... yourself. But if you intend to sit here long enough, He might grant your wish anyway. As cold as it is, you'll probably freeze to death"" It is my time to die ," the old Indian repeated defiantly. Bonard sat down next to the fire and pulled his coat up around him. ... to your place to invite you and Deer Woman to Thanksgiving dinner. Then she told me that you had taken a notion that it was your time to die, and came out here to do it"" Deer Woman talks too much ," Running Wolf growled. Bonard smiled." At any rate, I came ... Running Wolf ," Bonard shouted above the wind." What in blazes are you doing out here ?" The old Indian continued looking into the fire." Dying ," came the reply." That's what I heard, but I didn't believe it ," Bonard replied evenly as he stooped by the fire to get warm. ...

... the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it NOW rather than to wait until we're on our death bed to lament. <>< For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall ... loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself," Now I have four wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. ... , he asked the fourth wife," I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company ?"" No way !" replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like ...

... more plausible than any other explanation. That's why we Christians make such a big deal about Easter. That's why we celebrate. Jesus ' resurrection means that death is not the end. That though my body may lie mouldering in the ground, Jesus, whom the Father raised from the dead, gives me eternal life ... morning. This brings me to my third point. If the disciples had stolen the body, you wouldn't expect them to risk their lives. People don't die for what they know is not true. But the disciples put their lives on the line, and nearly all were eventually martyred for their faith. They certainly ... Resurrection? Prove It to Me" Jesus raised from the dead? Sure. Right. And I have a bridge I'd like to sell you" That's how Thomas might have responded if he had lived in the year 2000." Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger where ...

... one singular concept is the absolute truth. It is the key to all success in life. But it can also be the key to failure and even death. Pete is a friend of mine. One of those people you call" friend" but you really don't know everything about them. Just when you think ... figured out, he tells you something completely surprising. Something even brilliant." Did I ever tell you about the time I thought I was going to die ?" he asked." No, I don't think I heard that one ," I replied." In reality I almost caused my death. You see I ... in fact creating the world I imagined. I became so physically sick and mentally depressed thinking that I was going to die, that I was in fact dying. My body suffered terribly. So much so that I ended up in the hospital malnourished and depressed"" So what changed you? What did you do ...

... they are so concerned about it they can't even enjoy what is right before them. But there are other people who, when they think about their own death and how little time they may have left, actually live more intentionally and more fully. Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a long-time student of death and dying, ... heavens opened up right now and you could hear the voice of the Big Dodger in the sky and he said to you, 'Bobby, you're going to die and come up to heaven, and this is the last batter you're ever going to face, ' how would you like the meet the Lord, getting this ... beside himself." Bobby, what happened ?" he asked." It's like this, Skip ," said O'Brien." You had me so worried about dying I couldn't concentrate on the batter !" I know that many people are worried about dying. In fact, they are so concerned about it they can't even enjoy ...

... partings; You worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere. To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, But into life-and that the journey continues After we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, But that faith is ... friends as they drifted toward God's arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of live. I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago ... to use the interval Between now And the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face. Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying Can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon ...

... you are dimmer than you were yesterday. You three are dying, Sun. Light. Day"" My silly friend, It is you that causes death, not I. You will always become what you cause. Haven't you been watching existence? Or have you only been playing in your own desires. Is ... I will always be. You are but a mass of matter and gas, just so much smoke and fire. Your time will come and you will die, just like all things, but I will go on forever" This startled Day because it was not used to being spoken to so harshly. As a ... " I can only see an end to you and no end to me! Even today, you are dimmer than you were yesterday. You three are dying, Sun. Light. Day"" My silly friend, It is you that causes death, not I. You will always become what you cause. ...

... quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.~By John McCrae, 1915~Waregem, Belgium WW1-368 Americans buried there. Memorial ... , For God is mercy, God is love. Then let us pray that we may live, As pure and good as they have been, That dying we may ask of him, To open the gate and let us in. At that time, John A. Logan, was commander-in-chief of the Grand Army ... on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our ...

... Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death. The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully ... was very particular that his toys stay in the box. It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease .in fact, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was ... made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? ...

... . The oyster is ripped open with a knife in the side, before the true treasure is revealed. The analogy in the Pearl here is like Christ's death, so that all who trust in Him will be able to see and be with Him in His beautiful Kingdom, for eternity. It's His desire that all ... we will look like when our Bridegroom comes for us, they would surely want to come! To see the true beauty of the pearl the oyster must die. The oyster is ripped open with a knife in the side, before the true treasure is revealed. The analogy in the Pearl here is like Christ's death ... ! God is using our time now to conform us into a beautiful image of His dear Son. The pearl is formed in a Living Object! No dead rock is the pearl, it comes from life. The very life of the oyster is given to the pearl. What a blessed God that He gives us ...

... I went. Otherwise I go from day to day just remembering. Unless you are very young or very fortunate, by now you must have experienced the death of someone you love. As years pass by the pain seems to lessen more and more. But depending how on connected you were to them, there are ... a man without purpose. This is where I belong. This stone bears my name" George" and this empty spot for the year I am to die. Already it is wrong. Even the stone mason thought I should be dead by now. It starts" 19" I never wanted to see 2000 without ... Nora"" Mr. Volpetti, I assume that's your name. I'm Bob. What a beautiful name, Nora. I only knew one other with that name. My Grandmother. She is buried up there on the hill" I said. He stood and turned toward me. The streams of tears that he ...

... panting for air and was certain that this was my last moments on earth. I prayed a prayer that I thought would be my last spoken words in this life, Dear God take care of my family. Then I waited for death to overtake me. God had different plans. A volunteer fireman had watched the accident and drove up to my bruised and bleeding body. His skills went into motion. My bleeding was stopped by his gentle hands. He bagged me and ... . Then she began to gush with excitement. She explained that her best friend s husband was the volunteer fireman that was both the witness and first responder to the accident. Then she said a chilling comment, He thinks you are dead, you ought to call him. The lady opened her purse and wrote down a phone number to my rescuer. This unusual conversation led to a very unusual conversation. I was the not so dead man who was thanking his rescuer for ...

... lilies, opened his Bible and began to read," Jesus is the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this "" John 11: 25, 26 Jack leaned forward. He did not know the Bible said this. In fact, he never read the Bible. The chaplain explained the way to receive forgiveness of sins. Suddenly ... sunshine would bring color to her cheeks and a smile to her face. However, one night Jack's world caved in. The chaplain had tried to soften the shock with words of hope, but it was no use. Lily was dead. Pneumonia. Jack folded the telegram and stalked out of the chaplains office with head held low. From that night on he was like a man walking in his sleep. Nothing had mattered and more. Nothing. The next day, ...

... How To Have A Life Of Joy Do you know how to have a life of joy? A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said," Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated"" And what ," his friend asked," do you want me to do with your ashes ?" The businessman said," Just put them in an envelope and mail them as taxes to the government and write ... Born in 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia, she felt called as a teenager to move to Calcutta, India. Some months later she saw a sight that completely revolutionized her life. Shortly after moving to Calcutta she spotted a homeless, dying woman lying in the gutter, being eaten by rats. After seeing that, compassion compelled her to beg an abandoned Hindu temple from the government and convert it into a crude, make-shift hospital for the dying." Nobody should die alone ...

... free again. Then I noticed a second robin fly down from a nearby tree and land next to the newly-freed robin. It had stayed close by, as its mate struggled for freedom, and would not have left until freedom or death ended their relationship. The birds I witnessed mated for life and the struggles that come with it. Now don't you wish a lot more relationships would go to the birds? I know I do.~Michael T. Smith~[ ... a young boy, a small yellow bird hit our front door. When I looked outside, I saw its tiny, unmoving body on our deck. I opened the door to see if it was just stunned, or worse, dead. I was kneeling over it when my mom joined me." Michael, I think it may be dead. I heard the bang on the glass. It hit pretty hard"" Mom, should we bury it ?"" I'm ...

... sting me !" The father gently says," No honey, he's not going to sting you now. Look at my hand" The bee's stinger is in my hand! 1 Cor. 15: 55-" Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting ?" Jesus says to us," Look at my hands" He has Satan's sting, the sting of death, the sting of sin, the sting of deceit, ... . All of a sudden a big black bee darts in the window and starts buzzing around inside the car. A little girl, highly allergic to bee stings, cringes in the back seat. If she is stung, she could die within an hour (or sooner)." Oh, Daddy ," she squeals in terror," it's a bee! It's going to sting me !" The father pulls the car over to a stop, and reaches back to try to ...

... mind was the well being of my soon to be born daughter ," Michael replied." Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live. Then all these bible verses came to mind and comforted me." Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness ?" I asked. Michael continued," .the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I ... going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man ' I knew I needed to take action"" What did you do ?" I asked. It was then I recited the Lord's Prayer out loud for all to hear." Well, then there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me ," ...

... relationship to how much we love. The same can be said about happiness. How much happiness there is in our lives depends on how much love we have not only for those around us, but for life itself. Like the death of a loved one. Such loss is a pain we all endure many times in our lives. Why? Because we love. But the great thing about love is, it never ceases, even after the final goodbye. Love continues ... rest of your life be a reflection of that love and when your time comes may your passing cast long shadows for all who loved you, too. Bob Perks~~~~~My final thought... When I die... Bury me not in a cold dark grave. Bury me deep within your heart. I will live forever there.~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2007 (2believe @comcast.net)- ...

... at the tip of my shadow, when he saw me turn my head. My hand flew to my heart." Oh !" I said, taking a step toward the object of my fright." You scared me half to death !" As I walked slowly toward the big grey cat he began to retreat." Well, if that ’ s the way you want it, fine" My heart still pounding, I changed direction, heading once more toward home. ... that I discovered that" The Shadow" had not come alone, and that" he" was a" she ", and she was looking for a place to deposit her litter. An hour later she produced two kittens, one dead, and one as grey as herself. At the same time as the cats were having their kittens; the hens were hatching their chicks. Fourteen lively, fluffy chicks followed behind their respective mothers. But one chick, not so lively ...

... can be painful, and sometimes even enough to make you want to give up, but none have the power to make you fall. In Romans 8: 38-39 the apostle Paul wrote:" For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, ... your thumb straight up and extending your index finger straight out while curling the other three fingers around a make-believe pistol grip. If someone pointed his" gun" at you and shouted" Bang !" or" Pow !" you were considered dead and were obligated to fall to the ground immediately without moving. One day in particular we were playing cowboys and Indians deep in the mountains. Envisioning myself as John Wayne, better known as the Duke, I had my" five-shooters" ...

... loop: Atrial fibrillation. Sixty percent leakage past the mitral valve. Congestive heart failure. Fluid in the lungs. A dangerously enlarged heart. The cardiologist had told Dennis he needed surgery within a month, or he would face certain death. Even now she didn't know if the surgery would be successful because the damage was so bad. She offered no promises, gave no guarantees. Today's bus trip would take me back to the little barrio (community) of Lantap, ... . My one question was: would I be a widow at thirty-nine? Lord, I know You want me to trust You, but I'm finding it hard. You'll have to help me. I'm so afraid. Don't let Dennis die." I recognize that corner ," said Helena, seated next to me. Her words jolted me back to the present." The bus station will be on our right in about three blocks" Helena had been staying in the guest ...

... in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. St. Valentine's Story Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the ... Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it," Love from your Valentine" I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on ...

... was wrong then? One night I found out! The phone rang next to my bed and I couldn ’ t pry my hands away from the pillow. They were clenched so tight and painfully cramped from grasping the pillow with a death grip. My hands just wouldn ’ t let go of the pillow, it was like they were glued there! Apparently, my hands never forgot that first experience either and never felt safe on those satin sheets. So they held on ... 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. ...

... 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 ... led me to these particular 'green pastures ' at this precise time. He'll give me peace, and calm my fears. This path is the one He has chosen for me" The" shadow-of-death" verse was hardest. I could die during surgery! But I didn't want to die and leave my beloved family. Could they possibly cope without me? (Now I hope you will not see me as totally self-centered here; I'm not claiming to be" Perfect Mom" ...

... completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article, Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter, his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father, and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all. [Catherine Moore-from 'Motivational Mailer '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night. Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's ...

... , but I've gone on the best that I could, doing most of the things that I wanted using first one aide and then another. I've been down and depressed at times, I can't deny that. I've been scared to death of what tomorrow might hold and I still have those fears to this day. My biggest fear is that I may become a burden to my love ones. I fear to some extent I already have. Being a very independent person before ... full time use of a three wheel motorized scooter. I no longer drive a car and depend on others to take me to the places I want to go. I have been so tired and weak at times I just wanted to die. Besides physical problems I have experienced family problems, financial and business problems. Like everyone else I have faced my share of adversities. My husband and family have always been there for me, yet they have not always understood. The ...

... with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children." Please ... God ," she prayed," send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon" While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a corollary," 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 ...

... leaving the loop around the tree and one link hanging down. Over the years, bark slowly covered the rusting chain. Then one year, agricultural catastrophe struck Michigan in the form of Dutch Elm Disease. It left a path of death across vast areas. All of the elms lining the road leading to the farm became infected and died. Everyone figured that old, stately elm would be next. There was no way the tree could last, between the encroaching fungus and ... in a windstorm. But they simply could not bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had become a family friend. So they decided to let nature take its course. Amazingly, the tree did not die. Year after year it thrived. Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the county! Plant pathologists from Michigan State University came out to observe the tree. They observed the scar left by the iron chain, ...

... . They taunted and beat and killed Him today, His crucified body left on display As 'proof ' that He is not God but a man; Jesus, the unblemished sacrificed Lamb! My brother, my brother, I mourn Your death; My heart near broke when you gave Your last breath. How could this have happened to You, God's Son-Jesus, the only true Innocent One? An earthquake; a tear and the sky turns black, Some graves burst ... ; their dead have come back-A stone rolled away His body is gone; Jesus is risen; the war has begun! Jesus, my brother, is diff'rent from me; Eyes opened by God are able to see We certainly are not the same at all-He is the King-and I His thrall.~Belinda van Rensburg~Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved [by: Belinda van Rensburg Copyright 2009 (lindievr @yahoo.com)-submitted by: Belinda ...

... " Get saved, then baptized. Fly away with family and friends when Jesus calls. Sample Prayer: Dear God, I realize that I am a sinner and believe and understand that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross as payment for my sins. I accept Him as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive all of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank you God. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen ... and was on a straightaway near a small settlement when off to my right I saw a flock of Canadian geese resting at the edge of a pond. These poor geese were the most tired of any geese I had ever seen. Dead tired. Some had their head tucked under one of their wings and were sound asleep. Others were to tired to even put their head under a wing and just let it droop down onto the ground. They too were sound asleep. ...

... 20 years? If all you have is an old love song from the '20s, if that's all in the world you have, won't you please sing it? The Bible says," The tongue has the power of life and death" (Proverbs 18: 21, NIV). So, if you have a song, won't you sing it? The Bible says," The tongue of the just is as choice silver" (Proverbs 10: 20). ... God as they sang together" You Are My Sunshine" The Holy Spirit turned that old love song from the Charleston flappers era into a hymn of praise too deep for words. In this sad world, people all around us lie dying from depression, from criticism, from failure, from sin. If you have a song, won't you please sing it. In your community there are people who are in despair, people who just can't find the wherewithal to try again ...

... then thousands, millions and all together they changed the world, our world. Can't you see the significance in that? I want to change the world. I am tired, worn out from weeping at the sight of still another death not just on the field of battle laid out by warriors, but in the streets of every city, in the fields of the impoverished, desolate reaches of the world. They are dying in my country and yours by bullet, by ... , disease, arrogance, stupidity and pride. A tiny drop of water gave me hope. I am but one drop in the sea of humanity, but like the rain I can join together with others and wash away the hatred and pain I anguish over. One drop, then two, then thousands, millions and all together we can change the world. our world. I want to change my life. I am tired of being in debt. I am worn ...

... The Story of the Candy Cane A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a remind others about Christ, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of ... promises of God. The candy maker made the candy in the form of a" J" to represent the beloved name of his Savior Jesus, who came to earth to die on our behalf. It could also represent the staff of the" Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down into the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes ...

... me and walked toward the oven and shut the door and turned up the heat and I could see him through the window of the oven and it was getting hotter and hotter and I thought," He's going to burn me to death !". And I started pounding on the inside of the oven and I said," Master, let me out, let me out, let me out !", and I could see that he was smiling as he said" Not yet ... out. let me out !". I could see that he was smiling but I also noticed a tear trickle down his cheek as I watched him mouth the words," Not yet !" Just as I thought I was about to die, the door opened and he reached in ever so gently and took me out, fresh and free and he went and placed me on a high shelf and he said:" There, I have created what I intended. Would you ...

... thousand years ago Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same story but with fewer words," What you sow, so shall you reap" (Gal. 6: 7)." We are grass that will wither and die but the incorruptible seed of God's Word will live forever-sow it daily into the life of your family! (1 Peter 1: 23-25). [Author Unknown-from akako via 'Sermon Fodder ' (Sermon_Fodder @yahoogroups.com ... ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead-it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers." When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I ...

... of the boys was still yelling. I ran past them and hid behind several large trash cans located about half way down the alley. In the distance, I could hear sirens heading in our direction. The two boys jumped off the old man and began running out of the alley. Several minutes later, people began walking into the alley. Two men walked up to the old man, who now lay motionless on the ground. “ I think he ’ s dead ,” said a heavyset man, as he knelt down to look at the old homeless fellow. “ He ’ s dead, alright ,” stated another man beside him. “ He ’ s not breathing ,” he continued. Several minutes later, police cars came from every direction. There were flashing red lights everywhere. “ Call an ambulance ,” yelled one of the policemen to one of the other officers, at the end of the alley. The police began to question people ...

... of people. Each of them writing their own story and never recognizing that they are in control of how the story ends. So I steal from them the things that they discard along the way. Brilliant thoughts, spirit filled words with wings that take flight in my soul and flood my mind with a million possibilities. But, they don't see it. I do"" Like the movie" The Sixth Sense ," she said laughing." Exactly. I see dead people, too ," I said slowly and deliberately. The smile went off her face. I laughed at her." They are dead to the world! Dead to the gifts that God has given them. Their ears can't hear the God talk. So I see it, I hear it, I write about it and talk about it in my speeches and seminars"" Maybe it's another way ," she said." Another way for what ?" I asked." ...

... 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, and no one aboard was even aware of the tiny broken body thrown mercilessly into the river by the onrushing train. Nor were they aware of the pitiful figure of the sobbing man, still clinging tightly to the locking lever long after the train had passed. They didn't see him walking home more slowly than he had ever walked; to tell his wife how their ...

... filled with light. She wondered where it came from since the man had extinguished his fire stick. To her delight, she realized that the light came from herself. Then the man struck another fire stick and, one by one, lit the other candles in the room. Each one gave out the same light that she did. During the next few hours, she noticed that, slowly, her wax began to flow. She became aware that she would soon die. With this realization came a sense of why she had been created." Perhaps my purpose on earth is to give out light until I die ," she mused. And that's exactly what she did. God created you and I to produce light in a dark world. Like that little candle, we all can produce the same amount of light, no matter how small we are or what color we might be. But we can't produce light until we receive it from ...

... had a number of bantam hens. Bantams have a habit of laying eggs wherever they choose. Because of their great flying ability, we found it impossible to keep these little chickens penned up. So the children made it their job to go find the bantie eggs. But one day two of the boys got a surprise. They found a nest of six eggs, hidden from view by some tall grass. Half on, and half off the nest, lay a dead hen. All excited, the boys came running to me, asking if they could bring the eggs in and try to incubate them. They were both in the fifth grade at school, and had learned about how baby chickies were hatched -not born, like kittens. James, a few months older than Don, explained that he was sure that the mother hen had just died, because she was still warm. I went with them to where the eggs were, examining ...

... There Is More In You Than You Know Not many people realize that U. S. President Calvin Coolidge did not always live in the White House. As Vice-President, he became President upon the death of Warren G. Harding. Mrs. Harding continued to live in the White House for a time, so the Coolidges remained where they had been living-in the third-floor suite of nearby Willard Hotel. Once in the middle of the night, the new President awoke to see an intruder going through his clothes. He watched as the thief first removed a wallet, then unhooked a watch chain. Coolidge calmly spoke up from the darkness:" About that watch, I wish you wouldn't take that" The startled man, gaining his voice, asked," Why ?" Coolidge answered," I don't mean the watch and chain, only the charm. I'm very fond of that charm. It means a great deal to me. Take ...

... Tree Dwellers enjoy the benefits of food, Safety and protection that the tree gives to them. Occasionally, an age-old story is told of some who have let go of their spot on the tree and allowed the Wind to carry them away. As a result, the Tree Dwellers became Wind Walkers that could fly free with the Wind. No one believes the story. For they say among themselves," Everyone knows that if you let go, you will crash and die". In their limited existence, they could not see that there was abundant life awaiting them outside the tree. Instead, they hung, lived and died attached to their spot on the tree. One day, a young Tree Dweller after having heard the story of the Wind Walkers, began to dream of letting go. Everyone on his section of the tree, told him of the dangers of letting go. They exclaimed to the Tree Dweller that the Wind would grab ...

... . How many times have you felt helpless and lost when confronted with a friend or perfect stranger who is obviously struggling with something in their life. I went through a divorce and many of my friends stopped calling me. In some instances they saw me approaching at the mall or on the street and they went the other way. When cancer entered our lives both times, people we expected to hear from never called. One woman told me that when her husband was dying his best friend and best man at their wedding never stopped by to see him. Why?" I don't know what to say" That's usually the reason for doing nothing and in their minds it's justified. So, on black Friday when Marianne and I went shopping, we stopped for breakfast about half way through. As expected, the restaurant was packed, the service a bit slow and checkout slower. I had just gotten in line when my phone rang. It ...

... ." Do you have a cold? You sound like you're losing your voice or something"" No. It's not a cold" I rambled on for a few more minutes and suddenly realized that I was doing all of the talking." What's going on? You never let me talk this long"" Bob, I've got something to tell you" I waited. He hesitated a bit longer and finally said," I've been ill. They say I'm dying" There was a deep silence that felt like my heart stopped and I suddenly went deaf. There was a void in the conversation that no proper words could fill. Then he said," They give me three months" How odd that my first reaction was," It can't be. Three is my favorite number" How perfectly selfish and stupid. Why would I think that at this time? He's dying and I'm upset because they chose to tell him he had ...

... then I saw them-all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died. I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding. Tim turned to me." Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements" I mumbled," Sure ," as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links. Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling." Lord ," I prayed," please help me. I don't know anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers-in a hurry !" I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing ...

... 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 it. Don't they fly away when it gets cold ?"" Yes, they do. But one is always chosen to remain behind ," she said. Maybe this was just grandmother's way of softening the the truth so that the child would not be saddened by the thought of the butterfly dying. But what unfolded here was an incredible moment, an opportunity seen and taken to teach a lesson of love." Why would they choose to be left ...

... sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12: 6-7 <>< When I was six years old we lived in Oklahoma City in a neighbor-hood where we always kept the doors locked and bolted at night. To get out the back door, Daddy had a special key that opened the dead bolt from the inside. One night I was wakened suddenly by the sound of thunder and lightning and a torrential downpour. I rushed down the hall toward my parents ' room, but was stopped by billowing smoke and flames coming from the living room. Our house had been struck by lightning. I had to get out, but how? I couldn't reach the front door because of the flames, and the back door was locked. On the verge of panic, I ...

... , it would take approximately twenty thousand years to revegitate that six-square-mile piece of earth. His teachers told him it would be a waste of his life to try to do it. It just could not be done. So he tried to go on with his life. He got a job operating heavy equipment, got married, and had some kids. However, as a good Christian, he knew that" faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2: 17). So, he kept studying about the subject, and prayed for guidance on the matter. Then one night he felt led to take action by faith alone. He would do what he could, and trust God to do the rest. This was an important turning point. Samuel Johnson wrote," It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. In the same manner, present opportunities are ...

... 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 gave strength to his body and motivated him mentally. As he began to dig, well-meaning parents tried to pull him out of the rubble saying:" It's too late !"" They're dead !"" You can't help !"" Go home !"" There's nothing you can do !" The fire chief tried to pull him off the rubble by saying," Fires and explosions are happening everywhere. You're in danger. Go home !" Finally, the police came and said," You're angry, distraught, but it's over. Go home" But this father had made a promise, and he was going to keep it! The love this father had in his heart ...

... , Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him towards his encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The captain lit a lantern. Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his son. The boy had been studying music in the south when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, heart broken, the father asked for permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy ...

... story about her middle child. She says," I've always been amazed at Laurie, at her resilience and her determination. I'm proud of her for her willingness to share with others and for the care she demonstrates toward family, friends and even strangers" ABOUT THE WRITER Braun-Haley lives in Central Alberta. She has a number of stories and books published and is the author of" A Little Door A Little Light" a book she was challenged to write following the death of her 17 year old son, Jason" Ellie presents talks on the material from the book, hoping to help ease the pain of others due to a death. She can be reached at: shaley @telusplanet.net. [By: Ellie Braun-Haley Copyright 2004 (shaley @telusplanet.net)-Submitted by: Ellie Braun-Haley] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... June ' was knocked to its side by the strong winds. As the entire family was called and gathered to come see the sad condition of 'Early June, it was clear mother was worried and concerned for her longtime friend. Seeing this damaged apple tree lying on its side was like seeing someone taking their last breathes. My brother was the first to speak," Well Mom it sure doesn't look good. She has been partly uprooted. I don't know if she's dead or not" My brother paused waiting for my Mom to speak clearly, sensing my mom's emotions. Mother said nothing. She just stood looking down at her tree. My brother continued," If you want me to clean up this mess around her I will. We can try to prop her back up with support and see if she makes it" Mom was still not saying a word. She just nodded her head," yes". My brother worked to ...

... first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said ” At the very moment that the narration ended, the choir broke into the joyful song “ Christ the Lord is Risen today, Al – le – lu – ia !” Afterward, everyone began filing out of the church to leave and as I looked up ...

... guys out there. Mom says you're busy and for me to stay off the air. But you see, I get lonely and it helps to talk cause that's about all I can do. I'm crippled and cannot walk" I came back and told him to fire up that mike, I'd talk to him as long as he'd like." This was my dad's radio ," the little boy said," but I guess it's mine and Mom's now cause my daddy's dead. Dad had a wreck about a month ago. He was trying to get home in a blinding snow. Mom has to work now to make ends meet. I'm not much help with my crippled feet. She says not to worry that she'll make it all right. But I hear her crying sometimes late at night." You know, there's one thing I want more than anything else to see. Ah, I know you guys are too busy to bother with ...

... The Wolves Within An old Grandfather, whose grandson came to him with anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said," Let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times" He continued," It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way"" But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of ...

... 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 plant and hunt and fish. The bountiful harvest that autumn led Governor Bradford to invite the Indians to celebrate God's goodness. Ninety tall braves accepted the invitation ...

... men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said" Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat. Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it. The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each ...

... I hate them all !" The Grandfather, with eyes that have seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's. Grandfather said," let me tell you a story. I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is white and one is grey. The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. But it will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way. But, the grey Wolf, is full of anger. The littlest ...

... ," Mom said." No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning ," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm." This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet ?"" Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!" The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some 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 ...

... if to say," Oh good grief, my peaceful day is shot !" (No one seemed to notice or care !) A snow day! A snow day! They came bounding down the hall and onto my bed! Laughing, cheering, and barking as they scrambled around me, just in case I had not heard the 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 ...

... The Road Of Life At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong; so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was there sort of like a picture of a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him. Later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life was like a bike ride, on a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't recall when he suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, it was rather boring, and predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew the exciting paths to take, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds-it was all I could do ...

... took the opportunity to ask for details about my love life, which was seriously lacking at the time. The event was excruciating. Though I enjoy singlehood in the main, there have been times when I've worked myself into a mad frenzy looking for someone to fill a void I thought I couldn't satisfy on my own. Someone, anyone with a pulse would do. Over the years, I dated quite a few guys I liked-I was even engaged once but" till death do we part" seemed a very long time. I always ended up alone again. So holidays, especially with the Aunt Nells of the family, can weaken my confidence, leaving me a little bereft. One day, noting my frustration surrounding the holidays, a friend of mine suggested we try something different on the next such occasion." How` bout you and I go down to a homeless shelter and help out? Then maybe we'll be grateful for what we ...

... presents. He won't learn how to massage my back. He won't wear shorts or swim trunks. We have only been on one family vacation in 25 years. He has never disciplined our girls, thus leaving me as the repeated bad guy! He refuses to go grocery shopping and continues to sneak and smoke after a bilateral carotid endartectomy. AND he spends way too much time in his recliner! This same man wouldn't miss a day of work unless he was half dead and he hands over his check every payday. He would drive day and night to pick up either of our girls if they needed him. He loves my mom and Granny almost as much as I do. If you called him and said," I'm Sue's friend, we've never met and my car won't start" he would 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 ...

... " 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 as 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. ...

... the worst tribulation in history. In A.D. 303, the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered a brutal persecution of all Christians. Those suspected of following the Lord were ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods. Nicholas and thousands of others refused. Ministers, bishops, and lay people were dragged to prison. Savage tortures were unleashed on Christians all over the empire. Believers were fed to wild animals. Some were forced to fight gladiators for their lives while bloodthirsty crowds screamed for their death. Women suffered dehumanizing torment. Saints were beaten senseless, others set aflame while still alive. Yet persecution couldn't stamp out Christianity. Rather it spread. Third Century leader Tertullian observed," The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church" Those who survived Diocletian's torture chambers were called" saints" or" confessors" by the people, because they didn't forsake their confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. Nicholas was one of these. Finally, after years of ...

... 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 the floorboard of the car. He prayed," Jesus you take care of my daddy and send someone to take us home, amen" Then he got up and put his face against ...

... nearly over. The life of a caterpillar is so short. I would never make it back down in time to enjoy life again ," said the caterpillar. And so it is with many of us. We always want more but never sure exactly what" more" is. But we know more is never enough." So what will you do, my friend ?" asked the spider." I don't know. I just want to crawl under that leaf and die ," said the caterpillar." I can't believe you have that attitude! You have so much to offer the world, so much more you can become ," said the spider." You think that you have wasted all of this time searching for answers. I believe that all of this was necessary for you to become all you were created to be. Everything you desire you possess already. Look inside. For there lies all that you need"" Look at me ...

... but, in his haste, slipped and fell in the slushy snow, landing heavily on the sidewalk. The raggedy girl ran up to the boy on the ground. She was startled to find it was the very same boy who had always taunted her about her coat at school." What happened ?" she shouted. The boy on the ground was crying, tears streaming down his face." They took my coat ," he wailed." Now I'll freeze to death" The little raggedy girl smiled." I doubt that ," she said," but you're going to get mighty cold before you get home. You might catch a bad cold and that's no good around Christmas. Then the boy felt a gentle, soft hand wiping the tears from his cheek." Don't cry ," she said." Here. Wear my coat until you get home"" But you'll freeze"" No I won't ," the little raggedy girl answered ...

... not so !" Leaf cried. Tree shook again and said," Oh but it is true. I have seen many, many leaves from many trees fall and crumble. Your time will come to curse the wind and the way of things. Wind is old and you are young. Ask Wind sometime" The tree said no more. Leaf tried not to think about what Tree had said. Of course it had heard the stories of how leaves grow old and die, but still it would never be hateful. That very day, Leaf made a decision. It shouted to the world," I will Never hate Wind. I will not give in to fear or unhappiness" Still, the next time Wind came to call, Leaf could not help but ask." When I become old, dry and brittle will you destroy me as Tree says ," Leaf asked. Wind was silent for a long moment." I will not ...

... in search for the ultimate bargain. Actually, I don ’ t need to shop to find the deal of the century. I ’ ve already found it-and not just the deal of this century, but of every century. The best deal I ever got is the one God made two thousand years ago. He paid a ransom for me with the life of His only son. By sacrificing Jesus, He purchased my freedom from the power of sin and death. His blood bought eternal life for me. I know I'll never find a better deal in any mall on earth. The price has been paid. You too can get the same deal. The choice is yours.-Marsha Jordan-[ by Marsha Jordan Copyright 2004, (jordans @newnorth.net)-submitted by: Marsha Jordan-Ed: Anon.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow. and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space. not even death! [Author Unknown-from Ruthie, via 'The Inspired Buffalo ' (the-inspired-buffalo @yahoogroups.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... , little tree. Please stay alive. I need you to live" From January until early spring I made sure that our tree's root ball never dried out. She even seemed to flourish. Then the needles began to drop. Hastily, my husband dug a huge hole in our back yard. Into the ground, with a mixture of perfect soil, went our little tree, along with all of my hopes and dreams. Was it too late? Was she dead? Would, by some miracle, she grow? The spring weather was raw and I could not visit her often. Each day, with more and more branches devoid of needles, our hopes flagged. We agreed that we would give her until fall. If no new growth appeared, our little tree would be pulled from the ground. My heart was heavy, as I approached my own retirement. Perhaps I was like that little tree. Maybe I was finished. ...

... The Miracle of Spring" In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt"~Margaret Atwood~There ’ s nothing quite like the fragrance of the earth on a warm Spring day when plants begin to blossom. It is the time of year when many trees and shrubs look as if they are most certainly dead but then suddenly they spring to life. It is the miracle of Spring. We begin watching for signs of Spring even as early as February 2nd when we look to see if the groundhog sees his shadow, and we hope he doesn ’ t because the legend says that if he does, he will be frightened back into his den and we will experience yet another six weeks of winter. I thought maybe any old groundhog would do for the shadow test but according to the inner circle in Punxsutawney, PA. any ground hog other than Phil are simply weather predicting imposters. The word ...

... again he heard a deep voice say, “ Cut the rope !” Except for the wind, silence followed, as the climber continued to hang onto the rope, while hoping to be able to grab onto something that would enable him to climb to safety. Unable to see his true situation, the climber concluded, as most people would, that hanging onto the rope was his only hope. The following day, the rest of his climbing party discovered him frozen to death, still dangling from his rope-only eight feet above a large out-cropping of rock. Had the climber cut the rope, he would have dropped down to a relatively safe area, where he could have built a fire, using some of the surrounding scrub brush, and probably survived the night. From this tragic, hopefully fictional story, we can learn about trusting God. Do you look for security in a “ rope ” of some form? Or, are you ...

... animal I was going to give it my best shot. All the puppies born that night, with the exception of the one small pup, were very valuable because of their unusual coloring. Most would bring between five to seven hundred dollars each. The next day I took the puppy to the vet. I was told nothing could be done unless we were willing to spend about a thousand dollars to try and correct the defect. He told us that the puppy would die mainly because it could not suckle. After returning home Judy and I decided that we could not afford to spend that kind of money without getting some type of assurances from the vet that the puppy had a chance to live. However, that did not stop me from purchasing a syringe and feeding the puppy by hand, which I did every day and night, every two hours, for more than ten days. After that the little guy had learned to eat on his ...

... The Miriam Parable Once there was a peasant girl named Miriam who lived in a small village. Her widowed mother had spent much time instructing the girl about the proper way to behave and taught Miriam right from wrong. The summer of her twelfth year, Miriam's family became quite destitute. A region-wide drought caused the family's garden plot to wilt, then die. There would be no vegetables to put up and savored through the cold months ahead. Food became very difficult to find. At first, Miriam missed the taste of fresh corn and carrots. Then she craved them. Each day Miriam had to venture further from home to find water for her family's needs and every day she desired what she had always taken for granted. Then the day came when Miriam discovered an artesian well. Water gushed forth providing fresh, clean, cold water from deep under the ground. She followed the stream as it flowed from the well and discovered a beautiful ...

... now in Iraq as well as other places around the world. Today the average age of a WWII Veteran is 81; we are quickly losing them from the battlefield of life. They are now leaving us at the rate of 1500 per day. I see many of them carrying our flag in parades and participating in military funerals. They tell me the veteran's organizations need more veterans to help them with these duties now. This is due to the failing health and the deaths of most of the WWII veterans who have kept these organizations alive with their unswerving dedication and patriotism. Perhaps it's time we expressed appreciation with a card or a phone call to someone we know personally while there's still time. It shouldn't have to be Memorial Day or Veteran's Day for us to be appreciative toward all of our veterans no matter where they served. The point is that they served and gave of themselves that we might live in freedom. We can also show our ...

... ," but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho" With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red marbles. Moral: We will not be remembered by our words-but by our deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath, as we help others."... faith without works is dead" (James 2: 20 NKJ) [by W. E. Petersen (Ensign magazine October, 1975)-from (Marilyn Graham, Wit and Wisdom, Thelly, John Traver)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that ...

... than sad, but still come out on top when the ball officially drops on New Years Eve, if I can at least find balance. You may think this strange, too, when I say some of my best years turned out to be the years when I struggled, lost, failed and retreated into the darkness of that final night of the old year. Job loss, car repossession, debt, divorce, a failed business, cancer in my family, death of loved ones, depression, all made life nearly unbearable. Still, the light of the new day, the new year, always seemed to be brighter than any other. It was in falling down that I learned how to climb. It was in losing that I learned how to win. It was in struggling that I found strength. It was in darkness that I learned to see again. So, why was this man's response to me so perfect? This ...

... , but still said nothing. Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out," What happened to you ?" The visitor replied," I took your place" Addendum-" Christ himself carried our sins in His body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by His wounds that you have been healed" [Author Unknown-from Denial] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... among the top 8 %of the world's wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness. you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death. you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If your parents are still alive and still married. you are very rare,. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful. you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder. you are blessed because you can offer healing touch. If you can read ...

... eternal reward through peace and ethical life. But repeatedly throughout history, these major religions of the world have been used as tools to turn people against one another. Jews and Arabs kill each other over a patch of desert. Muslims kill Muslims in Iraq because of slight differences in religious belief. Christians and Catholics have killed each other for centuries in Northern Ireland. Hindus and Sikhs kill each other on the Indian sub-continent. This prostitution of religious belief to feed war and death and destruction is a sad and heinous perversion of what we are called to be. Strange, isn't it, that we never see blues musicians at war with classical musicians? Rock and roll artists never fight with jazz players. Music is a universe unto itself. Music is what religion is supposed to be.~Steve Banko~[ by: Steve Banko, Copyright 2007 (stbanko3 at adelphia.net)-submitted by: Steve Banko] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... wife, they noticed, would come in with apples and go out with apples and the curiosity grew even more till one nurse couldn't stand the suspense. One night as he was nearing the end, the nurse sat down in a chair by the wife" May I ask why do you have that apple basket? I just don't understand the significance"" I am an apple farmer by trade he sighed. From the time I was 20 till the day I do die I will forever have my apples" The nurse nodded thinking she understood. He just likes his work, she thought, assured now he was a little bit crazy. As she started to leave, the old man asked her to sit down." At age 20 I was saved, I accepted the Lord as my Savior" Oh no, the nurse thought. Here comes the lecture on religion. The old man continued." The day I accepted the Lord as ...

... a life without them, for it wouldn ’ t have 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 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)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... The Color Of Friendship Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite. Green said:" Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority" Blue interrupted:" You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing" Yellow chuckled:" You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is ...

... , and he saw his mother smiling through her tears." Why didn't you tell us? We didn't understand. We are so proud of you, son" The carols came over the air again filling the room with music:".. .Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth" The Christmas Scout's sacrifice gives us a little peek at the sacrifice of the Father when He gave up His Best, His Son to be born to die to pay for our sins on the cross, to save His needy people from their sinful poverty of righteousness." I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20: 35" But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ...

... The Water of Life It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through. Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon. we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking ...

... 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 was brought about from worry about the store, he lost interest in everything. He was keeping odd hours of opening and closing the store. He had few customers and did not make them feel welcome. Bernie wandered about the store, dusting a bit and sweeping the floor. His inventory remained almost the same, as nothing much was sold. After awhile, he stopped sweeping and dusting. The grocery part still had canned foods but little else. ...

... to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks. This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her dowl cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She ...

... And so we commit our friend" the chaplain went on. And then it was over." May I ask ," the director said." Did any of you know him? I mean, would you know him by sight ?" One of the nurses replied," Yes"" Would you please take a moment to identify him ?" he asked. He was about to open the casket. We all stood there nervously anxious and uneasy. I've certainly seen enough dead people in my life, but this seemed odd to me. Right there in the cemetery .he opened the casket. The man was in a nice dress shirt and without any fancy linen, silk or even cotton lining in the box he was leaning toward us." This would be the very last time that the sun would shine on him ," I thought to myself. Then the lid was closed. For 57 years my life zig zagged in a thousand directions. For ...

... bed. Did he drop it down the chimney or in a window by the bed? Who knows? 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, of God ’ s gift, His Son. A gift given to all, regardless of what they ’ ve done. So how can I say this man did not live and that he does not live today? His life was such a shining example of Christ ’ s love for us. So now, in his great spirt and unfailing heart felt love, many of ...

... Mary and I had never acted improperly-even after we were betrothed. Mary looked down." Joseph ," she said." There's no way I can explain. you couldn't understand. But I want you to know I've never cared for anyone but you" She got up, gently took my hands in hers, kissed each of them as if it were the last time she would ever do that again, and then turned towards home. She must have been dying inside. I know I was. The rest of the day I stumbled through my chores. It's a wonder I didn't hurt myself in the wood shop. At first I was angry and pounded my frustrations out on the door frame I was making. My thoughts whirled so fast I could hardly keep my mind on my work. At last I decided to end the marriage contract with a quiet divorce. I loved her too much to make a public scene. I couldn't ...

... ?"" Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out" Just then he awoke from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and its effects were immediate. From that hour on he was not a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his darling's candle be extinguished by his useless tears. Addendum-Psalms 56: 13 (NKJ)" For You have delivered my soul from death. Have you not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the LIGHT of the living ?" [Strickland Gillilan-source unknown] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... beneath her as she 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 ...

... in any way, please share it with a friend, so we all can better practice the love that Jesus Christ taught us. Addendum-James 2: 16-17 (GNB)" 16) What good is there in your saying to them, 'God bless you! Keep warm and eat well! '-if you don't give them the necessities of life? 17) So it is with faith: if it is alone and includes no actions, then it is dead" [Author Unknown-Ed: Anon.-from Sheri] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... become useless, as though it had become paralyzed." A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor, Gradually the surrounding atmosphere seemed as if it had become filled with sensations, and luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarify, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I now began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion." Presently I heard a voice saying,` Son of the Republic, look and learn, ' while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising ...

... to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying," Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza" As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice," Will I start to die right away ?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood. Addendum-John 15: 13 (NIV)" Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" [Unknown source-from Chuck K.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... made a sign that read, Free Hugs, and stood at the Pitt Street Mall-one of the busiest streets in the center of Sydney. He put his arms anyone who accepted his offer. At first, he left his wallet at home, had a friend watch over him, and expected to be ridiculed. After fifteen minutes, a woman approached him." My dog died today ," she said." It's also the first anniversary of my only daughter's death. I could use a hug" Juan was quoted as saying," That first woman, it was more than a hug. It meant something to her" Others joined Mann. They opened their arms to others. His message spread across the city. Afraid of lawsuits, officials banned the free hug movement. But the people protested and more than 10, 000 people signed a petition to allow him to continue his mission. Shimon Moore, the lead singer of The ...

... . 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. A moment that was lifted off the time line and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty. An eternal instant. A moment that reminds you of the treasures surrounding you. Your home. Your peace of mind. Your health. A moment that tenderly rebukes you for spending so much time on temporal preoccupations such as savings accounts, houses, and punctuality. A moment that can bring a mist to the manliest of eyes and ...

... do you fight someone like that? Maybe I can make his life miserable and get him back. Well, I got years to work on him. I just can't believe how easy it is to cause people to fall away from God now days. It used to be maybe 1 of every 15, today I am getting over half to be lukewarm. It is just awesome how I can cause them to lose their love, that love that would get them to die even for an enemy if it would save them"" We are winning, Satan, because even though they talk about loving one another, they don't live it !"" I am amazed at how God thinks these people would care about others like the first church did-those people are long gone, thanks to us" As he and Satan walked away he said," I need a real challenge-you got anybody who thinks they are really strong ?" [Author ...

... " You need to rid yourself of the cold, bitter outlook you have and warm up to the fact that you have what you are searching for already ," he said." I want Spring. It is my favorite time in my life. The flowers give me hope ," I said. Then moving closer, he looked into my eyes and said," Create Spring in your soul so that you will always have the spirit of the flower, even in the dead of Winter" Create Spring my friend. life is cold enough." 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" [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2009 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... I share my water with you I might not have enough for myself. Poor Bobby! He picks up the sack and starts for home. The sun is high in the sky and it seems to be getting hotter with every step he takes. Eventually he can't go any further. He lowers the sack to the ground and tells Casper to go on without him. Don't be silly, Bobby. You can't stay here all by yourself, says Casper, you will die of thirst. I've been thinking it over and I am sorry for having been so selfish. Here is my canteen; drink as much water as you like, my friend. Water has never tasted this good! Thank you so much for sharing it with me. You have saved my life today, Bobby says gratefully as he hands the empty canteen to his friend. After walking for a long while they get thirsty again but fortunately they are not far from Bobby's house ...

... “ My flowers my flowers ,” she screamed aloud. I soon realized that I had locked her weeds in the garage. “ We ’ ll get them later ,” I told her. I just did not want to walk back down the stairs and unlock the garage door for a bunch of worthless weeds. It just was not worth the effort. Putting my hand onto her small shoulder, I began directing her back into the house. After about ten feet I stopped dead in my tracks. “ You can walk out to the garage for the kids in the orphanage but you cannot walk to the garage for your granddaughter ?” I kept thinking. “ Those baseball gloves are like gold to those orphan children just as those weeds are beautiful flowers to your granddaughter ,” I thought. I turned around, walked back to the end of the porch and opened the dog gate. Then I walked down the three stairs, took out my keys and opened ...

... from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me." Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion" I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. ...

... , I thought. I ’ ve learned a lot from Jack, too. He just takes one day at a time and appears to be content to believe that all of his needs will be met. He trusts that there will always be something to eat one way or another, whether it ’ s food he has to find himself or a bit of bread that is shared with him. You see, Jack is a little bird. I rescued him from certain death when the cat discovered him under the propane tank. I took care of him until he had feathers and was old enough to fly. Now he flies wherever he wants and usually soars in for a landing on my outstretched hand whenever I call his name. He loves to splash in the homemade birdbath that I contrived from an old platter and some stones. Jack has pretty much learned to make his own way in life now and manages to find food that is generously provided ...

... need. After searching from dusk until after dark, the Samaritan finally relocated the body of the mortally wounded man, laying in a ditch beside the highway. Chasing away stray dogs which had come to lick the bleeding wounds, the Samaritan stood quietly beside the now lifeless corpse. Prolonged exposure to the elements had been more than his beaten body could bear. Bending down beside the bruised and broken body, the loving Samaritan put out His nail-scarred hand and gently closed the dead man's eyes... while tenderly caressing the man's battered face-Jesus wept. [Author unknown-story up-date: Anonymous] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... I have succeeded and I have failed. I have cried and I have laughed. I've been blessed and I've been ungrateful. Please, God. Just tell me. I know I can't do it alone anymore. Look where it's gotten me? Look at me, God, please. I don't want to be like this anymore. I don't. Please take it, take it all. Take my life and take me. My flashlight's gone-the batteries are dead. But, I know your light never goes out. I'm yours. Just tell me what you want from me and I'll do it. Please" And then, I know. I hear it, feel it, know it, become it as God's answer fills me up, streaming through my blood and making my heart warm, my tears dry. Had I not reached this lowly state I would not have known. Had I not become so filled with pain that ...

... I prepared myself to listen to a Mother ’ s heart as she bravely spoke. Her son had been a Vietnam veteran and was battling some type of disease and emotional problems from his years during the War. He was in and out of the VA Hospital in the state where he resided. She had sent him a card inviting him to have Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, as she was all alone. And then she received the call from the hospital about his death. She knew she couldn't make the trip, and she and Renι ’ s father made the arrangements with the Veterans Administration the week before. She said he had been to see her a few months ago, and they spoke on the telephone often, but his battle had been a hard one and she remembered their last conversation, and how he looked when he had been home. She would carry that memory of him in her heart. He would be laid to rest ...

... it -a sound like the crack of a gun. She motioned the children to silence. They ceased all their laughter and fun. ‘ Twas then that they heard something shrieking, the sound sending chills down their spines. Determined to learn what was crying, the mother crawled near, through the vines. She stopped at the scene of the ruckus. She gasped, taking in a quick breath, for there in a trapper's cruel leg-trap, was a mink facing ultimate death. He was snapping, and snarling, and struggling, his eyes flashing terror and hate. The mother knelt down by the ermine, speaking softly, his fears to abate. She wiggled and worked at the leg-trap, till at last she pried open its jaws. With a leap he jumped free of his prison, unharmed, but for one of his paws. The mink, in his white coat for winter, slithered swiftly away from the site. Then he stopped ...

... changed all the believers in God in this class but Bob. Then he said to Bob: If your God is real, I want you to pray to him, and when I drop this raw egg it will bounce when it hits the floor. If it breaks, then that will prove there is no God. Bob stood up and prayed:" Lord, when the teacher drops the egg, and it breaks in a million pieces, let the teacher drop dead on the spot" The teacher held the egg in his hand, looked at Bob, then the egg, and stood very still for a long time. Then he went to his desk and very carefully put the egg in the drawer, and walked out of the classroom. This little story illustrates the truth that all men know God, but some suppress the truth in their unrighteousness, as the Bible teaches us in chapter 1 of Romans. Addendum-2 Chronicles 16 ...

... food was passed quickly and the beggar missed some of the greatest delicacies. Time proved that the prince was right. The clothes lasted forever. Still the poor beggar grew fonder and fonder of his old rags. As time passed people seemed to forget the royal robes he was wearing. They saw only the little bundle of filthy rags that he clung to wherever he went. They even spoke of him as the old man with the rags. One day as he lay dying, the king visited him. The beggar saw the sad look on the king's face when he looked at the small bundle of rags by the bed. Suddenly the beggar remembered the prince's words and he realized that his bundle of rags had cost him a lifetime of true royalty. He wept bitterly at his folly. And the king wept with him. We have been invited into a royal family-the family of God. To feast at God's dinner table, all we ...

... bear did not eat us. In fact, I didn't hear a peep from him for the rest of the night. Eventually I was able to fall back to sleep. At 6: 30 in the morning I awoke to an intense pain in my stomach. Now I REALLY had to go to the bathroom. By now day light had arrived and I had no fear about going to the bathroom alone. As I later regaled the guys with my harrowing escape from death as I was just inches away from the jaws of biggest bear known to man, they just smiled. To this day they insist it was probably just a raccoon or my imagination getting the best of me. But I know the truth. That bear better hope we don't meet again because next time, I will be prepared.~Jacquelyn Ligon~< myrealm23 at yahoo.com >_ Jacquelyn is from Oakland, California. She has a couple of pets, Mimi, her ...

... is a trap, and it has a way of changing us into people we don't even want to become. Eventually we lose touch with who we really are-the sons and daughters of the Most High. We become barnyard ducks. Addendum-James 5: 19-20 (NIV)" My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner away from his error will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" [Author and orginal source unknown.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... During each school day he decided to do something small in hopes it might cause someone to think about spiritual things. He left his Bible open on the dashboard of his truck. At 4 A.M. one morning after the tragedy, Mr. Scott looked around as he was beginning an interview with NBC's Maria Shriver and noticed a circle of people around John's truck, talking about the Bible on the dashboard. Mr. Scott spoke of his son, Craig, who escaped death after looking down the barrel of a gun. He escaped because his friend crouched next to him in the library, Isaiah Shoels, was black and a more desirable target for the two gunmen who hurled numerous racial slurs and put-downs in his direction before killing him execution-style. Cassie Bernall's story has received more national attention. She too answered the gunmen's question of" Do you believe in God ?" in the affirmative, taking a bullet after her response. A national" She Said ...

... . He came up to me where I had shied away on the sidelines trying to become the invisible man." Jimmy ," he began, (my name was Jimmy, too )," How about I show you how to climb those ropes with ease ?"" Yes ," I said," Sure, I'd love it but my arms just aren't strong enough" In my mind I could hear Charles Atlas rolling over in his grave except at that time he wasn't even dead yet." Never you mind ," he said," I'm gonna show you how and you won't even be using your arms, except to guide you up the rope" I looked at him bewildered-fully knowing that his intent was sincere but not understanding how he would manage to get me up one of those ropes. He started his instructions by simply saying," I want you to wrap the rope around the back of your left leg, where your thigh is ...

... also never seen such courage demonstrated as I did as he bravely faced his destiny with as much humor and determination as he could muster. I will never forget the day I was spending the morning with him and he had gotten violently ill. Mom and I were sitting outside the bathroom in case he needed assistance. All of the sudden he began singing," Just A Closer Walk With Thee" That was such an inspiration to me that even though he was facing death, he still had a song in his heart. Daddy went home to heaven seven weeks to the day that he was diagnosed, so on December 17, 2004, I said goodbye to a man that was more than a father-he was my daddy, not by blood, but by love and God's plan. I wrote the poem one week before he passed away and he loved it!~Traci Walker~< jtcwalker at aol.com >The Poem with the Story ...

... be along any minute ," I reassured myself. I assumed that when he realized I'd been gone too long, he'd worry and come looking for me. I was wrong. I spent most of the morning there in a rain puddle with rocks and a Pepsi can digging into my back. Each time I started to stand up, I felt like a marionette without strings. I pulled a cigarette butt from my hair and spit sandy grit from between my teeth while watching dead leaves, gum wrappers and other litter blow past me. Bees buzzed around my head, ants crawled up my shorts, and Japanese beetles tickled my thighs. Meanwhile, the sun grew hotter as it rose higher in the sky. I lay there for what seemed like 18 hours, and I didn't have on my 18-hour bra! After a while, I became painfully aware that the husband was not searching for me. Giving up any hope that my knight on horseback was ...

... my son, Jesus. John 17: 23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17: 26 He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1: 3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8: 31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5: 18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4: 10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8: 31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2: 23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8: 38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15: 7 I have always been Father, and ...

... home for Christmas that year. We were going to spend Christmas with friends in Ohio, but I wanted Christmas to be the way it always was. I wanted Christmas to be the way Justin remembered. Georgia died two months earlier. Justin and I were alone in New Jersey. Vanessa was in Ohio. It had to be the way it was before-the perfect tree. The ornaments-the memories-had new meaning that Christmas. The memories of her death were raw, but the tree overcame them. A tear trickled from my eye. Good things may pass, but their memories hang on. Last year, I hung a new ornament on our tree. It was one I got for my new wife, Ginny. It's a penguin. She loves penguins. This year, I have one she gave me to hang. It's a glazed ball with a penguin dressed in an Ohio State football colors, my favorite team. ...

... participate in the parade. It was a day to remember those who died for our freedom. My wife and I left our daughter with the Guide leader and proceeded to the Canadian Legion, where we waited for her. The kids paraded a mile along the coastal roads of Nova Scotia, carrying their flags high and proud. We waited for their arrival. Veterans joined them. Old men, long past the prime. They'd fought in the trenches and watched their comrades die. Many came in wheelchairs. Some limped. A few still stood strong. They walked as proudly as they could to the legion, where a band waited. The band played, speeches were made, and on the 11th month, the 11th day, the 11th hour, the 11th minute, and the 11th second there began two minutes of silence. I looked at the veterans. Their sacrifices allowed us to stand there that day. They gave us our freedom. ...

... when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that ...

... a temple and when she questioned what he was doing, he told her he was doing his Father ’ s business. Although quite young, she had to let go. His 33 years of life on earth was consumed with teaching, preaching and miracles. On a dark Friday, the babe born to Mary gave the world His greatest gift. He was taken by Roman soldiers to a wooden cross; where he was nailed and tortured, spit upon and left to die; and yet spoke these words, “ Father, forgive them, they know not what they do ” Friday was a dark day, a day of weeping for Christ ’ s followers, but on Sunday morning, the sun shone and the tomb that was sealed was open and His body was gone. Christ ascended into heaven and all who doubted we hoped, would believe. Just like the Mother bird who looks after her babies allowing them to be on their own, ...

... read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention." Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside." Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life" A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:" Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser" ...

... . I don't want all the things attached every time I want to share my gift"" I love your spirit ," I said." May I keep your name and number ?"" Yes" This got me to thinking about the world today. I understand the need for all the rules, I just don't want to accept that the world is such that we need to investigate, probe, test and train someone who wants to play music for someone who is dying. But we do. The way the world is today, we need to protect those who are at a most vulnerable time. Still, here's the beauty of it all. God is unregulated. If my neighbor's spouse dies, I can go across the street and bring them food so that they don't have to cook. If a house burns down in my area, I can go to that family with clothes, furniture, or money. If an old man falls ...

... of these can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is one evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused. When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence, consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality? When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or more hurting? More comfort or more pain? More joy or more sadness? Each one of us has the power over the balance of the love in the world. Use it wisely !" Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right direction! [Author Unknown-from 'E-Mail Ministry ' (EMailMinistry @yahoogroups.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... and zoomed around them because I was in a hurry to get nowhere. Perhaps I'm more aware of it now because I see myself there one day soon. Today I saw myself in this old man's shoes and it caused me to slow down, stop and ask for his forgiveness. He was about five or six people ahead of me. I was in a hurry and saw him as an obstacle. I've seen people get off the end of an escalator and stop dead in their tracks, gather their things and suddenly there's a pile up of angry people behind them. You can't stop an escalator full of people behind you. Like the Energizer bunny, they keep on goin. This man was well aware of the challenge. He tried desperately to step aside. Fumbling with his small packages, struggling to gain his footing, you could see how troubling this was for him." I'm sorry. Please forgive me! I don't mean to ...

... someone said," Hey! Use Marine X's tampons !" My son said they put the tampon in the wound. At this point my son profoundly told Me," Mom, did you know that tampons expand ?" (" Well .yeah !") They successfully slowed the bleeding until the guy got better medical attention. When they went to check on him later The surgeon told them," You guys saved his life. If you hadn't stopped that bleeding he would have bled to death" My Son said," Mom, the tampons sent by the Marine Moms by mistake saved a Marine's life" At this point I asked him," Well, what did you do with the rest of the tampons ?" He said," Oh, we divided them up and we all have them in our flak jackets, and I kept two for our first aid kit" I am absolutely amazed by the ingenuity of our Marines. I can't believe that something that ...

... blue flags that obligingly bloomed at the end of our walkway. Even they succumbed after the plumber, who was hired to run water lines for our inside bathroom, cut them down with a scythe thinking he was doing Mama a big favor. After that, Mama laughingly joked that she couldn ’ t even grow wild flowers. After grammie ’ s dahlia tubers were planted, only dry hollow stems poked above the soil. Could flowers possibly grow from anything that looked that dead? But after numerous daily visits, I discovered hundreds of tiny green fanlike shoots peeking from the soil. Everyday they were higher still like Jack ’ s bean stalk. The dahlias never did reach the sky, but they did grow into some mighty plants. Late in the summer hundreds of tiny, round, golden flower buds mingled with the lush foliage just waiting to burst open. This too shall pass as time has a way of marching on. Grammie ’ s once ...

... I Saw Jesus I had not been to church for many years, though I was a believer in Jesus, and I loved him. Suddenly, I felt like he was calling me to know him better. I started reading other people's testimonies of him, also the near death experiences of people who had actually gone to Heaven, and met him. The more I read, the closer I felt to him. I met a new friend who invited me to church. I said ," yes" Anything that would draw me closer to him. As I sat in church, the minister asked the question," What is the mountain in your life ?" He told us to take a few minutes to meditate about it. I thought about things I had not been able to overcome in my life. My biggest mountain was definitely the lack of forgiveness I felt for people who I thought had hurt me or wronged me in some way. ...

... each of the children a large plastic egg." Now ," she said to them," I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand ?"" Yes, Miss Miller !" the children responded enthusiastically-all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently, his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus ' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them. That evening, Doris's kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents. The next morning, 19 children came to school, ...

... I've got a passion for..." Passion. How else can I explain it ?" he said." I have a passion for what I do !" He naturally caught my attention when he used my favorite word" Passion". There are times in my presentations when I say that word and stop dead in a sentence. I often times have the audience repeat it back to me. Usually the first time they say it, they might as well be saying" automobile" There's never any excitement in saying the word the first time. But then I stop them and explain the importance of the word. Finally, with every vital emotion they can muster, I have them repeat it." Passion" It sends chills up their spine. You see that's the difference between wanting something and REALLY wanting something. If you develop a passion for it, you are driven by the thought that you can have it. That it's ...

... warmth of Spring comes crawling back into my world I see all around me signs of rebirth. I first noticed it when I was changing the light bulbs in our outdoor lighting. There, beneath the leaves and decaying brush of last summer, I found flowers pushing through. Already a few inches high I knew they were struggling to reach the nourishment of the sun. But how do they know it's time to grow when they are hidden beneath the earth, snow and dead leaves and cannot see the sun? Simply because they were created to. Without question. Without hesitation, they begin to do what is natural and pre-programmed. They come into the fullness of what they were meant to be. Look around you. The trees do the same. The birds return on time. Even the tiniest micro organisms respond to the need to" be". So tell me how is it that you think that you cannot become all that you dream ...

... I let my guard down someone hurt me. Angry words all sharp and pointy, a knife in my soul. That's when the hardness crept in. Never let them see you cry. Never give them a chance to know you care. One day it all came to a head. My mom pulled us around her in her bedroom. She put a gun to her head and threatened to shoot herself. I was scared, but not because I thought she would die, but because under my breath I whispered," just do it". Who was this person I was becoming? Two years later I stood in the little church. The pastor sang, strumming on the guitar as people knelt at the altar." He loves you ," he said." He has a plan for your life" Yeah, right. I pointed my chin at the sky, my eyes closed, and I challenged this God of which he spoke ...

... I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes!" There on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life! His smile! Oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, to leap to life as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, 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 ...

... : 16, and she began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought," John 3: 16, I don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe" The lady then said:" You know, I have to confess I don't I understand it either; how God would be willing to send His own Son to die for you and me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand it either, but it sure does make life worth living" Addendum-John 3: 16 (NLT)" For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" [Author Unknown-submitted by: Alfred H. Dill-Ed: Anon.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All ...

... same household. Be quiet together a little more. Sitting in silence with someone you love creates an energy in that space that is breathtaking and unforgettable. Listen to the sound of love, two hearts beating in one continuous rhythm, sending pulsating waves of immeasurable force into the world. Now try saying" I love you" without expectation. If you are doing all of these things those words will not need an echo. They will not hang in mid air and die in sadness because you didn't hear them back. They will be absorbed by the one they were intended for and they will sigh, not in frustration or confusion, but in satisfaction of knowing it is so. You actually do this already. When you pray, you say" I love you, God" You don't wait for a deep sounding voice in reply." This is God .I love you, too !" Why? Because it is understood. We know He ...

... ' eye. Do you ever feel like that little piece of clear glass? Left out. Untalented. A disappointment. You doubt you can ever do anything for God. Let the story of that last little piece remind you that God thinks of you as the apple of his eye (Psalm 17: 8). No matter that in your eyes you don't measure up to others; you are important to God. That is why He sent His Son Jesus to die for you. Remember: For with God, nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1: 37) [Wayne Rice-from Anonymous] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Joe Jones" and" Carmine Santodominguez" had to fit the same size panels on our civic honor roll. Leo made every name readable. Leo received the names of new inductees the same day the draft board approved them. And these names were lettered and tacked into position quickly and with the utmost care. And, sadly, the same day the War Department released its Killed In Action lists, Leo went to the honor roll and painted a gold star on the dead service-person's panel-between the hero's first and last names. Each hand-painted star seemed identical in its size and brightness. Our downtown honor roll was quietly beautiful and carefully maintained. Leo moved down to Connecticut from Maine in the late 1930's and he seemed to keep his job forever-World War II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, and, just before he retired, the Gulf War. It was more than a job. It was Leo's obsession. Leo's world. While ...

... practically leapt from her desk to greet him. “ Mr. Smith ,” she bubbled, “ You ’ ll never guess who just called !” “ Do I have to ?” he asked. “ Oh no sir, I was just so excited I couldn ’ t help myself ” she beamed. “ Mr. Jones called right after you left. He tried getting you on your cell, but he said he couldn ’ t reach you. Must have been in a dead zone, right sir ?” She inhaled and continued at lightening speed, “ Anyway he said he went over the figures you gave him with his sales and production staff after your meeting. They decided to double the order. Can you believe it! Doubled the order! Our price was just too good to pass. They have faxed over the signed contracts! Isn ’ t that fantastic? The contracts are on your desk ” Stunned, he looked at his secretary in utter ...

... the strength, the focus to say," Father, what I want doesn't matter. Not my will, but Yours be done" Would Jesus ' teaching have really had any eternal benefit for us today if He didn't take that last step of giving Himself completely to God by going to the cross? NO. Would it matter that he healed a few thousand people during His ministry? NO. Would it matter that He even raised a handful of people from the dead? NO. Nothing that God intended to do through Christ would have mattered if Christ hadn't fully and finally said," Father, I don't want to, but I will-for You !" If Jesus hadn't submitted to that final step in God's will for his life, He could have never uttered those words on the cross," It is finished" You see those words didn't just concern the completion of His ministry. They also signaled the completion of His growth as ...