on the second row, Josie Lanzetta, actually started these prayer observances nearly 15 years ago. She took it upon herself to call the mayor's office and ask if we could use the park and the pavilion for the prayer service. Sometimes a dozen of us would meet, and once or twice a school-bus load of children. In time, the idea caught on and now others have taken the leadership. Miss Josie is so kind and unassuming, she simply shows up as a participant and would never in a hundred years tell that she originated these observances in Kenner. Even though the program exceeded the noon hour, each speaker / pray-er was outstanding and brought a special contribution to the proceedings. These included the mayor, a judge, several ministers, a medical doctor, a local television personality ...
132. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- God's Love Story [Stories]
... away. I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away. I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all" DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?" I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief. I had no excuse. What could I say to this? My heart had cried out and the tears had flowed, I said, Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child" The Lord answered," That is My Grace, My child" I asked," Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so ?" The Lord answered," Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you. When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you. When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you. When you are down, I will encourage you ...
... of frost. Our ears are serenaded by the songs of birds as they greet the new day. Dew sprinkled flowers lift sparkling faces to the sun. God's finger draws cloud pictures in the blue morning sky. Angels, puppies and ice cream cones fill our imaginations. Leaves dressed in their glorious summer green, speak to us as a brisk breeze blows through the trees foretelling a colder time yet to come.The smell of crisping bacon tantalizes our taste buds. Dogs bark, children play and is the distance the sound of mooing cows. Each distinct sound harmonizing into a summer symphony of praise. As the chilly air begins to warm, we start to enjoy the peaceful, pastoral scenes we have come to see. The road weaves a pattern through the cornfields as a tapestry in the hands of a master weaver. Tassels on ears of corn ripe and ready for picking are almost near enough to touch. Barefoot children play in farmyards and run through fields ...
134. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Pumpkin Patch. [Stories]
... scarecrows could be seen everywhere, greeting young and old alike. A barn converted into a craft store for the occasion had all you could want for the fall festivities. Caramel apples covered in peanuts to sink your teeth into, cider to sip, and popcorn balls to crunch. No trip to the pumpkin patch would be complete without a good old fashioned hay ride. The farmer's tractor pulled the long, wooden seated vehicle out into the middle of the patch as the children sang songs.The ride was bumpy, the songs were severely off key, but the giggle of happy children always made for a joyful ride. When we reached our destination the kids were instructed to only pick a pumpkin they were able to carry. Of course it never failed-Bill and I would each be lugging an oversized Jack-O-Lantern back to where the tractor waited. I fondly remember all the fun on a far away piece of farmland where the weather signaled the end of summer ...
135. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Our Greatest Gift. [Stories]
... feel these squeezes every once in a while? They're quite unpleasant and sometimes even painful"" Yes ," he answered." What's special about that ?"" Well ," the sister said, I think that these squeezes are there to get us ready for another place, much more beautiful than this, where we will see our mother face-to-face. Don't you think that's exciting ?"" How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" 1 John 3: 1-2 (NIV) [Henri Nouwen-from Charlotte] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All ...
... off the ill-fitting boots. He then calmly added," They're my brother's boots. My mom made me wear them" She began to realize how close she was to stripping her gears as she struggled with the boots yet again. When they were finally laced, she said," Now, where are your mittens ?"" I stuffed them in the toes of my boots ," he said. She may have been the same teacher who once commented about a particularly difficult child in her class," Not only is he my worst behaved child this year, but he also has a perfect attendance record. A Dutch proverb observes," A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains" I may never have to worry about having a bushel of brains, but I can sometimes muster a handful of patience. And that should be enough.~Steve Goodier~[ by: Steve Goodier Copyright 2008 (LifeSupport @yahoogroups.com)- ...
137. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Christmas Crayons. [Stories]
... Christmas Crayons My childhood was filled with laughter, love, and happy memories-especially during the holidays, but the yuletide that stands out most is the year of the Christmas Crayons. I was nine that December, little sis Diane was eight and big brother Dennis was 10. Since all of us were sophisticated non-believers in the man in the big red suit, Mom thought she'd be straight with us." Money's tight so you're each getting one small gift so I can get your dad the dresser he needs ," Mom warned. Dennis made a grumpy face, but Diane and I weren't too upset. After all, we had plenty of Barbies and board games to occupy our free time. One day, about a week before Christmas, Dad was at work so Mom brought out a huge box and a gigantic roll of red wrapping paper." I need you kids to help wrap but remember, Dad's dresser is our secret ," Mom ...
138. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- C O D. [Stories]
... It is the funeral homes, banks, feed stores, car dealers, various charities, the president, and let s not forget the post office that delivers some of them. The good thing about COD is that I do have the calendars to keep track of everything. I write down birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, meetings, trips, and many other things on them, but
now which calendar did I write them on? I have already warned my children that COD can be hereditary. I seemed to have gotten it from my mother. Her calendar contained such things as when the cow went dry, when the old hen was setting, and when the potatoes were planted. COD can be almost as bad as CCD. You know
Catalog Circling Disorder. That s when you can t look through a catalog without a pencil in hand to circle the items that you want but probably can never afford to buy, ...
... had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero. I went on to write many stories which last week saved the life of a teenage boy. In turn that makes the person who sent me the card a double hero. I suppose that is why I fight so hard to help the children now living in orphanages. Most children come out of these institutions with a very hard and vindictive attitude against the world. The gifts we send them let them know that they have not been forgotten. Hopefully, most of them will never hurt anyone because of the kindness shown to them by those of us who cared. If it works we will also become heroes Gee, who would have every thought that anyone can become a hero, and possibly save a life ...
140. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Comfort from Above. [Stories]
... Today's bus trip would take me back to the little barrio (community) of Lantap, 180 miles north of Manila where we had been living for the past five weeks. We had been learning Ilocano, one of the national languages of the Philippines. I needed to pack up all of the belongings we had left behind when we hurriedly came to Manila for tests at the heart hospital. My thoughts drifted to Dennis, my husband of ten years, and our two children who were staying in the mission guest house in Manila while I was making my three-day trip. Dennis would be spending most of his time resting while other people watched Tim, six, and Rachel, three. Lord, be with them today; keep them safe. Over the past few days I had looked at dozens of Bible verses on peace and comfort. I had been praying constantly, but God's peace still eluded me. My one question was: would I be ...
141. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Cowboys and Indians. [Stories]
... Cowboys and Indians During my childhood, the beautiful Appalachian mountains of Southern West Virginia served as the playground of my friends and me. We were rugged outdoor kids who simply loved adventure. We didn't sit indoors like most kids today, playing video games and surfing the Net; we were too busy out playing ball, swinging on grapevines, catching crawdads and minnows, hiking, swimming or fishing at the old pond, camping, or anything else that would get us out of the house. Had our parents only known a fraction of what we were doing, they would have surely maintained a fuller prayer life. We especially loved to play games. We'd play hide-and-seek, tag, and tackle-the-man-with-the-football, as well as make-believe games like cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers. In the world of make-believe, guns were created by sticking your thumb straight up and extending your index finger straight out while curling the other three fingers around a make-believe pistol grip ...
... ME
TWICE . I often worried about the poor soul that bought the killer waterbed at Goodwill. But fleetingly, since I was so glad to be back in a safe and comfortable traditional bed again. Now I simply close my eyes and sleep. Goodnight!~Bonnie May~All Rights Reserved Bonnie was born in Shamokin, Pennsylvania in 1945. Poetry has been her passion for 50 years and she has had many of her poems published. She wrote a children's story as a senior in high school, that was later published as:" The Tale of a Rabbit's Tail" Since then she has published:" Grandpa, When Animals Die, Do They Go to Heaven ," children's book and two poetry books," My Heart Wants to Tell You" and" MY HEART WANTS TO TALK! TALK! TALK!" These books can be purchased through http :// www.Lulu.com. [By: Bonnie May Copyright 2008 (bmaycolo1 @msn.com ...
... nervous about the trip and had counted on my reading to her the whole way. Trying to read across the aisle would be a challenge. When the two passengers who shared my row boarded the plane, I asked if they would switch places with Kallie and me, so that we could be together and so that she could sit next to the window. They refused, saying they thought they should stay in their assigned seats. Meanwhile, a mother and her three children were in a panic several rows ahead of us. There had been a mistake in their boarding passes, the whole family had been split up. The passengers in her row also refused to move elsewhere. The mother could hold her baby, but her 6-year-old son and his older brother had been scattered around the plane. She was very concerned about the younger boy sitting with strangers. She was in tears, yet nobody offered to help her. Suddenly the Scout leader stood ...
144. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Pretty One. [Stories]
... . I explained to her the man had come for the puppy just an hour before, and there were no puppies left. I m sorry, Jeffery. They sold all the puppies , she told her grandson. Just at that moment the small puppy left in the bedroom began to yelp. My puppy! My puppy ! yelled the little boy as he ran out from behind his grandmother. I just about fell over when I saw that the small child also had a cleft lip and palate. The boy ran past me as fast as he could, down the hallway to where the puppy was still yelping. When the three of us made it to the bedroom, the small boy was holding the puppy in his arm. He looked up at his grandmother and said, Look Grandma. They sold all the puppies except the pretty one, and he looks just like me Well, old Grandma wasn t the ...
... Cranberry Sauce and Pumpkin Pie Turkeys and cornucopias and pilgrim hats. Seasoned stuffing hot from the oven. Creamed onions, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Uncles and aunts and cousins to play with. Grandmothers and grandfathers with family gathered round. Children waiting for the Great Pumpkin rise over Charlie Brown's pumpkin patch and dads watching college football. A day to relax and maybe rake leaves in the afternoon. But Thanksgiving? How much will our celebrations on Thanksgiving have to do with giving thanks? A glance at the first Thanksgiving brings it all back. On December 21, 1620 the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth rock. Through the dead of winter the colony struggled with poor and meager food, strenuous labor, a biting wind that chilled to the bone, and the ravages of disease. Nearly half the 102 Mayflower passengers did not live to see Spring refresh Cape Cod Bay. But God sent Indians -Samoset, Squanto, and Massasoit -to help the English settlers ...
146. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- In His Care. [Stories]
... day with azure blue skies and a gentle warm breeze weather so inviting that, at my mother s request, we took a long stroll along the boardwalk before driving to the medical center later that morning. With my arm around her shoulders, we walked for an hour, laughing at the antics of the seagulls, reminiscing about how our family used to boat across Long Island Sound for fresh crab dinners, how my brother and I played in the sand as children, and how my father taught us to fish off the adjacent pier. On that day, her memories of those distant years were amazingly focused, as was her ability to tactfully steer the conversation in a direction she thought more pressing. As with most discussions I had with my parents throughout my adult life, the topic ultimately worked its way to my career. My mother had carried on the support and inquiry, offering solicited and unsolicited advice, where my father left off ...
... the house and fill all the lamps so that my lord will have light. For this you pay me a wage, but I hope that one day that I may earn my freedom" The master nodded his head. He turned to the second indentured servant and asked," And what do you do for me ?"" Sir ," he replied," I am an educated man. I am well-versed in literature, music, mathematics and science. I teach your children all that I know so that one day they may leave your house and make a success in the world. And when they do, I hope that you will grant me my freedom. In the meantime, you give me a wage for what I do" Again, the master nodded. Then he turned to a lowly slave who was standing nearby, and asked," And what do you do for me ?"" You know that I love you, my lord ...
148. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Family Strength. [Stories]
... it" My mother-in-law did live to see her granddaughter. Thirteen months later our daughter was born. She came and held her, as tears spilled down her cheeks. Within a year, she passed on and lives forever in our hearts and memories. My wife, Georgia, passed away October 10th, 2003. She is with her mom now. Two moms together for eternity. Happy Mother's Day to my mom, my mother-in-law, Georgia-the mother of my children, my new wife Ginny, and to all the moms reading this story. Mothers are the strength behind great families. I've been blessed with some great ones.~Michael T. Smith~< mtsmith at qwestonline.com >Michael lives with his wife and their children and their grandchildren in Fort Lee, New Jersey. You can read more of his stories here: http :// archives.zinester.com / 86758 [by: Michael T. Smith Copyright 2008, (mtsmith at qwestonline.com)- ...
149. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Promise? [Stories]
... stopped I walked up to congratulate her." I'm almost finished here. I want to talk with you afterwards ," I said." Would that be OK ?"" Yes, sure ," she replied. I rushed to wrap up and I packed all my equipment. I wanted to ask her where that song came from and if she had others. It was during our conversation I began to understand why she made me" Promise ?" She was violently abused as a child. In fact, so violently that it caused detached retinas in both eyes. One blinded and the other, as she curled her right index finger and placed it over her right eye she said," I can only see the world like this. I am legally blind" I looked at her and said," But you have a great gift that many lack. You can see what's inside you. That's where the songs you write come from" I left there ...
150. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Whopeee! A Snow Day! [Stories]
... fantastic news! I thought," What a transformation! Are these the same slugs that I heard only moments earlier, dragging their half dead carcass's down the hall and into another grueling day of homework and spelling tests? I dug my head down deeper into my warm pillow and drew the cozy down comforter closely under my chin." Ahhhh... A snow day !" You see, I worked for the school district, and had the same schedule as my children! A free day! A day disconnected from any other. We didn't work for it. We didn't earn it or even ask for it. It was just there. What a wonderful gift! A new day. Nothing planned. Just as pristine as a clean white sheet just off the line! Nothing had touched it. No claims had been made to any part of it. It lay before us, an invitation to enjoy it fully, happily and without reserve ...
... Remembering The Feeling I was a little disappointed when I saw the old buildings were now gone that I had known as a young boy. Every one of them replaced with a high-rise. It had been a long time since I had been to Jacksonville, Florida. I had driven to town hoping to see the old barber shop where my hair had been cut as a child. The orphanage would bring us kids downtown for a free haircut by the new barbers being trained. As it was very early and hardly anyone on the street, I parked my truck and decided to try and locate a telephone to see if the Florida Barber College had moved to a new location. Hopefully it was sill in business. As it was rather cold, I put on my coat and began searching for a telephone. After walking about a block I saw an open shoe store. I walked inside and asked if I could use their telephone book. Not ...
152. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Your Wake Up Call! [Stories]
... may not be obvious to the world, but who are they to judge my creation !" Today, break the bonds that tie you down. Loosen the grip you have held on words like" not good enough ,"" failure ,"" ugly ,"" useless ,"" unworthy ," and" hopeless" You may indeed need to work harder. You may have to fight prejudice. You may be ridiculed and mocked for even thinking you can succeed. But you are His child. You are better than all of that. You are more than you ever imagined and greater than all you believe. Stand up! Get moving! Start planning! Discover today what God sees in you, by asking Him to reveal it in all of its glory. You need not stand on a stage, in a spot light, write an epic novel or discover the cure for cancer. But you must, I repeat, you MUST, live up to your ...
... when we are tired and drop back into the formation, letting someone else take his or her turn. If we do not share the work we will not get to our destination. If the lead goose were not willing to share the lead he soon would become so exhausted that he would be of no use to the rest. But by their sharing, no one goose becomes useless from exhaustion. I remember when I was much younger we had the care of nine children. And I was also a Sunday school teacher, some of those children being in my class. I would be so exhausted by Sunday school time that I could hardly pull myself together. I approached the pastor, asking to be relieved of my teaching responsibility for a while. I told him I had little time for preparation, and felt that I was of no use as a teacher. He said, You have had all your life to prepare. Why do ...
154. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Ring The Bell. [Stories]
... Every time a guest did something special it was met with the clanging bells. Possibly the cowboys on the ranch were trying to borrow some psychology with Pavlov's behavioral therapy techniques. I don't know, but I just wanted to have the bells ring one time for me. I was beginning to thoroughly enjoy the ranch, as well as the slow, peaceful, beauty of the Don K. When we were not riding, we were relaxing, reading in hammocks while the children were busy playing with each other in the fields. I was beginning to love the Don K. Each morning after breakfast the entire group of guests would break up into four divisions for our morning ride. One group was for the superior riders, a second group was for good riders, a third group was for the beginners. The fourth group-well, that was for me and my personal cowboy, Cowboy Dan, known as C.D. At first C.D. made ...
155. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Working Holiday. [Stories]
... . The difference is the uncommon stories we carry in our hearts as we go about the business of shopping for our daily bread. On my last visit to the local grocer, an elderly lady said," Excuse me ," and asked if I knew where she could find the ground pork. As I helped her scout the meat cooler, she told me she needed the pork to make her annual meat pies." I'm making them early this year. My two children and their families are going away for Christmas" Our search for the pork slowed down as our conversation progressed. Her husband, Jack, had passed away in the spring. The children wanted to cancel their holiday vacation and stay home, but she insisted they go, and made Christmas plans of her own." I'm not having a tree or putting up decorations. I've had more good Christmases than any one person could ever hope for. This year, I'm giving back ...
... crowd ?" I was thoughtful of her doing too much." Of course I am. I've entertained all my life, and will enjoy doing this too. And it will give me something happy to think about. Actually, I'll be" thankful" to you for joining me on Thanksgiving" I knew what she was saying and after talking a few minutes more I said" goodnight ", and told her I'd be in touch. When I arrived home and told the children about going to Mrs. Mitchell's for Thanksgiving dinner, they were all happy. Our oldest son said she had a great hill for sledding, and our daughter loved her big old house and Mrs. Mitchell was like a grandmother, she said. I thought about our small home, but always happy to share with anyone who could come, and how happy Mrs. Mitchell looked when thinking about her Thanksgiving plans. Later that evening as my husband and I were talking, ...
... , I had all the right coupons to get exactly what both families needed for a hearty Thanksgiving dinner. I proceeded to the register and held my breath while the cashier rang up my groceries. To my surprise, I had enough money. I was even able to purchase a package of cookies for the five-year-old who had stolen my heart, even though I had never met her. Later that afternoon, Roy and I made a special delivery to a home filled with children of all ages. I will never forget the smiles on the six kids ' faces, as they made several trips from my car carrying numerous bags of groceries inside. This event reminded me of a story. Even though He only had a few loaves and fishes, Jesus multiplied them and fed five thousand people. And to top it off, there was food left over. I wondered if God was doing the same thing that day. By far, that was the ...
158. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Pot Of Jam. [Stories]
... filled all the remaining gaps and the professor asked again if the jar was full. The Students unanimously answered: YES. The professor then added two cups of coffee to the contents of the jar thus filling the small gaps between the grains of sand. The students started laughing. After they stopped, the professor said:" I want you to realize that the pot of jam represents Life. The golf balls are the very important things in Life such as family, children, health, everything you are passionate about. Our lives would still be full even if we'd lost everything else and these were the only things that remained. The marbles are the other things that count in our lives such as work, house, car, etc. The sand represents everything else, all the small things in life. If we had first poured sand into the pot of jam, there wouldn't have been any room left for anything else such as the marbles ...
... Legend of the Poinsettia The legend of the Poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing. One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began ...
... is played. It is important to remember that Memorial Day was not declared a holiday so that we can have a long weekend off from work, go to the lake, or take a vacation. It was set aside as a day to honor those who gave their lives that we might live in freedom. Memorial day this year will be observed on Monday May 28th. Take the time to go to a Memorial Day service, fly the American flag, teach your children and grandchildren the true meaning of Memorial Day, and don't forget to remember. War drew us from our homeland In the sunlit springtime of our youth Those who did not come back alive remain In perpetual springtime-forever young And a part of them is with us always (Author unknown)~Pamela Perry Blaine~May 6, 2007 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper ...
161. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- God How Can You Use Me In The Condition I'm In? [Stories]
... God How Can You Use Me In The Condition I'm In?" God how can you use me in the condition I'm in ?" I have asked that question more than once in my life. It was a hot summer day; I tried filling it to capacity. Despite being a young mother of four active children I still found time that morning to take in a round of golf with the girls. The afternoon was spent with my kids at the local recreation club to which we belong. I worked at perfecting my diving skills while the kids splashed and played, soaking up the sun's penetrating rays. The late afternoon and evening, we spent at the ball field where our oldest son played Little League baseball. I noticed dizziness and a blurring of my vision but brushed it off thinking I had just over done in the heat of the day. Over the next weeks the symptoms only worsened and I was hospitalized and given the diagnosis of ...
162. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Hopping Freights. [Stories]
... for many people it was imperative to find work to be able to survive. The preferred destination for most people looking for employment was to head west where they hoped to find jobs gathering in the harvests and the trains were the best mode of transportation. It was during such a time as this when my father-in-law, along with his brother took up hopping freights out of Missouri and headed west. I refer to my father-in-law as Grandpa because this is what my children call him. This is his story: There was just no work to be had in northeast Missouri , said Grandpa when I questioned him as to why he decided to hop a freight and leave the only home he had ever known when he was just nineteen years old. It was September of 1936 , he said as he leaned back in his chair and began to recall that period of time in his life. After the banks failed back in 29 ...
163. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- God's Geese [Stories]
... God's Geese There was once a man who didn't believe in the incarnation of Christ or the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and was skeptical about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised her children in her faith. He sometimes gave her a hard time about her faith and mocked her religious observance of Christmas." It's all nonsense-why would God lower himself and become a human like us ?! It's such a ridiculous story !" he said. One snowy Christmas day, she and the children left for church while he stayed home. After they had left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window. And another thump. He looked outside but couldn't see. So he ventured outside. In the field near his house ...
... My Hero and The Old Swimming Hole We had a creek that ran from one end of our little town to the other. There was a concrete bridge at one point where the creek crossed the highway. Under the bridge, the water was the deepest and that was our swimming hole, as we called it back in the late thirties and early forties. When I was just a small child and not allowed to go there without someone with me, I had a very special friend who was in her late teens and she always came and got me to go swimming. Her name was Ellen Ruth and I loved her so much. I thought she was so beautiful and so kind and I think she really loved me too. When I had a loose tooth, I wouldn t let anyone but Ellen Ruth pull it for me. She pulled quite a few of my baby teeth. She tied a string around the tooth and tied ...
165. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- God Is Under My Bed. [Stories]
... in the sky because angels carry them. I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, returning to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme are laundry days, when He hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7: 05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores. And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch ...
... introductions. I got to listen. Go stand in a crowd of people. Look around you. They look like ordinary, regular folks. So do the military. If it weren't for the uniforms, you would just think they were teachers, plumbers, cooks, or insurance salesmen. They are in fact, your neighbors, friends and perhaps your loved ones. The difference is, when they go to work they are protecting your life, your rights, your children and they are putting their lives on the line for it all. But what about the families left behind. Wives, husbands, girl / boy friends, mothers and fathers are all back here counting the 2400 hours that pass by ever so slowly while we all go about our day living the life they are protecting. I stood up to speak to them. I am asking you to stand up and speak" for" them. In New Jersey and every state in ...
... jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk. He looked at the young Christian man, and then ran out of the room. The young man who had stood-up walked to the front of the room, and then shared his faith in Jesus the next half-hour. The 300 students stayed and listened as he told of God's love for them through Jesus." Yet to all who received HIM, to those who believed in HIS name, HE gave the right to become children of God-children not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husbands will, but born of GOD" Addendum-Job 23: 10" HE knows the way that I take. When HE has tested me, I will come forth as gold" [Author Unknown] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
168. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Right One. [Stories]
... The Right One My grandma and grandpa celebrated their 55th anniversary surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and a lifetime collection of friends. I thought that Grandma had forgotten anything she may have known about being single. I was wrong. As she was getting ready for the party, arranging her long white hair in a French twist, my grandma commented," I'm always surprised when I look in the mirror and see all these wrinkles" Holding her hand over her heart, she added," In here, I'm still a young woman" She applied bright red lipstick. I sat on the bed watching her primp." So, what is the secret of a long happy marriage ?" She sprayed floral cologne on her wrists." Don't settle" I must have looked puzzled." Don't settle. That is all you need to know" She tucked a stray wisp of hair in place. I twisted my own hair around my fingers ...
169. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Good Old Days. [Stories]
... " Just fine, thank you ," she replied." I once lived in this area. I was taking a walk down memory lane"" I've been here most of my life ," she replied." As I approached your house I heard this all too familiar sound, but couldn't quite place it. Then I saw you hanging your clothes on the line. It brought back some great memories for me"" I've used one all of my life. My children bought me a dryer years ago. I only use it when the temperatures get too low for me to stand out here. They can't understand why I still use this ," she said." I can still picture the clothes pin holder my Mom had. It looked like a small dress or apron, but had a round hole up front. It hung on a clothes hanger" I told her." Like this ?" she asked as she held up hers." ...
170. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Gone In A Flash. [Stories]
... . The lightning was the same. The flashes of light were gone in the blink of an eye. I asked myself," Mike, how many of life's meteors and lightning bolts have you missed because you weren't paying attention ?" I had no answer to the question, for if I knew, then I wouldn't have missed them. How many times have I come home from work too wrapped in my own thoughts and missed those" daddy's home" smiles of my children? Those little smiles are lost forever, as I walked right by them. How many opportunities did I miss to praise my wife or my children? How many chances to say," I love you" to my wife did I miss? I made a pledge that night to pay more attention to those around me. When I arrive home from work, work stays at work and my attention is on my family, because those opportunities-those streaks of light- ...
... " OR" Easy assembly instructions enclosed" -and the fun begins! You can't find all the parts, the parts don't fit together, you read and re-read and re-read the directions, you count and re-count and RE-count the parts, you hit your left thumb with the hammer held by your right thumb -you let out a scream -and the nightmare begins! Remember? Two thousand years ago, a carpenter's life was turned upside down by the news that his betrothed was with child -not his! The child was the Son of God, promised by prophets of old, and Joseph was about to become the early caregiver of the Lord Jesus Christ. And loving caregiver, I can imagine, this carpenter was -can you see him making wooden toys for Little Boy Jesus? Can you see him patiently showing Young Teen Jesus the" tricks of the trade ," so He too, could become a GOOD carpenter from Nazareth? Jesus, the CARPENTER?-Joseph ...
172. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Three Candles. [Stories]
... whirlwind spun harder and faster and my weak, broken hands could hold on no longer. The candle of Faith blew out too. The voice from within the whirlwind laughed heartily and said," Give me the candle of Love !" I shook with fear. Hopelessness and confusion swirled around in my mind, but at this darkest moment a mighty voice spoke to the whirlwind," No. The candle of Love is not for you to take. Go away! This child is MINE! Then He leaned down to this broken vessel and said," Be calm, My child. Your journey is not over yet" He lifted up the candle of Love, still burning, and lit the candles of Hope and Faith again for me. This is why I now stand and sing to others caught in hopelessness and despair:" This little light of mine I'm going to let it shine This little light of mine I'm going to let it shine ...
173. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Faith. [Stories]
... sat on her seat and was reading a book. Everything within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid" The minister could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The sweet child replied," Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he ...
174. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Kneading The Bread. [Stories]
... motion is relaxing, almost hypnotizing. I let the dough rise again, pop it in the oven, and soon the house is full of it s heavenly aroma. When it s done, I wait for it to cool enough to cut that first delicious slice. As I wait, I admire it. It s a work of art, shaped and molded with time and experience. I looked at my son the other day and realized, raising children is a lot like making a loaf of bread. At first, they are tiny and helpless and yes, even messy. All the ingredients are there to create a fine human being, but we have to knead, mold, and shape them, until they rise into fine adults. Most children reach a stage, usually in their mid to late teens, where they resist the kneading. They think they no longer need our guidance or advice and believe they re ...
... Elusive Butterfly Long ago, in the land of Heart, lived a fair maiden who dared to dream dreams. As a young child, she recalled how her father would set her on his strong knee and tell her many wondrous stories about far away and exciting places; lands she somehow knew she would one day come to also travel upon. Of the many tales her father would tell, there was one particular story that always held special meaning, even carrying her into adulthood. It was the presumed true tale of a certain species of butterfly, one that was seen by very few. What made the butterfly highly sought after was its emerald green wings which housed two small heart shapes, one on each wing, thus its coined name," the elusive butterfly of love" It was said that the person who finds the elusive butterfly would live happily ever after, thus, it is no wonder the maiden searched ardently for the rare insect ...
176. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- "Mrs. Waterford". [Stories]
... " Mrs. Waterford" Everyone has a best friend in High School. It's as compulsory as taking maths. Well, my best friend was Alicia Waterford. We did the usual best-friend things: sat around talking about boys, learning to blow smoke-rings, visiting each other's houses. I loved visiting Alica. Alicia was the eldest of ten children. You would think that would make her house rather hectic. Well, it was. But it was such a nice hectic. I only had the one sister, so seeing so many siblings in the one house was like a new and different world. The best thing about the Waterford family was you could almost see the love in that house. You could certainly sense it. Until then, I thought families that really cared for each other only existed in American sitcoms. Here was the proof that they actually existed. But their obvious love for each other didn't mean they didn't have time for ...
... auditorium, depicting His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Bailey was ecstatic. As he neared our aisle, Bailey began jumping up and down, screaming," Jesus, Jesus! There's Jesus !" Not just saying the words but exclaiming them with every fiber of her being. She alternated between screaming his name and hugging us." It's Jesus. Look !" I thought she might actually pass out. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at Jesus through the eyes of a child in love with Him, seeing Him for the first time. How like the blind beggar screaming out in reckless abandon," Jesus, Jesus !", afraid he might miss Him, not caring what others thought. This was so much fun. Then came the arrest scene. On stage, the soldiers shoved and slapped Jesus as they moved Him from the Garden of Gethsemane to Pilate. Bailey responded as if she were in the crowd of women, with terror and anger. ...
178. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Memory Tree. [Stories]
... can bring back as many memories as my box of ornaments. Like a picture, each ornament contains a memory. There's the box of wooden ones, handmade and painted with care. Within the assortment is a small man on skis, a mouse on a swing, even Santa in his sleigh. I remember when my Georgia and I had bought them. It was our first Christmas as a married couple. We hung them on the tree and dreamed how our future children would love them. I picked up a ceramic Santa. My aunt gave it to me when I was four. He holds a tiny box in his hands. There's a tear in its wrapper-a tear caused by a boy who couldn't contain his curiosity. A tiny brass bell is next. My brothers and I had fun with this bell. We took turns hiding it in the tree. The others had to find it. We played" Find the Bell" ...
179. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Finding A Voice. [Stories]
... Finding A Voice I attended a writer's group recently to get feedback on the latest chapter in my book. There were so many people there that evening that discussion was limited. When I arrived home my thirteen-year-old son shrugged off my disappointment and asked me to read the chapter to him instead. So I settled into a chair and read," Down The Avenue ", a chapter about spending my allowance as a nine-year-old child. As innocent as it seems, the experience was a metaphor for how choice and risk were handled by a child affected by alcoholism. Each week, the trip" down-the-avenue" culminated at Woolworth's lunch counter where I dreamed of someday ordering a banana split. An umbrella with colorful balloons hanging from each rib was suspended above the counter." Pop a balloon and pay 1 cent to 63 cents !" Imagine paying one cent for a banana split! But I never had more than fifty cents. (And I shuddered at the ...
180. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- He Can Heal the Hurt. [Stories]
... bring release. But she learned otherwise. I caught my husband making love to another woman. He swore it would never happen again. He begged me to forgive him, but I could not would not. I was so bitter and so incapable of swallowing my pride that I could think of nothing but revenge. I was going to make him pay and pay dearly. I d have my pound of flesh. I filed for divorce, even though my children begged me not to. Even after the divorce, my husband tried for two years to win me back. I refused to have anything to do with him. He had struck first; now I was striking back. All I wanted was to make him pay. Finally he gave up and married a lovely young widow with a couple of small children. He began rebuilding his life without me. I see them occasionally, and he looks so happy. They all ...
181. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Visit. [Stories]
... hospital ?"" Ma'am, I will be happy to take the flowers to your dad. I'll give you my address. You send them, and I will make sure that he receives them ," he replied. The next morning, I sent the flowers to Sergeant Vane's office just as we had planned. I went to work, and that evening, I returned home and phoned my dad to inquire about his surprise visitor. If you have ever talked with a small child after that child has just seen Santa Claus, you will understand the glee I heard in my dad's voice." I was just waking up when I thought I saw two Marines in their dress blue uniforms standing at the foot of my bed ," he told me excitedly." I thought I had died and gone to heaven. But they were really there !" I began to laugh, partly at his excitement, but also because he didn't even mention his operation. He ...
... Houston and an author (currently working on 2 book projects: an autobiography and an anthology of his own short stories). He also is a very popular inspirational speaker sharing his" recipe" for success, recovery and happiness. Please visit his website, www.InspirationByMike.com or call Sterling International Speakers Bureau, toll free in the USA / Canada, at 1-877-226-1003 for more information. Also, every year there is a fund raising event to fight Brain cancer and to help Marnie's children at Children Memorial Hermann Hospital. To find out how you can help, please visit www.RunForTheRose.com. [By: Mike Segal Copyright 2002 (msegalhope @aol.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... Always Remember The Lessons Of Childhood I started playing ball at Rice one year before Larry. My last known playing size was 6'3" 245 lbs; Larry was listed at 5'11" and 210 lbs. We were both fast and reckless on the field, talented, gifted, fundamentally sound, and strong. One of us made it pro, the other one didn't. When I was 4, my brother got a new Huffy for his birthday. I was still on an old bike with training wheels. Of course, I wanted to be on a new bike like my older brother. My parents lived paycheck to paycheck and did not want to buy a new bike for a 4 year old that didn't even know how to ride. But I begged and pleaded anyway. To no avail. However, the silver lining to the" no" that I kept receiving was when my dad said," Son, when you can ride a ...
... . The shirt! And so the pattern was set. On our next visit home, I secretly placed the shirt under Mom and Dad's mattress. I don't know how long it took for her to find it, but almost two years passed before I discovered it under the base of our living-room floor lamp. The yellow shirt was just what I needed now while refinishing furniture. The walnut stains added character. In 1975 my husband and I divorced. With my three children, I prepared to move back to Illinois. As I packed, a deep depression overtook me. I wondered if I could make it on my own. I wondered if I would find a job. I paged through the Bible, looking for comfort. In Ephesians, I read," So use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will be standing up" I tried to picture myself wearing ...
... The Christmas Invitation It was the biggest night of the year in a little town called Cornwall. It was the night of the annual Christmas pageant. It's an especially big deal for the children in town-they get to try out for the roles in the Christmas story. Everybody wants a part. Which leads us to the problem of Harold. Harold really wanted to be in the play, too, but he was-well, he was kind of a slow and simple kid. The directors were ambivalent-I mean, they knew Harold would be crushed if he didn't have a part, but they were afraid he might mess up the town's magic moment. Finally, they decided to cast Harold as the innkeeper-the one who turns Mary and Joseph away the night Jesus is to be born. He had only one line-" I'm sorry, we have no room" Well, no one could imagine what that one line ...
186. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Choice. [Stories]
... has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation"" Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter" A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed," What is it ?" The Creator spoke only one word:" Selfishness" The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties. Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths." This is the result of choice? the angel asked." Yes"" They will forget you ?"" Yes"" They will reject you ?"" Yes" They will never come back?" Some will. Most won't"" What will it take to make them listen ?" The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would ...
... his second helping of Thanksgiving dinner to the park to share with a homeless man or woman. His first year, he had found a man who had been on his own since he was thirteen. In the summer he worked odd jobs, but in winter he lived at the local rescue mission where he earned an occasional dollar by cleaning up the place. The second year, he shared his Thanksgiving dinner with an elderly man whose wife had died long before and his children had moved to another city. They never contacted their father nor offered to help him in any way." I reckon they're ashamed of me ," the rheumy old man had said. Throughout the year, Jimmy often thought about the two men. He had gone to the mission to try to find them, but they were gone without a trace. Now Jimmy wondered who he would meet this Thanksgiving. As soon as he arrived at the park, he saw a ragged ...
... "~Pamela Perry Blaine~June 2002 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet and in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". It's available by freewill donation. More info, and a clip from the CD, is on her website at: http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine Copyright 2002 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-from Pamela Perry Blaine] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
189. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Water of Life. [Stories]
... rain sometime. And I can't argue with that. I'm not even going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm. just like the actions of one little boy saved a life. Epilog (SkyWriting.Net editor ): I have received this same story from other sources, which do not include the" to honor the memory of my beautiful Billy" However, out of respect to the parent (s) that lost a child, I'm including it as an addendum; along with my sincere heart felt sympathy. Addendum-" This story is to honor the memory of my beautiful Billy, who was taken from me much too soon. but not before he showed me the true face of God; in a little sunburned body" [Author Unknown-from Al-Ed: Anon.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
190. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Wemmicks Parable. [Stories]
... the large bearded craftsman." You know my name ?" the little Wemmick asked." Of course I do. I made you" Eli stooped down and picked him up and set him on the bench." Hmmm ," the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles." Looks like you've been given some bad marks"" I didn't mean to, Eli. I really tried hard"" Oh, you don't have to defend yourself to me, child. I don't care what the other Wemmicks think"" You don't ?"" No, and you shouldn't either. Who are they to give stars or dots They're Wemmicks just like you. What they think doesn't matter, said Eli. All that matters is what I think. And I think you are pretty special" Punchinello laughed." Me, special? Why? I can't walk fast. I can't jump. My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to ...
... Thou Preparest A Table How does a child of God, self-consciously clad in pajamas in broad daylight, and reposing on the unfamiliar terrain of a hospital bed, prepare for major surgery? I was reading the twenty-third Psalm, trying to strengthen my trust in God and to equip my spirit for the battle by reviewing those comforting words about the Shepherd's bountiful provision for His sheep. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely ...
... jammed with hundreds of acorns from the Live Oak tree across the road. Every hole whittled out in years gone by is restuffed with an acorn against the coming winter. I try to count them, but soon give up. Their number is beyond hundreds and must be more than a thousand-enough to feed an entire colony of woodpeckers the whole winter long. They will not starve, for their food tree-their sterile food tree friend-sustains them. The childless fir will live on in the woodpeckers and their hatchlings. And as I see the pole surrounded by its woodpeckers, bearing a harvest not its own for a family not its own, I sense it has grown more philosophical, more thankful with age. Few trees aspire to be telephone poles, you know, but for many that is their destiny. Often we can feel only pain and loss. We suffer. We hurt. We feel sorry for ourselves. But sometimes ...
... Please find a home for my son. Won't you see that he's love and protected? Please don't leave him with just anyone" Amelia took her hand and she held it. She told her," Rest assured. It is done. I've found him a family who wants him. He'll have both a dad and a mom"~~~~~So Jackie went home with Amelia. God also had answered her prayer. Her husband and she had no children: a house without kids seems so bare. And now as she leaves work each evening, it seems she is walking on air. She knows that at home there'll be laughter; for Jack, with his new dad are there. Ever since Amelia took Jackie home to become her son, she had a new outlook on life. She took a new interest in the" cases" that came into her office each day. To her they were no longer merely names ...
194. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Seed. [Stories]
... The Seed A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to chose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together." It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO ," he said." I have decided to choose one of you" The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued." I am going to give each one of you a seed today-a very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO" One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like ...
195. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Sign. [Stories]
... in this doorway, ever again ," he continued, as he wadded up the piece of paper." I am a writer. May I have that, please ?" I asked the man. Slowly, he handed me the wadded up piece of paper, which I stuck into my pants pocket. The sign read:" No Shoes-No Shirt-No Service"~Roger Dean Kiser~The books, stories and CDs of Roger Dean Kiser, author, child advocate. http :// www.geocities.com / trampolineone / survive / srv080.htm [by: Roger Dean Kiser Copyright 2008 (trampolineone @earthlink.net)-submitted by: Roger Dean Kiser] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
196. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Tomatoes. [Stories]
... all the tricks of the trade to make them bloom bigger and better each year. I thought my home would look so bleak but it's wonderful. You see even though I can't do all the things I once did, the flowers can. The flowers keep doing what they know how to do best. They came back again all on their own. Sure all those years of love and attention kept them strong so all my work paid off. It's like raising my children. I did all the work and now they will take over from here"" I love your attitude. But tell me what new thing have you discovered? You said you need to focus on new things you can do"" Well, I can go to the grocery store and make new friends by running into perfect strangers with my cart ," she said grinning." Or they can fall over you when they aren't paying attention ," I added." What I've ...
197. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Welcome Home. [Stories]
... support our troops: www.americasupportsyou.mil / americasupportsyou / index.aspx About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine, Copyright 2007 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... to be left alone. I was deciding which bills were most urgent, because business was slow and there wasn t enough money to pay them all. The only phone calls all morning had been from salesmen. Not a customer in sight. Rain was in the forecast, but I knew that before I ever heard the weatherman say a word. My screaming knees and complaining knuckles had already warned me. Concentration on my bookwork was difficult. The faces of my children kept popping into my head. They were each facing major life challenges, and their worries and heartaches lay heavy on my heart. In the middle of my emotional chaos, Mr. Whiteside walked up. I was tempted to stop him at the door and tell him to come back another day. However as I watched him hobble up toward the sidewalk, I knew the effort it took for him to walk with his arthritic knees. Come on, Karen , I ...
... of a Man with a sack over his shoulder. As they drew close, the little boy couldn't stand it anymore." Look, Mister, we don't have to do this. I don't want You to get hurt. I'll just be on my way. It was nice of You to stop. thanks for the apple. we can just turn around now" the boy began to babble again. The man held the little boy's hand firmly and said," Child, you've come this far with Me. how about trusting Me a little longer? Let's just see what happens"" OK" said the little boy. The pair came closer to the castle and the gate-keeper watched them approach. The Man looked down and winked at the boy. The boy really thought the Man might be crazy. until he looked back at the gate-keeper-who was smiling now! The big gate in front of the castle was swung wide open. ...
200. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Why Not For Man? [Stories]
... , brought them together, accordion-like, and spread again. When at last the wings reached their fullest, the four swans took off and joined the hovering group. They resumed their eastward journey, in perfect formation, to their secret destination. Behind them, rising with incredible speed and joy, the goose moved into the sky. He followed them, flapping double time, until he caught up, until he joined the last end of the line, like a small child at the end of a crack-the-whip of older boys. My friend watched them until they disappeared over the tips of the farthest trees. Only then, in the dusk, which was suddenly deep, did she realize that tears were running down her cheeks and had been-for how long she didn't know. This is a true story. It happened. I do not try to interpret it. I just think of it in the bad moments, and from it comes only ...
201. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- White Rose Wreath. [Stories]
... feeling of sadness for parents who'd never be able to welcome their loved ones home. In profound silence, we returned to school to be excused. Island women no longer painstakingly make their paper roses. Plastic Memorial flowers became a much easier alternative. The school's tradition of tossing the white wreath into the ocean ended as well. I do not know why. But I do know how my entire being filled with awe, knowing I was part of a small band of children and teachers to remember and honor the brave men who gave their lives to keep America a place where freedom rings. May they never be forgotten.~Kay Seefeldt~[ by: Kay Seefeldt, Copyright 2005, (birdnest @megalink.net)-submitted by: Kay Seefeldt] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
202. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- What Are Grandmas? [Stories]
... What Are Grandmas? (Written by a third grader) A grandma is a lady who has no little children of her own. She likes other peoples. A grandfather is a man grandma. Grandmas don't have to do anything except be there. They are old, so they shouldn't play hard or run, just garden. It's enough if they drive us to the store and have a lot of dimes ready. When they take us for walks they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars. They never say," Hurry Up" Usually grandmas are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth out. Grandmas don't have to be smart-they only have to answer questions like." Is God married ?" and" How come dogs chase cats ?" When they read to us, they don't skip lines or mind if we ask for the same story ...
203. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- What Happened? [Stories]
... we are living vicariously through our kids no matter what the cost is to them or us. Whatever happened to calling off a game because it is too cold or too wet? When did we start playing sports on Mother's Day? I always remember being home with my mother and our family on mom's special day. We would all be huddled around my mother, making sure that she enjoyed her" well deserved" day of rest. When did we start having our children play sports on Thanksgiving? This warm, wonderful day of giving and thanks used to be a special day to share with family and friends. We would spend the entire day eating, relaxing and enjoying the ones we loved. We would never have wasted a precious minute worrying about dragging our kids away from their warm houses to play a game (in the cold) three towns away. It seems that we are now so preoccupied with driving our kids from one place to ...
204. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Autograph. [Stories]
... , nearly helpless with amusement. Our eyes locked, and we both cracked up." Out of the mouths of babes !" Said my conspirator, with a wicked twinkle in his eye. We laughed for some time, and then we began to visit. He was heading home to visit his parents in Detroit, Michigan. My daughter and I were also on our way home to stay with my parents, who lived just southwest of Detroit." What a beautiful child ," he said, gazing at my little girl, with her soft dark curls and her big brown eyes. I agreed. Something about this man was vaguely familiar, but I just couldn t place him. We talked. He was warm, kind, and funny. I was pensive from time to time, but it was a relief to have a kindred soul to distract me from my troubles. I introduced myself, and he told me that his friends called ...
205. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Perfect Mistake. [Stories]
... the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China! The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was really upset by the thought of having to buy another pair." It's not fair ," he told God as he drove home in frustration." I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this" Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China ...
206. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Key To Life. [Stories]
... I looked down to view the key to life What I saw absolutely amazed me. I too had once owned a key to life I had found it on a dirty, wooden floor in a small country grocery store several years before. It had been attached to a small can of meat the grocery man told me they called Spam.~Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.~The books, stories and CDs of Roger Dean Kiser, author, child advocate. http :// www.geocities.com / trampolineone / survive / srv080.htm [by: Roger Dean Kiser Copyright 2008 (trampolineone @earthlink.net)-submitted by: Roger Dean Kiser] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
207. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Lassie Dog. [Stories]
... Lassie dog would run away. Do you understand what I'm saying honey ?" Kevin looked down and was clearly disappointed by what he felt was his last ditch effort to gain his mother's favor as it would relate to his getting his youthful mind's hero-a dog and friend like Lassie. Months passed and Kevin stopped asking his mother whether or not he could get a dog like Lassie. She noticed his increasing quietness and sadness with each passing episode and thought back to her childhood. Her parents surprised her one Christmas with a little scroungy mutt that she adored. She got this ugly little dog that Christmas when she was about her son's age and the guilt of not allowing Kevin to have a dog to be his best friend finally got to her. One afternoon after yet another episode of" Lassie ", she decided, right or wrong, to give in to Kevin's earlier repeated desire to have a dog of his own." Kevin ?", she asked ...
208. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Joy of Shopping. [Stories]
... my grandson found it useful for melting crayons. My favorite drug of choice is the Dollar Store. The last thing my hubby tells me when I leave the house is," Stay away from the Dollar Store !" He knows I m helpless to resist its lure as it beckons me to satisfy my addiction within its treasure-laden aisles. I can have a real shopgasm there. I ve been known to push not one but two carts around in that fun-land. Children follow me and stare in amazement as I heap the baskets to overflowing. I stock up on things like dog toys, potholders, extension cords, ear wax removers, and kitty litter. Sure, I don t have a cat; but I might get one someday, and I ll be prepared. After all, everything in the store is only one dollar, so why not splurge? What a rush! Till I reach the checkout counter and the clerk ...
209. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Great Lesson. [Stories]
... stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear," Don't quit. Keep playing" Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized. That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, ...
... year four." Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you." Don't compare yourself to others" He said." The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful." Your time will come ", God said to me." You will rise high"" How high should I rise ?" I asked." How ...
... one would stop. The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped-over form. I smiled to let her know ...
... , pleaded that I need it more than he, that my chronic sleep disorder requires it, that basic compassion demands he surrender it to me. He remains unmoved. Unarguably, the most popular security blanket of modern times belonged to a cartoon character. Ever since Linus was introduced on September 19, 1952 into my favorite cartoon series, Peanuts, I have loved Linus. He has the quiet philosophical wisdom of a grownup while tenaciously holding onto a beloved remnant of his childhood. Entire college courses have been fashioned around that now-famous baby blanket. If the blanket had been real and not a figment of writer Charles Schultz's vivid imagination, millions of Peanuts fans would have bid exorbitant prices at auction for just one square inch of it. It's that symbolic and valuable in the eyes of the world. Isn't it nice that we have a far greater Security Blanket? We can't lovingly rub it against our cheeks for comfort as Linus did. We can't fold ...
213. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Lips Of God. [Stories]
... that God would not let me leave her there. I have wrestled with this for days. Along with my grief at the horror that was perpetrated in twenty minutes in the halls of a building where my daughter would have been, I do know this: I thank God that He is so hard on me. There is a terrible guilt that comes with that gratitude-the gratitude that makes me say," Thank you, Lord, that it was not my child" I'm not sure I know what the message is, except this: When we say goodbye to those we love, when we hug them, we must make every second of that hug count. Hug, love, and pray, as though we have the lips of God pressed to our ear. There may come a time that we will be certain that we do.~Jaye Lewis~Jaye Lewis is an award winning inspirational writer, who lives and writes in ...
214. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The New Guy. [Stories]
... smile and say" hi ," Sylvia did what Sylvia does. Not only did she announce that she didn't know him, she asked him his name, told him her name and engaged him in conversation-clearly an interpersonal tactic aimed at getting personal information out of him. Before long they were chatting like old friends about some things they had in common. And suddenly for Sylvia, the new guy wasn't the new guy anymore. He was Mitch, a colleague with children, hobbies, interests and a little shared history. I was stunned-and a little embarrassed-by the ease with which Sylvia negotiated that transition. Turns out it doesn't take much to turn an unfamiliar face in the hall into a friend. You just have to get over yourself and reach out a little. Ask a question. Learn a name. And just like that-no more new guy.~Joseph Walker~< ValueSpeak @msn.com >Joseph Walker began ...
... dark, dank, filthy holes, fit only for the animals that inhabited them. In one of these unspeakably dirty hollows-surrounded by sheep, donkeys, and maybe a camel or two-the Son of Man was born of a virgin. It was a night that changed the world. The Jews had been anxiously expecting a Messiah for 500 years before He actually appeared. The prophets of old had predicted it and, since Jews were indoctrinated in the Scriptures from childhood, nearly everyone knew the prophecies by heart. Yet, with anticipation came misconception. A king, they said, should be born into a palace surrounded by magnificence, not in a lowly stable. Furthermore the first announcement of his birth should have been made to the greatest men of Israel-the chief priests of the Temple-not to lowly shepherds. But Christ did not come into the world to save just the rich and the powerful. He came to offer salvation ...
216. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Mitten [Stories]
... the stillness and warmth, and peace in the heart of this little girl as she knocked on the door of her home and asked to be let in, knowing she had her mitten in one hand, and an extraordinary experience from God in her heart; a gift from Him that would be a light to her for the rest of her life. How do I know this to be true? I know because I am the little girl, now grown up with children of my own. It is still the gift I hang onto today, having seen more grief in my lifetime than I care to dwell on. Looking back and reflecting I remember this one special moment, and all the other times since, that He has been with me and shown me that He cares. He sees the sparrow fall, and mittens too. Thank you Jesus! [Linda Denise Moser, Copyright © 1999-from 'Tidbits Devotional ' (Bill Champion) ...
... Pamela Perry Blaine~March 2007 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine, Copyright 2005 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... Girl There was once a little raggedy girl who lived with her widowed mother in what could only be charitably called a shack, just outside of town. She had few clothes to wear and those that she had were worn and patched in many places. She was clean and tidy. Her mother saw to that. But, her schoolmates could not see past her ragged clothing and they enjoyed making fun of her. The little raggedy girl bore the insults of the other children in silence. One little boy, in particular, liked to make fun of the coat she always wore. Like the rest of her clothes, the coat had seen much better days. It was an ugly green color with pulls and rawls all over it. Some places had dark stains that no amount of washing could ever remove. But the coat was warm and it was the only one she had, so the little raggedy girl wore it to school every day. ...
219. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Miracle. [Stories]
... in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place." That surgery," her Mom whispered." was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost ?" Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost. one dollar and eleven cents. plus the faith of a little child. A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. [Thanks to Lady Alberta-from Aiken Drum] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
220. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Emperor's Seeds. [Stories]
... The Emperor's Seeds An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose His successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said," It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you" The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued." I am going to give each one of you a seed today, one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor !" One boy named Ling was there that day, and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly ...
... heart of purest gold. E is for her eyes of love-light shining, R is right and right she ll always be! Put them all together they spell Mother, the word that means the world to me. By: Howard Johnson, 1915~Diane Dean White~Thelamb212 @aol.com Diane is a columnist, freelance writer and author of two books. She is married to Stephen and they reside on the Carolina Coast. They are the parents of three grown children and three grand gals. You may visit Diane s website and see more of her work at www.DianeDeanWhite.com [By: Diane Dean White Copyright 2008-submitted by: Diane Dean White (Thelamb212 @aol.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then the president bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat! Like Coolidge's hometown guests, we, too, seem to learn best by imitation. Kids learn by observing parents when they are young, and by copying their peers as they grow older. In fact, parents should probably be less concerned about whether their children are paying attention to them and more worried about the fact that their kids are ALWAYS watching. They tell us that adults learn in much the same way. If you're struggling with your computer or want to learn to drive a car, you will be more successful if you have someone show you how to do it. You can always read the operator's manual and try to figure everything out yourself, but you will learn best by watching others and asking questions. What if ...
223. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Easy as 1, 2, 3. [Stories]
... As easy as one, two, three they were gone. Most of my life I have always had one dog. I couldn't't even imagine having more. That is until we had Ricky and Lucy. Two of the greatest dogs a guy could have." Wouldn't't three be even greater ?" I asked my wife." Not until we get a bigger house ," she replied. So, I built and addition onto the one we had. I felt like a child asking," Now can we get another dog ?" I found out after a few years of talking about it that she never thought I was serious. Imagine that. Talking about something for years and one wouldn't't be taken seriously. How many years? You guessed it .three. There it was again. Well, this past Father's Day my wife came home with another dog. I call him Phil. Having three dogs is all I ever imagined it to be and more ...
224. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Enough For Now. [Stories]
... unravel, I realize that it's only in my darkest moments that the light in my soul can shine. Besides that, if I never let go of the rope how can I ever expect my Father to catch me? And for me .well .I guess that's enough of an answer for now.~Trisha LaCoste~trishakay79 @yahoo.com All Rights Reserved Trisha LaCoste is a wife, mother, and photographer who lives in Alabama with her husband, Anthony, and their four children. Hunter, Mason, Kyla, and Jayden give her inspiration daily to use her photography and wiriting skills. You can check out her website at www.lacostephotography.com. Please take a minute to let Trisha know what you think of her story: Trisha LaCoste [by: Trisha LaCoste Copyright 2009 (trishakay79 @yahoo.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
225. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Fast Food Faith. [Stories]
... my hands, wearing despair like an old, familiar blanket. When you don't have enough money, all you can think of is money; how much you have, how far it will go, how many days until your next paycheck. The money litany becomes a leaky faucet of thoughts, a constant dripping of worry and stress. I sighed deeply, and sat up. It wasn't as though I wasn't trying. I did everything possible to provide for my two children. However, unlike my parents and siblings I had not graduated college, and finding a decent paying job without a degree had been difficult. So I sold shoes in an upscale department store by day, and used my experience as a beautician to do hair in my kitchen at night. The kids were used to the smell of perm solution mixing with their Spaghetti-O's. Most of the time, on a wing and a prayer, I could just manage to get by on ...
226. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Dream Catchers. [Stories]
... I, and everyone else in this world can do this too. God loves us all so much and God gives us the strength and ability to become our highest selves. We can choose to be the person God meant for us to be. We can fill ourselves with love, joy, and light and then share them with the world. We can capture the angel within and allow the worst parts of ourselves to fade away. We can live as a true Child of God sending smiles, giving love, offering joy, scattering sunshine, and creating laughter wherever we go. We can catch the dream of the person we always wanted to be and make it a reality. [by: Joseph J. Mazzella (joecool @wirefire.com)-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
227. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Dear Mom [Stories]
... up and dressed quietly so I wouldn't wake you. I must have walked for miles beneath the moon less sky. Stars pricked the blackness like a thousand tiny pinpoints. A warm breeze blew on my face. I sang to the Lord, Mom. Yes, me, singing, if you can imagine that. I couldn't contain my joy. I told Him that I would take Mary and care for her. I told Him I would watch over her and the child -no matter what anyone said. I got back just as the sun kissed the hilltops. I don't know if you still recall that morning, Mom. I can see it in my mind's eye as if it were yesterday. You were feeding the chickens, surprised to see me out. Remember?" Sit down ," I said to you." I've got to tell you something" I took your arm and helped you find a seat on the big rock out back ...
228. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Crooked Little Smile. [Stories]
... There was a pause and we both started laughing." Hey, now I can sing that country song by Garth Brooks ", I said. He took a deep breath and asked," Okay, I'll bite. What country song ?" I sang to him" I've got friends in low places" We both laughed until we had tears in our eyes. I don't know about him, mine were because he was such a blessing to me today. From the famous childhood nursery rhyme:" There Was a Crooked Man" There was a crooked man Who walked a crooked mile He found a crooked sixpence Against a crooked stile He had a crooked cat Who caught a crooked mouse And they all lived together In a little crooked house (I add these lines to that famous rhyme) But then this crooked man wore a crooked smile that made me aware he was happy all the while This crooked little man stood taller then the rest He took what ...
229. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Cruiser Bruiser. [Stories]
... Pamela Perry Blaine~August 2008 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine Copyright 2008 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-from Pamela Perry Blaine] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
230. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Dearest Dad. [Stories]
... , I accepted your gift, for I realized that giving brought you much joy, and I didn t have the heart to take that joy away from you. Other memories that left an indelible mark on me are those times you neither accepted bribes nor yielded to pressure. I can still remember the many visitors we used to have at home. They were rich parents offering money, gifts, even a car just for you to give a passing grade for their children in your classes, so they would graduate from High School. For a family struggling with finances, I'm sure their offers were very tempting. But they would always leave with a negative answer, for you lived by the code that to live with honor is better than wealth It is also from your example that I learned to value hard work, pursue excellence and never stop learning. I also witnessed how you showed respect and kindness to those who have less in ...
231. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Father's Promise [Stories]
... at the contents of each heart. Let me show you the loving heart of one father. In the midst of chaos and destruction, he rushed to his son's school. But instead of a school, he found a shapeless heap of rubble. Imagine what went through his mind. What would have gone through your mind? Perhaps, shock would have crippled you as it did the other parents who were walking around dazed, clutching at their hearts and calling out their child's name. But in the case of this father, the sight of rubble and ruin only made him spring into action. He ran to the back corner of the building where his son's class room used to be and began to dig. Why? What real hope did he have? What were the chances that his son could have survived such destruction? All he knew was that he had made a promise to always be there for his son. It was this promise that ...
... We all went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. In the darkness we listened to the divine orchestra. Electricity danced in the sky like a conductor's baton summoning the deep kettledrums of thunder. I sensed it as we were lying on the bed. It blew over me mixed with the sweet fragrance of fresh rain. My wife was lying silently at my side. Jenna was using my stomach for her pillow. She, too, was quiet. Our second child, only a month from birth, rested within the womb of her mother. They must have sensed it, for no one spoke. It entered our presence as if introduced by God himself. And no one dared stir for fear it would leave prematurely. What was it? An eternal instant. An instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in mid-frame, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. ...
... of the family sleigh ride, with the bells ringing and the horses that took us through a glistening white blanket of snow. © Diane Dean White 2004 Diane is a freelance writer and author. She has shared her stories with a wide range of publications as well as websites online. She is a weekly columnist for the newspaper FrankTalk, and Editor of HeartCatchers, a weekly mailing on the Internet. She is married to Stephen and they are the parents of three grown children and three grand-gals. They make their home on the Carolina Coast. Diane is the author of Beach Walks and recently released Carolina in the Morning, a moving Christian story set in present day near Charleston, SC introducing adventure, history and romance into the lives of some unsuspecting visitors. To read more, click on the link below to visit Diane's website. [By: Diane Dean White Copyright 2004-submitted by: Diane Dean White (Thelamb212 @aol.com)] Inspirational ...
234. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- I'm proud of you! [Stories]
... so briefly. I'm proud of you !" To a Friend." You take on the challenges of life and never give in. You might not always win, but you don't lose for lack of trying. I'm proud of you !" To a co-worker." You care. It shows in the way you do your work. You not only do your job, you care about the details, the goals and the outcome. I'm proud of you !" To a child." You didn't hit a home run, but you played with your heart in every game. You never missed a practice, you tried your very best. That's a home run in my book. I'm proud of you !" To your spouse or partner." We'll get through this together. Yes, you lost your job, but so did many others. I see great determination in your eyes. I love you even more in the difficult times because that's when ...
235. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Ice Cream [Stories]
... Ice Cream Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said:" God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen" Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark," That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never !" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me," Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me ?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said," I happen ...
236. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- If Love. [Stories]
... the shop I noted the owner was busy with a few customers. I was glad. I really just love to roam around without someone explaining each piece to me. If I have a question I'll ask. Besides I was tired and since I hadn't found anything of interest in all the other shops, I was ready to call it quits. It was at that very last moment I saw it. It looked just like the one I had when I was a child. It actually was the real beginnings of my interest in writing. My friend Jimmy and I started a local newspaper in my attic. The first and only edition was typed on an old Underwood manual typewriter, just like the one in front of me. I reached up and gently pushed the carriage return back. It was a little more difficult than I remember, but I have been spoiled by the ease of the computer. I carefully, slowly ran my fingertips across ...
... great triumph. Happily he went back to preparing his Christmas sermon. Just before noon on the day of Christmas Eve, as the pastor was opening the church, he noticed a woman standing in the cold at the bus stop." The bus won't be here for 40 minutes !" he called, and invited her into the church to get warm. She told him that she had come from the city that morning to be interviewed for a job as governess to the children of one of the wealthy families in town but she had been turned down. A war refugee, her English was imperfect. The woman sat down in a pew and chafed her hands and rested. After a while she dropped her head and prayed. She looked up as the pastor began to adjust the great gold and ivory cloth across the hole. She rose suddenly and walked up the steps of the chancel. She looked at the tablecloth. The pastor smiled and started ...
238. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- God's Prayer Scales [Stories]
... God's Prayer Scales Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a small town grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longwise, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said:" Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can" John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store. Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in ...
... to focus on Joe Jr, who today stands at the furthest edge of his life-long dream of one day being a lawyer. Fresh out of law school, today he is taking his state's bar exam. If he passes, the dream is fulfilled and he is a full-fledged lawyer. If not. well, he still has that degree. But he isn't a lawyer. Not really. Not yet. On the other hand, I'm thinking of Jon, my youngest child, who at this very moment may be standing in front of an" American Idol" producer, singing his 16-year-old heart out. It will be the biggest 10 seconds of his life so far, and I can only support him in this dream from here, with my hopes and prayers. On the other hand, my son-in-law Adam is also awaiting his turn in front of the" American Idol" producers. Adam is a little further along in his aesthetic journey than ...
... last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said,` Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, but in this greatest conflict the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and the Union. With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress and destiny of the United States" [George Washington's vision, Library of Congress-from 'Charlotte '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
241. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Gods's Embroidery [Stories]
... look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing" Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said," Father, what are You doing ?" He has answered," I am embroidering your life" I say," But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright ?" The Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you will see the plan from My side" Addendum-Matthew 6: 26 (NASB)" Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they ?" [Author Unknown ...
... into the yard when the quarters get a bit tight. I smile as I walk past the well manicured lawn, bedecked for fall with orange and yellow mums peeking from cast iron buckets. As always, dried cornstalks climb the back porch rails. I spy a row of perfectly orange pumpkins, gifts from my uncle's garden. I wonder if my girls will remember to take one home at day's end. For years, my uncle has sent home a pumpkin with each child, just in time for Halloween. Hopping out of the car, the girls crunch through the leaves, hoping to sample appetizers on the back porch table. In an instant, their cheeks are stuffed with crab dip, Amish Swiss cheese, and trail bologna. Family seems to be everywhere. Cousins, aunts, and uncles trickle out from the cottage, sharing hugs and gossip in the wooded yard. Gathered in groups, my chatty Scotch Irish clan prepares for our autumn ...
... College Student Learns from a Little Girl I was babysitting for this 4 1 / 2 year old little girl for the summer. I was out of college for the summer and it was the perfect summer job! Maddie and I would walk to the park everyday after lunch. Maddie loved to swing on the swings and go down the slide. She was a very good hearted little child and she always amazed me at the love she felt for other people. She had such goodness in her little heart. Both of her parents were the same way-- they always had such a peace about them-I always wondered-why are they so different? That day at the park as I was pushing Maddie in the swing, we heard a bunch of kids laughing. We looked over and all the kids were crowded around one of the park benches. Maddie wanted to stop swinging and go over there and see what they were laughing at ...
244. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Bag of Kindness. [Stories]
... basement where we shared the bread with some strawberry jam. We all fell asleep with Johnny Paycheck booming from the ceiling above that night. The next day as craft class neared I began to think about the macaroni again. I was in anguish as the teacher asked why I didn't have any macaroni." Weren't you listening when I asked you all to bring it John ?" She asked sternly. I was mortified, I didn't know what to say and as the other children started laughing. Then out of nowhere this little girl Rosalyn who sat beside me turned to me and said" Here you can have some of mine" The way she said it, so nice, and the kindness in her eyes made me start to cry and I ran from the room in shame. I never did take her macaroni or thank her for the offer. I couldn't speak to her again because I was sure I would see my own shame mirrored in her ...
245. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Day at Work. [Stories]
... , not moving, just there to be appreciated, savored. At that particular moment, it was easy to feel very small, almost insignificant. And I realized that all of this, no matter how large or small, is Gods creation. And that nothing he created is insignificant or unimportant to him. Everything has its space and reason for being, a purpose. Everything. A snowflake, an ice crystal, a rainbow that dances like the laughter of a child. Everything... [Bob G. Shaw, Copyright 2002 (Caperabbit @Prodigy.net)-from '2THEHEART '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
246. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Lasting Impression. [Stories]
... A Lasting Impression" Jimmy, look at the impression you left in the sand ," the man said to his son." Daddy what's a" pression ?" the young child asked." That's" impression" Jimmy. The spot where you were lying on the sand sunk in around your body and when you got up it was there. Your feet do the same thing, they leave footprints"" Oh, but you can't see my face ," Jimmy replied." No, because you were lying on your back. It's like the impression you put in Mr. Johnson's new cement sidewalks"" You mean my hand print ?"" Yes, but you also left another kind of impression. An impression on his mind"" Mr. Johnson's brain is made of sand ?" His father laughed and then leaned over for one of those" parental moments"" No, you left an impression on his memory. It's called a bad ...
... remember her vividly. That summer I learned a lesson I've never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose -irritating, demanding, unlovable-yet hurting inside. I've found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend." Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked" Luke 6: 35 NLT [by: Janet Seever, Copyright 2002 (jseever1 @shaw.ca)-from '2TheHeart '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
248. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Asking God. [Stories]
... listening to me today. Perhaps, He's grown tired of my complaints. I am struggling to keep afloat, yet my mind is weighing me down like cement bricks upon my feet. Happy. I just want to be happy. Was I put on this earth to fight to be myself? When will I feel loved? When will being me be enough? I want to go back, I cry inside. I want to start all over again and be a child. I was happy then. I knew love, acceptance, comfort and warmth. Being me was always enough. I know I can't go back, but that doesn't stop the desire from burning. My life, my miscarriage, my divorce, my panic, my fear, my relationship, my God! I am still. The pool is draining. All the 'my ' thoughts. I feel a warmth. No, I feel a love. I can see a ...
249. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Artist's Task. [Stories]
... Artist's Task On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an unforgettable sight. He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play. By now, the ...
250. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Amen Crackers. [Stories]
... Blaine~June 23, 2008 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine, Copyright 2008 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-submitted by: Pamela Blaine] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
251. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Anniversary Present. [Stories]
... And a Happy Anniversary to you guys too" Judy and I stood watching as the two of them slowly made their way out onto Perry Lane Road. As car after car began to line up behind them, horns began to blow." Thank you for the anniversary present dad. It's the best one you ever bought" I just looked at my wife and smiled.~Roger Dean Kiser~The books, stories and CDs of Roger Dean Kiser, author, child advocate. http :// www.geocities.com / trampolineone / survive / srv080.htm [by: Roger Dean Kiser Copyright 2007 (trampolineone @earthlink.net)-submitted by: Roger Dean Kiser] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... planted on the west side of the house. A perfect spot Mom decided, because it would get the last sun of the day, and the water hose would easily reach every tree. She planted a variety of fruit trees including several types of cherry, pear, and apple trees. For years Mom's orchard just looked like little tiny twigs sticking out of the ground. But Mom was forever patient with her orchard's growth. Each year Mom measured the height of her children and then the height of her trees, but in time the trees easily cascaded over all our heads and were producing fruit. A lone tree soon rose to distinction, and became the pride and joy of Mother's orchard. It was her 'Early June ' apple tree, which produced beautiful light yellow-greenish apples that were much too tart to eat right off the tree, but were perfect for cooking and baking. Each season this little faithful apple tree would produce hundreds and hundreds of ...
... Pamela Perry Blaine~August 2006 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine Copyright 2006 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-from Pamela Perry Blaine] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... Blaine~July 3, 2007 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine, Copyright 2005 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... Casper Learns to Share Children's Short Story Bobby Baboon lives with his family in the Kalahari Desert. His full name is actually Bob Scrufftail Longtooth van Kogel, but everybody calls him Bobby for short. Bobby's best friend's name is Casper. They are two very lively and inquisitive little baboons who are always getting into scrapes. As everybody knows baboons enjoy eating scorpions, and Bobby and Casper are no exceptions. They like nothing better than a scorpion barbecue on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Since today happens to be a Saturday they've decided to go scorpion hunting. Armed with a sack they set off to see what they could find. It's a hot day and the sun is baking the dry Kalahari desert sand. After walking for a while the two friends decide to stop for a drink of water from their canteens. What a lovely day it is, Casper. I like hot weather, don't you? Bobby asks. Casper says he does too, ...
256. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Cave Babies. [Stories]
... Blaine~September 4, 2006 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine, Copyright 2006 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
257. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Christmas Presence. [Stories]
... . There was nothing he wouldn't do for her" Andrea stopped for a few moments, sipping her coffee in silence, before continuing." George started to visit other patients while his wife was sleeping or having treatments. He was here so much that he seemed to take naturally to helping out wherever he could" My natural curiosity made me ask," Does he have any family ?" A serious look came over Andrea's face as she continued." They never had children, and as far as I know, there are no relatives. But you see, George watched his wife suffer for a very long time. He shared every second of her pain and anguish. On Christmas Eve night, after I prepared his wife for sleep, they prayed together. During the prayer, George promised his wife that if God would take away her misery that night, by taking her 'home, ' he would spend the rest of his life as a ...
258. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Bridge Keeper [Stories]
... backward to apply his full weight to the lever, locking the bridge. He kept applying the pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man doing the right thing. Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold." Daddy, where are you ?" His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child," Run! Run !" But the train was too close; the tiny legs would never make it across the bridge in time. The man almost left his lever to run and grab his son and carry him to safety. But he realized that he could not get back to the lever in time. Either the people on the train or his son must die. He had only a moment to make his decision. The train sped safely and swiftly on its way ...
259. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Believing, Still. [Stories]
... lost things and places to find them"" I believe in the dreams that I have and events that occur that at one time earlier in my life I would have declared" just a coincidence ", or pure luck"" Did you ever have one not work out right ?" I asked." Almost. But even when it didn't work I still believed in it" She went on to tell me the" Diamond Earring Story". One day she took her children to a nearby park to play games, run and just have fun. Somewhere along the way she lost one of her diamond earrings. She hadn't discovered it until she got home. It was much too late to go back. Besides, what were her chances of finding something that small in a huge park. But the earrings did have special meaning to her. They were a hand crafted gift from her sister years ago. They now live at opposite ends of the ...
260. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- A Boys Race Prayer [Stories]
... Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud" Thank you" as the crowd roared in approval. The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question," So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert ?" To which my young son answered," Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help me beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I didn't cry if I lost" Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the out come, Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God," No fair, they had a fathers help" No, he went to his Father for strength. Perhaps we spend to much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to ...
... smile, to encourage, to support and to love. I came to depend on that, even toward the end of his life when smiling was about all that he could do. It helped to know that, no matter what, Dad was there. And now I'm the one who is in my 50s struggling to keep pace with a teenage basketball player in my family. I think about Dad on Father's Day or whenever I'm tempted to NOT be there for my children. To be honest, I'm not as good at it as Dad was. But I keep trying because I know how much it can mean for Dad to be there when you hit that big shot. Or especially when you don't.~Joseph Walker~< ValueSpeak @msn.com >Joseph Walker began his professional writing career as a staff writer for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, eventually becoming that newspaper's television and live theater critic. Since 1990 he has written a ...
262. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Believe Me? [Stories]
... 23 years as an Air Force pilot. Bombed Berlin. He served in England for a good portion of that time. I was overwhelmed with his story. I asked how he felt about killing people. He said it was part of his job." My father told me not to think about it. But I can't help it" I thanked God for connecting me with him. He continued. Two of his sons were killed in Vietnam. He had eight children. How powerful! Just like it was in the old days, big families. For a period he played on a major hockey team out of Pittsburgh. My heart stopped. What a find Perks! Then spent 8 years with the Steelers. Wait a minute. What an incredible man. Why haven't we read about this great man living here in the Valley?" Yes Buddy. I have lived a great life. No regrets" he continued." I also ...
263. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- If You Are Real. [Stories]
... You see, she had an encounter with God, and he brought her out of the darkness of emotional pain and healed her. In order to share my story, I have to share a little bit of hers as well. My mom left home at 16 years old, pregnant and newly married to a boy who thought he was a man. She lost her first baby to cystic fibrosis when the toddler was less than two years old. She had her second child at 18 and left her husband at the age of 21. He came to visit her one night and forced her to have sex. She discovered two weeks later she was pregnant. I was that baby. Mom married a good man who loved her and the two little kids that came as a package deal. But in spite of this turn of events, my mom was fragile. Like stained glass, she was pretty on the outside, but the broken pieces of ...
264. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- In The Woods. [Stories]
... man-made building of brick and mortar. Not a temple, mosque or synagogue. I simply wandered off the road I planned on taking and headed down the path chosen for me this time. I walked across the bridge and looked upon the water. Pausing for a moment I suddenly felt overwhelmed and insignificant. It was all bigger than I. Not just in size. Even the pebble in the brook appeared more important. How can that be? I am a chosen child of God. I have been given great powers and a grand purpose in life. A rock. The moss on the tree and the tiniest of fish swimming below suddenly put me in my place. Off in the distance I could hear water pouring into the brook. It called me like it knew my name. A bit uneasy and feeling out of place, I walked slowly toward the sound and turning to my right I saw it. A grand cathedral. A holy ...
265. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Pretzel Medicine. [Stories]
... as if I'd carried in a box of gold. With each pretzel, I shared the story of Pretzel Boys generosity. Without exception each employee was moved by Joe Sullivan's words and kind deed. It mattered to them that a stranger cared. And with every bite of soft pretzel a little bit of healing took place. Thank you Joe!~Teri Goggin-Roberts~< IndigoMuse63 @aol.com >Teri is a native Philadelphian who lives just outside the city with her husband and children. She says," I am blessed to continue to be employed in another part of the hospital system. I dedicate this story to my co-workers in the hopes that they all land on their feet" [by: Teri Goggin-Roberts, Copyright 2009 (IndigoMuse63 @aol.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
266. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Proudly Displayed. [Stories]
... made me feel loved-something that showed me I had made it! I was really accepted! I was in! And isn't that what kid art always is? Kids bestow their gifts upon us to show their love and affection. They don't fake it. Every piece of kid art ever handed to us is a seal of approval, a medal of honor. Don't take it lightly! If you get kid art, you know that in the eyes of that child, you are special and deserve the best. Display that award proudly. Come to think of it, I think a certain recipe holder needs a better spot.~Beth Fryer~bfryer @nbn.net Beth is a teacher and grandmother, collector of kid art in school and at home in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She says," Kid art is a joy! One of my prized possessions is a picture drawn by my granddaughter. It shows a stick-figure me feeding two cats ...
267. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Puppies for Sale [Stories]
... Puppies for Sale A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read" Puppies For Sale" Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared by the store owner's sign." How much are you going to sell the puppies for ?" he asked. The store owner replied," Anywhere from $30 $50" The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change." I have $2.37 ," he said." May I please look at them ?" The store owner smiled and whistled, out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said," What's wrong with that little dog ?" The store owner explained that the veteriarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it ...
268. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Quite a Character. [Stories]
... Quite a Character I can remember when I was a child in grade school, my parents would attend the Parent Teacher Association meetings. I stayed at home shaking in my boots, fearful of what my teachers had to say about me. I don't know why. Most of the time when they returned home, my father would say," I asked how you were doing in class. She said" Bob's a charmer" I'd smile and sigh with relief." You're quite a character, Bob ," my mother would tell me. So, for most of my life I thought being a character was the most important thing. Being a" charmer" didn't hurt either. Then one day when I had been much too long in adulthood, I heard someone talk about my reputation. It wasn't very flattering. Most likely truthful to some extent, but not something I'd want my parents to hear at PTA. Being a charmer doesn't always ...
... How Much Does A Prayer Weigh? (Old Story-Timeless Message.) Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and told her to leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said:" Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can" John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store. Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer-man that he would stand good for whatever ...
270. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Planting Happiness. [Stories]
... went on a picnic. The weekend was ours to do nothing but to plant seeds of happiness in the hearts of our granddaughters. Are you planting seeds of happiness in the hearts of those you love?~Nancy B. Gibbs~< gibbs.nancy at yahoo.com >Nancy is an author, weekly newspaper columnist and motivational speaker residing in the southern part of Georgia. Nancy and her husband, Roy (also known as Nana and Pa) have been blessed with three grown children and three precious granddaughters. Nancy's newest book," Changing Seasons" has just been released. You can visit her website here: http :// www.nancybgibbs.com [by: Nancy B. Gibbs Copyright 2007 (gibbs.nancy at yahoo.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
271. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Pampers to the Cross [Stories]
... most attention. It would be a place of self, with no service. The church would be a messy place, full of hungry, grumpy kids desiring to be amused and entertained. Ever been in a church like that? There are a few out there, and probably always will be! Perhaps that's why there is such an emphasis in the New Testament on growing up. In 1 Corinthians 14: 20, Paul says," Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil, be infants, but in your thinking be adults" And in Ephesians 4: 13 we're told that the goal of the Church is that we would" all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" Finally, the writer of Hebrews says," Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity" ( ...
... . There's something about a good bowl of gravy, though, that covers a multitude of mistakes. When we poured the gravy over the biscuits, they tasted wonderful. Still, there would be a stack of disc-shaped biscuits left over." How about a little bee spit with your biscuit ?" my Dad would whisper as he pulled a jar of honey from the cupboard. My mother was a stickler about nutrition. She didn't think sugar or sweets were good for growing children. We seldom were treated to cakes, pies or puddings, but Dad always had a jar of clover honey he kept put up out of reach. If gravy was tasty on the biscuits, the golden honey was like heaven." Why do you call it bee spit ?" I once asked. Dad shrugged his shoulders and said he didn't know, that's just what his father always called it. It was another of those family traditions that was passed along. As soon ...
273. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Just Keep Planting [Stories]
... is fourteen thousand acres of trees, grass, bushes, as well as all kinds of wildlife. Paul has now received almost every environmental award Utah has. He says," I thought that if I got this started, when I was dead and gone people would come and see it. I never thought I'd live to see it myself !" It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow he made to himself as a child. What was / is it you want to do, that you think is impossible? Paul's story sure gives a perspective on things, doesn't it? The way you get something accomplished in this world is to trust God for guidance, and just keep planting. He will show you the way if you have faith, and keep working. Just keep plugging away at it one day at a time for a long time, no matter who criticizes or laughs at you, ...
... Robby's Special Piano Recital For His Mother At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from DeMoines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call" musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I refer that students (especially boys !) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby ...
... of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh-because they know that love can't be beaten! Valentine Traditions Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was: Good morning to you, valentine; Curl your locks as I do mine-Two before and three behind. Good morning to you, valentine. In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favorite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant," You unlock my heart !" In the Middle ...
276. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- That's God Talk. [Stories]
... The thoughts are like droplets of water that hit me one by one, but after a while they all form together and saturate my mind with such an intensity that I must respond to them or drown ," I told her." So they start with a single thought ?" she wondered." No, they start with a flicker of light ," I said. Then pausing for a moment to come up with an appropriate image, I was reminded of a silly, childish thing I do." In the middle of cold winter night when you have piled on extra blankets and all the lights are off, did you ever roll over in bed and see little streaks of lightening flicker beneath the covers ?" I asked." No, I don't believe I have ," she replied with an awkward look on her face." Then you must sleep well at night. You see, my mind doesn't stop. I often awaken in the middle of ...
277. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- There Ya' Are. [Stories]
... and laugh. And so she insisted that her funeral be joyful. Because she knew that the end was coming, she outlined her funeral and personally invited those who she wanted to speak. She instructed them carefully that this was not to be a tearful, anguished funeral. She wanted laughter and smiles and. well. joyfulness all around. Joy in the mourning. And to a great extent, the speakers complied. Her father shared sweet and funny stories from Patty's childhood. A college roommate had the entire congregation laughing as she regaled us with lively stories from their college days. Then her husband, Jay, got up and talked about the heavenly reunion that was taking place between Patty and her grandpa, and how the two of them were probably doing something called the Oopa Dance together. Of course, Jay had to demonstrate the dance, which consisted of a series of moves that were part Hokey Pokie, part Funky Chicken and part being ...
278. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- They Wont Let Me In [Stories]
... , I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid we can't let you in. You will distract the congregation and we don't allow anyone to disrupt our service. I'm afraid you'll have to leave" The old man looked down at himself and with a puzzled look on his face, he placed his old brown hat back upon his head and turned to leave. He was sad as he loved to hear the choir sing praises to the Lord. He loved to watch the little children get up in front of the church to sing their little songs. He carried in his pocket a small worn out Bible and loved to see if the minister preached a passage from the Bible that he had underlined. But he was respectful, and didn't want to cause any commotion, so he hung down his head and walked back down the steps of the big brick church. He sat down on the brick wall near the edge of the church yard and strained to listen ...
279. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Surviving the 81st Floor of World Trade Tower Two. [Stories]
... of the danger area. Before they parted, Stanley gave his business card to Brian in hopes of contact at a later time, and said," If I don't see you, I'll see you in heaven" Cut and bloodied, with clothes tattered and wearing a borrowed shirt, Stanley finally made it home hours later to his wife, Jennifer, and his two girls, Stephanie, 8, and Caitlin, 4." I held my wife and my two children and we cried ," said Stanley. After thanking God for sparing his life, Stanley told God whatever he did, it will always be for His glory." I'm so sore, but every waking moment, I say 'Lord, had you not been in control, I would not have made it '" For some divine reason, I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the good Lord's mighty hand turned the plane a fraction from where I was standing ...
280. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Sucker Day. [Stories]
... F. Bam Morrison arrived in Wetumka and persuaded local residents to put up the money to bring a circus to town. They did not know F. Bam, but he was a nice enough fellow and they trusted his word. Merchants bought plenty of food, beverages, and souvenirs in preparation for the crowds of people who were bound to attend. And Morrison sold advance tickets. The townspeople were ecstatic at the thought of a circus in their very own village. Children could hardly sleep at night. On the day the circus parade was to march down the main street, ecstasy turned into dismay when nothing happened. F. Bam had slipped quietly away in the night with any money he had left. There would be no circus. The good folks of Wetumka had been swindled. It didn't take long for their disappointment to turn into amusement, however. Someone came up with the idea of holding a four-day celebration anyway. And why not ...
281. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Saved At Sea. [Stories]
... Saved At Sea After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak," A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast ," he began," when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean" The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued," Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life. ...
... him he placed the color of my eyes. Before He knit me together within my mother s womb, he cherished the sound of my laugh. Before I shed my first tear he felt my pain. Before my sin, my sorrow, and my stubborn disobedience, he chose to carry them to the Cross. He hung there His blood pouring out
for me. Why he chose to do this I cannot comprehend. God wanted me to be his own child. How can that be? With all of my flaws and character defects He wanted me to believe in Him, and He gave me the grace to believe in myself. God loves me with a fire that can never be quenched. I am special to him, even if I am not special to anyone else, including myself. I have tried to perfect myself, and I have failed. I have tried to believe the world s message, but I have ...
283. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Simply The Best. [Stories]
... her about people. I had explained that we are all beautiful in our own different way. Each of us has a story to tell and no two stories are the same. We learn by sharing our stories and listening to the stories of others. Difference is the thing that makes each and every one of us special. I had no idea she'd equated the lesson with books. What a wondrous revelation! A good head and shoulders taller than the bookshelves in the children's section of the store, I looked out over the sea of multi-shaped, multi-weighted, multi-colored books, with their multitude of content, and the accuracy of the equation shot straight through me. It was perfect. No one book was better than any other book. They were equally beautiful and equally special. With dinner still waiting and our stomachs beginning to growl, decision time was finally at hand. But how to choose? I hit on the right question when I asked ...
284. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Paid In Full [Stories]
... and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7: 11," And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him ?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had wanted. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL. How many times do we miss God's blessings because we can't see past our own ...
285. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Number 111. [Stories]
... and Daniel B Towner 1850-1919-Public Domain. About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper and many of her writings have been published on the internet as well as in several books. Pam says," I have loved music and writing ever since I can remember. I play piano at church and I'm an avid reader. One of my goals is to be able to write for my children and grandchildren so special memories will not be forgotten" She has a CD entitled" I'll Walk You Home". If you would like one, they are available by freewill donation. More information as well as a clip from the CD is on her website at http :// blaines.us / PamyPlace.htm [By: Pamela Perry Blaine, Copyright 2007 (pamyblaine @blaines.us)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... , I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU '" Then he gave me this Gospel tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out, into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more." You see, I am now a happy child of the King, and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel tract I have come here to personally say, 'Thank you to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time, and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in Hell" There were now no dry eyes in the church. As shouts of praise and honor to the Lord resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit ...
287. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Josh's Angel. [Stories]
... Josh's Angel My wife and I have been married for 48 -nearly 49 years. We've been blessed with a good marriage, four wonderful children (two of each kind ), ten beautiful grandchildren and a precious great grandson. They are all the joy of our live. The story I want to tell you is a true story about our grandson Joshua, who is 24 years old now. The incident happened when Josh was about two years old -maybe less, I'm not sure. But, it happened when he was at the age where he was just learning to walk. It was shortly after lunch that day. Our daughter, Theresa, was over and she brought Joshua with her. After lunch, as I most always did, I went upstairs to brush my teeth and shave before I went to work. I worked the second shift at that time. Directly at the top of our staircase there is a window, and setting next to ...
288. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Just One More Time. [Stories]
... , I never had the pleasure of actually sleeping on one of those dinosaurs. My grandparents and other older adults held that great privilege. The rest of us slept on couches, chairs and yes the floor. It was routine to discover my Grandmother standing over me in the middle of the night. Her thoughts and mental health often caused her to get up several times during the night. She carried a flashlight as she wandered through the cottage. Early on in my childhood I would awaken frightened and shaking under the covers each time I saw this" ghost" wandering around. As years went by, I would wake up and say" Hello, Grandma! I love you !" I think it gave her pleasure and somewhat of a reality check to know she was somewhere she belonged. Our days were spent at Sandy Beach and some of the most satisfying, delicious meals shared on old weather-worn picnic tables nestled under the pines. I floated for ...
289. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Luther's Lumber. [Stories]
... Theatre. Recruitment posters still lined the walls of the little cafe. Fred had not been in the service, because when the war started in 1941, his parents had been in very poor health; his father with a bad heart, and his mother with cancer. He was needed at home to care for them and operate the farm. His parents had since died, and the farm was now his-his and Maggie's. When Luther, Fred's best friend since childhood, had flown over Miller in the B-17, and when the bodies of the Hobbs boys and Billie Martin had been shipped home, and when Perry came home with hooks where his hands should have been, Fred felt guilty. He felt he had not done his part for the war effort, and in his own eyes, he was diminished. But today, it was Luther who seemed depressed. Fred asked him what was bothering him." You seem down in the ...
290. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Jesus In The House. [Stories]
... door while you laid up here sleeping. Don't you care about me? Did I not give you the very best room in the house ?" He could see the tears building in Jesus ' eyes but continued on," I just don't understand, I really thought that once I invited you in to live with me that you would take care of me and I gave you the best room in my house and everything. What more can I do ?"" My precious child ," Jesus spoke so softly." I do love and care for you. I protect all that you have released into my care. But, when you invited me to come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room and you shut the door to the rest of your house. I am Lord of this room but I am not Master of this house. I have protected this room and no demon may enter here"" Oh, Lord, please ...
291. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- I Saw Jesus. [Stories]
... already knew about it all, my lack of forgiveness towards others, how I had been hurt by other people, and the circumstances in my life that had made me feel that way. He said," I know everything about you" That surprised me greatly, but I also felt comforted by it. It meant that he had never been far from me like I had always thought. I realized that I had been constantly under his supervision, like when our children are small, and we never let them out of our eyesight. Again, I felt more compassion from him pouring out to me. He said," I feel your pain. I grieve with you" He was like a loving parent who will pick you up when you are hurting, and hold you in his loving arms. He will comfort you, and wipe away all of your tears. I actually felt like I had been comforted, and held in the ...
... went as far as to say" desire" was superior to" passion" in a person. I totally disagreed. I have found that when I am speaking with someone who is sharing their dreams and plans for the future, there is little drive in the" wanting to be ,"" planning to be" or certainly not in the" wishing to be ," goals set for becoming happy and successful in their life. Wanting, planning and wishing are words for children." I have a passion for !" is a powerful statement. It says" I want it bad enough to work for it ,"" Do whatever it takes to get it ,"" It is a part of who I am" Wow! Which one of those people do you think will succeed? The" wisher" or the one with a" passion" for it? My friend Mark has a passion for what he does. I could hear it in his ...
... I Knew There Was A God I remember when back when I was growing up, my family and me lived in a house that didn't have electricity. We had free gas, so we didn't get cold. But we didn't have much money because my dad couldn't find a good job in those days, to feed the family of eleven hungry children. At the start of the school year, we would each get a new pair of shoes, one pair of pants, and one shirt, and the girls would get one dress, and the frilly things to go with it. This would have to last us all through the school year, unless someone would give us clothing, which seldom happened, because most families were as bad off as we were. But we had love and we worked together doing all the chores, raising the garden for food. Sometimes but not very often someone would give us a pig to raise and we ...
... that had made me feel that way. He said, I know everything about you. I thought to myself, Wow! I can t believe He knows everything about me! This new knowledge surprised me greatly, but I also felt comforted by it. I had always felt invisible in His eyes. It meant that He had never been far from me like I had always thought. I realized that I had been constantly under his supervision, like when our own children are small, and we never let them out of our eyesight. Before I had thought that He had too many people to watch over to concern Himself with me, and there was even a possibility that He didn't even know that I existed. Suddenly, I felt like I could get up and run from the church, and shout to the world," He can see me! He can see me !" I understood that He has been with me my entire life ...
295. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Magnolia. [Stories]
... Ma'am ," he said." You don't understand what's happening here"" What ?" I asked." You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday.. He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes." On Wednesday I buried her" He looked away." On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday-yesterday-my children left. I nodded." This morning ," he continued," I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody! 'I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me! ' About that time, you knocked, and said," Sir, I ...
... . Before us is a blank canvas and each moment a stroke of the brush. Still others say we are writers. We create the greatest story" never" told by writing it chapter by chapter until our final days But I have discovered that we are all musicians. The melody of our lives was created with our first whimper or scream at birth. Through the years we have learned to play our part as the master of our fine tuned instrument. As a child we made noise and discovered that doing so brought us the attention we needed so badly. It was a piece unknowingly written to the beat of those who loved and guided us. As teenagers we" marched to the beat of a different drum". Some of us discovered that we didn't like the instrument we were and would have gladly exchanged it for another. We struggled then to like ourselves for what and who we were. In those early years our music was influenced ...
... is ready" I was too weak to choke him. As I fell in a heap on the front porch, I made this resolution: If I ever have a next husband, I will definitely find one that's normal-if that's even possible.~Marsha Jordan~This essay is included in Marsha Jordan's new book-along with about 200 other humorous essays. The book title is:" Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter"-illustrated by critically ill children. You can visit Marsha's website by clicking on the link below. [by Marsha Jordan Copyright 2006, (jordans @newnorth.net)-submitted by: Marsha Jordan] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
... believe that Christ was born, and died for our sins will someday be with Him in Paradise. He is always here for us. What an awesome gift! Happy Easter !!~Diane Dean White~Thelamb212 @aol.com Diane is a freelance writer and the author of Beach Walks and Carolina in the Morning, and she contributes to a wide range of publications. She and her husband of 37 years live on the Carolina Coast. They are the parents of three grown children and three grandgals. You may visit Diane's nice website at: www.DianeDeanWhite.com. Please take a minute to let Diane know what you think of this story: Thelamb212 @aol.com [By: Diane Dean White Copyright 2009 (Thelamb212 @aol.com)-submitted by: Diane Dean White] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
299. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- No Jacket Required. [Stories]
... would like for me to come back as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace. He made it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible. As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the" real world ," He whispered to me softly," And Lo, I am with you always" And then, He said something to me that I will never forget. He said." My child, do you see these empty tables throughout this room ?"" Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean ?" I replied." These are reserved tables. but the individuals whose names are on each placard have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet ?" Jesus asked." Of course ," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations"" ...
300. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- My Daddy. [Stories]
... met my mom, he was interested in getting to know her better. To make a long story short, the two of them dated for a few months and decided to get married. My sister and I were so excited that we were getting a daddy. They had a quiet ceremony and we all went to the Smoky Mountains on a honeymoon. That was just the beginning of 32 very wonderful years for us. We were never called or considered" step" children, but we were his girls from day one. My mother was a queen and we were princesses. Daddy soon left Kentucky Fried Chicken and became a banker, which he did for 28 years before retiring in November 2003. He was a very loved and respected member of our community, a deacon at our church and a man that we were so proud to call our Daddy. He was passionate about his relationship with God, his love for his family and was an ...
... know puts a picture" Once again, tears began to roll down the old man's cheeks. He reached over, picked up his over-shirt and stuffed it into his gunny-sack. Throwing it over his shoulder he began walking down the railroad tracks. For ten minutes I stood watching as the old man, with the most beautiful voice, disappeared into the distance.~Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.~The books, stories and CDs of Roger Dean Kiser, author, child advocate. http :// www.geocities.com / trampolineone / survive / srv080.htm [by: Roger Dean Kiser Copyright 2008 (trampolineone @earthlink.net)-submitted by: Roger Dean Kiser] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
302. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Me. [Stories]
... through this intersection nearly everyday. Every time I see him I think," I should pull over and help him" But I didn't. That is until today. Why this guy? What made him look like he even needed my help? He looked frail to me. I have seen him cross after passing him by and he moved slowly and he was in a wheelchair. I was a boy scout for a day, so this wasn't a part of my childhood" call to duty" scout training. It is, however, a part of who I am. I had been disappointed in myself lately because I usually listen to that inner voice the first time without hesitation. It wasn't until today that I realized I was supposed to wait. I needed this guy more than he needed me. There is conflict in my life right now. It is a battle not only going on in my mind, but in my heart. ...
303. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- Mears Family Store. [Stories]
... two years old in 1878. The Mears family were all hard workers and made a place for themselves in the land of opportunity. Bernie was smart and wanted to be his own boss. When Bernie was 25 he took a wife. Bernie had saved some money and decided on a dry goods and grocery store combined. He and Marie found an empty building to rent and proceeded to fill it with inventory. There was an apartment upstairs. They were not blessed with children, so the two of them worked side by side to become established and build a trade. Marie had a knack for arranging the merchandise to appeal to customers and Bernie didn't mind the long hours. He was happy, life was good. The business thrived until the great depression hit the entire country. No one had money to purchase pretty things or even food. In 1930, Marie had a heart attack and left Bernie alone. Following Marie's death, which Bernie felt ...
... wagon over to us. After hugging the wife and I, she told us goodbye. She constantly waved both her arms in the air as we drove down the dirt driveway. This was the start of a new life for the wife and me. I remember thinking that the three bottles of pills I had thrown beneath the bathroom sink was the medicine that saved me.~Roger Dean Kiser~The books, stories and CDs of Roger Dean Kiser, author, child advocate. http :// www.geocities.com / trampolineone / survive / srv080.htm [by: Roger Dean Kiser Copyright 2008 (trampolineone @earthlink.net)-submitted by: Roger Dean Kiser] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...
305. Inspirational and Christian STORIES -- The Auction [Stories]
... The Auction The upstate NY man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land antiques and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy. Miraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart. The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for ...
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