... I-N-S-E-P-A-R-A-B-L-E" Watch out! You nearly broad-sided that car !" My father yelled at me." Can't you do anything right ?" Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I ... burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put 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 ... to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle." I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving" My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt. Dad glared at me, ...

... , you may find this request a little strange, but this is why I am calling" I proceeded to tell him who I was and that my father was also a former Marine and 100 percent disabled from the Korean War. I explained that he was in the hospital, alone, without anyone to visit and ... The Visit My dad, Angelo, was in the hospital in Tacoma, Washington. A former Marine and veteran of the Korean War, he was having his third knee replacement surgery. A long and very painful operation was going to be made even worse because Dad was going through it alone. There was no ... visitor. If you have ever talked with a small child after that child has just seen Santa Claus, you will understand the glee I heard in my dad's voice." I was just waking up when I thought I saw two Marines in their dress blue uniforms standing at the foot of my bed ," he told ...

... back to me. I watched as he walked down to the shore line. He turned to look at them several times. He stood there now a father, in earlier times perhaps they walked this beach hand in hand as lovers. Now, as a new family, those precious moments have given way to reality ... It is a new beginning, a ritual of sorts, for they are creating memories for a lifetime. Dad is claiming his place today like all the father's before him. In the next few minutes he will either successful accomplish his assigned task of setting up this family beach site or fail miserably under pressure. It ... Becoming" Dad" How difficult it is to become a Dad. Oh, you might think it's not. It is in fact a natural thing, a moment when two make one. But I am speaking about the act of filling the shoes, playing the part, becoming a" Dad" They had ...

... race stopped. Gilbert went to his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready ... to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God," No fair, they had a father's help !". No, he went to his Father for strength. Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to ... Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed. A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's lopsided, wobbly, unattractive ...

... race stopped. Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Heavenly Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced," Okay, I'm ready ... to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God," No fair, they had a fathers help" No, he went to his Father for strength. Perhaps we spend to much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to make ... Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed. A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's, lopsided, wobbly, ...

... . I offered to take over for him, but he shook his head, and once again, I was amazed at this wonderful man who is the father of my children. When many fathers would have gladly handed over the parenting duties for some much needed sleep, my husband stayed stubbornly and resolutely with our child ... When morning finally came, we called the doctor and were told to bring him in again. We already knew that he would probably put Noah in the hospital. So, we made arrangements for the other children, packed bags for all three of us, and tearfully drove to the doctor's office once again. Our ... at the picture I saw. There was my husband, sitting in his" daddy chair ", Noah in his lap. They were reading a book, dad taking Noah's teeny hands to help him form the signs for the words in the book. They both looked up and caught me watching them, and my husband ...

... smile." I sing to my Dad at least once a year ," I told him." Then we are both fools"" Where is your Father buried ?" he asked." Right up there near my car ," I replied." What song do you sing ?" he asked." Oh, Danny ... " I told him." My favorite. Come. I play .you sing" We walked to the foot of my Father's grave and in a moment I shall never forget, I sang with one of the finest violinist I have ever heard. As the sun set gracefully over the hill top, beams of bright ... depending how on connected you were to them, there are times when you wish you had one more chance to see them. I went to visit my Dad today. He died in 1998. I needed to speak with him so I traveled out to the cemetery. Oh, I really don't need to do that ...

... A Father Like No Other In honor of my dad who is in a better place now, I am presenting this story and poem. Anyone who knew my dad would have to agree: He was" different" He worked as a pipe-fitter for the Canadian Pacific Railway for nearly fifteen years. He was scoffed ... make us -and Mom cringe. We never questioned his judgment as children, but often, as we became older we wished he would be “ like other fathers ,” but none of us ever dared to express it. None of us ever talked back to Dad — at least not out loud. We wouldn ’ t ... A Father Like No Other In honor of my dad who is in a better place now, I am presenting this story and poem. Anyone who knew my dad would have to agree: He was" different" He worked as a pipe-fitter for the Canadian Pacific Railway for nearly fifteen years. He was scoffed ...

... personal values. As they gathered together to celebrate Father's birthday, he quietly pulled them aside from the rest of the family to announce his retirement." Father, I can't imagine a day without you as the head of the business ," one said." We are sure to falter without you, but you deserve ... had the experience. Each one was capable of helping it grow in the future. But each had different personal values. As they gathered together to celebrate Father's birthday, he quietly pulled them aside from the rest of the family to announce his retirement." Father, I can't imagine a day without you as the ... , collections of rare art, antiques and what appeared to be two uniformed guards standing next to a large box." What is in the box ?" fathered asked." My wife's jewels ," the son replied." Shall I order them to bring them in ?"" No! I have seen enough ," father ...

... . The kids would be sitting and waiting for supper." How about some biscuits and gravy ?" Dad would ask. It was the only thing my father knew how to cook. Hungry, we would nod our heads in agreement. We have never been able to discover the secret to Dad's biscuits. Nobody else ... Pass the Bee Spit, Please My mother was the kind of housewife who kept an immaculately clean home, and greeted my Dad at the end of every day with supper ready on the table. When Erma Bombeck wrote about her neighbor the Super Mom who put her to shame, she must have had my mother ... only thing my father knew how to cook. Hungry, we would nod our heads in agreement. We have never been able to discover the secret to Dad's biscuits. Nobody else makes them from scratch quite the same way. He would mix up the dough, roll it out and use an overturned drinking glass to ...

... last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay ?"" Oh no, darling, that's okay" Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss." Good night, little one" A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story," Do ... , Daddy ," she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father's hand. With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box ... The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower-her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green! Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the ...

... without even a goodbye, you became Grandpa and Daddy to my son," Your Little Bud". You couldn't have been prouder! You were his father figure, mentor and friend. I will be forever grateful to you, for you filled in the gap, the one his father left. God saw that ... Father's Day in Heaven I hope they celebrate Father's Day in Heaven Cause if there ever was a," special Daddy ", it was you! I remember not being able to wait for you to come home from work. Sometimes you were gone before I woke up and returned after I was already asleep in my ... . I remember crawling out of bed when I heard your voice, running and jumping into your arms, and smelling the fresh scent of pine. You always had that big old grin, when I would say," I missed you, Daddy". Then you would give me a big old squeeze and sit ...

... the best in people-at least it provides a window to peak at the contents of each heart. Let me show you the loving heart of one father. In the midst of chaos and destruction, he rushed to his son's school. But instead of a school, he found a shapeless heap of rubble. ... A Father's Promise Ten years ago (1989 ), an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30, 000 people in less than four minutes. It's hard to imagine the anguish, the pain, and the suffering that began in those four brief minutes of time-people's worlds were shaken and lives crushed. ... he pulled back a boulder and heard his sons ' voice crying for help. Immediately, he screamed," ARMAND !" Back came the words," Dad !? I told them! I told the other kids that if you were still alive, you'd save me! You promised me, you said you'd always be ...

... just a little boy, my dad taught me something about God that hot afternoon fishing in the old reservoir, something you need to know, something your Father wants you to discover today for yourself. As I sat hurting that day, knowing there was no way to get right with my dad, I saw him ... about those soft, creamy sandwiches. Within a week we had tapped out our sources of money: mooching and pop bottles for 2 cents each. My dad worked nights, coming home to join us for breakfast, and then sleeping till late afternoon. When he came home one morning I heard the jingle of change ... gotten good at slipping in and slipping out, and then ran to my buddies and we headed to the store. One day there was no change in dad's pocket so I felt for his wallet, hesitated a moment, then took out two whole dollars. I had been okay with taking the change, but those ...

... Creating Fathers When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said," What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles ... Creating Fathers When the good Lord was creating fathers, He started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said," What kind of father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles ... God smiled and said," Yes, but if I make him childsize, who would children have to look up to ?" And when God made a father's hands, they were large and sinewy. The angel shook her head sadly and said," Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small ...

... " Yes, but you also left another kind of impression. An impression on his mind"" Mr. Johnson's brain is made of sand ?" His father laughed and then leaned over for one of those" parental moments"" No, you left an impression on his memory. It's called a bad impression. ... " Well, Daddy. I was trying to do something good. I did that so he would see me waving" Hi" every morning" His Dad tried not to laugh. He didn't want Jimmy to think it was okay to do what he did." So my impression will stay here on the beach ... A Lasting Impression" Jimmy, look at the impression you left in the sand ," the man said to his son." Daddy what's a" pression ?" the young child asked." That's" impression" Jimmy. The spot where you were lying on the sand sunk in around your body and when you ...

... The Circus Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me. There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12 ... he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus? Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the ... was going on. He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking, embarrassing situation. He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his ...

... 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 catch the bee. Buzzing towards him, the bee bumps against the front windshield where ... father traps it in his fist. Holding it in his closed hand, the father waits for the inevitable sting. The bee stings the father's hand and in pain, the father lets go of the bee. The bee is loose in the car again. The little girl again panics," Daddy, it's going ... 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 ...

... ." She did inherit it ," he said with coldness." You need to be prepared. There is no cure for this retinal disease" My father carried the Retinitis Pigmentosa gene causing a deterioration of the retina which, in most cases, results in blindness. Although my brother's retinas seemed to be fine, ... setting priorities. His journey taught me valuable lessons for my own path in the darkness. Much like a baby takes its first steps holding tight to his father's hand, my dad held onto God as he stepped from the comfort of our hometown in Bolivia to the unknown in a foreign land. I did the same ... I stepped into the unfamiliarity of a sightless world. Holding onto God's hand, I gained confidence and learned the language of gratitude. With profound appreciation for my father's example, I learned how he had applied a powerful blend of faith and tenacity-the same blend I used to fulfill my own role as a wife ...

... could see it was no use; he couldn't stop them. He didn't quit, but he became quietly desperate futility was written all over him. His father changed too. He had been urging his son to try harder-yelling advice and encouragement. But then he changed. He became anxious. He tried to ... late-they scored a third goal. I soon learned who the goalie's parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office-he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the ... say," Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son"" Daddy ," the boy sobbed," I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, I tried and tried, and they scored on me"" Scotty, ...

... 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 ... 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. ... 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 ...

... As My Daddy Always Said, This Is" The One That Got Away ," She Said As She Lifted And Turned Her Head Toward Me." Your Father Was A Fisherman ?" I Asked." Yes, Everywhere He Went" She Said." My Uncle Al Carried Fishing Equipment In His Trunk And Would Pull ... To The Nearby State Park Figuring That I Could Get Away From The Busy World And Focus On The Real Stuff That Life Is Made Of. When My Dad Was Alive He Often Headed To This Park Just To Sit And Watch People. My Parents Made Me A" People Watcher" A Big Treat For Me Was ... Get Me Down !" I Yelled Over To Her In Reply. Words From A Song I Had Tucked Away In My Memory." Well, As My Daddy Always Said, This Is" The One That Got Away ," She Said As She Lifted And Turned Her Head Toward Me." Your Father Was A Fisherman ...

... a hard time finding just the right card for the right person, at the right time. Like mushy cards about going fishing and an" always understanding father" They didn't create one for my Dad. Oh, he had his moments, but I always tended to buy" Thanks for all you have done for ... " generic cards. My wife loves greeting cards. She even has a membership card to the big card shop chain. But, yesterday I saw them in a different light. Through the eyes of a child. I needed a card for a friend. I had already been standing in the card aisle for at ... noticed the young girl." Okay, I need one for Granny and one for my best friend, Jackie. Oh, and one for Mommy and Daddy" Just then a woman walked around the corner." How are you doing this time ?" she asked." Oh, Mommy I think I'm finding the ...

... drive in as a family. What an adventure! Looking back, I wonder how my brothers, sister and I all fit in the back of my father's old Edsel, but we did. These days of summer are definitely different from the days that I remember. But, there are similarities-like the laughter ... so their little entrepreneurs can shout~' LEMONADE-10 CENTS A GLASS !! ' The smell of backyard barbecues always bring to mind the memory of my dad attempting to grill hamburgers. We'd jump for joy even though we knew the hamburgers and hot dogs would be so well past done they'd be well on their way ... aging parents. Back in the summer of our youth every boy's bike had a baseball mitt hanging from the handle bars. On hot muggy nights moms and dads visited with neighbors on front porches while kids shared in the joy of catching lightening bugs in Mason jars. These were the best of times. We never worried ...

... have been listening to for months." I Saw God Today" is a country tune crooned by George Strait. It tells the sentimental tale of a father witnessing the birth of his baby girl. It gets me every time, never failing to bring tears to my eyes. That day in the hospital as I ... the zoo the next day. And then, in the wee hours of that next morning, the phone rang. It was Katie. She told her dad she couldn't sleep. Then she asked to talk to me. I was careful not to mention the dreaded C word, as in contraction. She casually asked ... became a family affair. Words cannot begin to describe the feeling of holding the tiny hand of your granddaughter only minutes old. Or seeing the brand new daddy, the man who loves your daughter with all his heart, cradle his infant baby while sharing the precious moment with his beaming wife. A fitting song kept ...

... however, I am determined to consider my daughter's feelings with a little more compassion before spouting some anger-based dribble. Children are such incredible teachers. Thank You Father, for mine! [by: Elliott Teters, Copyright 2003 (teters @planetkc.com)-from '2TheHeart '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... I repeated with the question implied. In a warm and tender moment that brings tears to my eyes as I write this, my daughter said," Dad, you just don't understand. If Cady is at the pound, no one will adopt her. Who would pick her? She is three years old and ... a lesson today on the way home from school. Every conscious man who has ever raised a daughter can testify to a special bond between himself and" daddy's girl". This idol status can be amusing, but one has to be careful when they know they are on a pedestal. It takes a lot to ...

... " All week long they waited for someone to call. Surely, they thought, someone was missing that important figurine. Each time the phone rang mother would say," I'll bet that's about Jesus ," but it never was. Father tried to explain there are thousands of these scattered over the country and the figurine could be missing from a set in Florida or Texas or California. Those packing mistakes happen all the time. He suggested just put the extra Jesus back in ... over on the counter ," she said." If are all gone, I'll know someone is bound to call tonight"" Run down to the store ?" father thundered." It's 15 below zero out there !"" Oh, Daddy, we'll go with you ," Tommy and Mary began to put on their coats. Father gave a long sigh and headed for the front closet." I can't believe I'm doing this ," he muttered. Tommy and Mary ran ahead as ...

... The Little Shepherd Boy The green hills of Judea echoed with the plaintive melody of a shepherd's pipe as young Aram nestled onto his mat for the night. His father was out there somewhere, along with Aram's two uncles, tending the flocks. Aram wished he could be with them, but that was impossible. His right arm was withered from birth and had little strength. So he stayed in the cave that his father and uncles had hacked into the white stone that ... or twice in the past year. He knew that shepherds were held in low regard by the people. Shepherds were nomadic and had no roots. Furthermore, most of them were as dirty as their sheep. So most of his father's questions were answered by curt replies. One man, sitting outside a crowded hostel, began cursing when Aram's father asked about the child." Get away from me you filthy pigs ," he shouted, disturbing the other sleepers." Go ...

... do. It helped to know that, no matter what, Dad was there. And now I'm the one who is in my 50s struggling to keep pace with a teenage basketball player in my family. I think about Dad on Father's Day or whenever I'm tempted to NOT be there for my children. To be honest, I'm not as good at it as Dad was. But I keep trying because I know how much it can mean for Dad to be there when ... Being Dad And Being There It would be something of an overstatement to say that I played on the school basketball team in junior high. I was on the team. I practiced with the team. I wore the black and white uniform. Yes, color HAD been invented by this time-black and white were our school colors. or absence of colors, as the case may be of the mighty Millcreek Mustangs. I ran out on the floor and did lay-ups ...

... brother Dennis was 10. Since all of us were sophisticated non-believers in the man in the big red suit, Mom thought she'd be straight with us." Money's tight so you're each getting one small gift so I can get your dad the dresser he needs ," Mom warned. Dennis made a grumpy face, but Diane and I weren't too upset. After all, we had plenty of Barbies and board games to occupy our free time. One day, about a week ... Christmas, Dad was at work so Mom brought out a huge box and a gigantic roll of red wrapping paper." I need you kids to help wrap but remember, Dad's dresser is our secret ," Mom winked as Diane and I grabbed scotch tape and Dennis found the scissors. After the box was gaily decorated, Mom let the three of us drag it into her sewing room-Dad would never look in there. Since we always got up early Christmas morning, ...

... Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining ?" Dad answers," Son, I am not going out in this weather" Despondently the boy asks," Dad, can I go-Please ?" His father hesitated for a moment then said," Son, you can go. Here's the tracts; be careful son"" Thanks, Dad !" And with that he was off and out into the rain. This 11-year-old boy walked the streets ... it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said" Okay Dad, I'm ready" His Pastor Dad asked," Ready for what ?"" Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out" Dad responds," Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain" The ...

... My Daddy When I was seven years old and my younger sister was only four, our father was tragically killed in an automobile accident just two weeks after his twenty-seventh birthday. Mom was devastated and although we were really too young to understand what was going on, somehow I knew life would never be quite the same. After about a year, my mom's friends thought she should start dating and hopefully meet someone to fill the void in her life. Although mom was ... My Daddy When I was seven years old and my younger sister was only four, our father was tragically killed in an automobile accident just two weeks after his twenty-seventh birthday. Mom was devastated and although we were really too young to understand what was going on, somehow I knew life would never be quite the same. After about a year, my mom's friends thought she should start dating and hopefully meet someone to fill the void in her life. Although mom was ...

... eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played. This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of ... , I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it ?" He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said," Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind ?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile," Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted ...

... Paid In Full A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud ... he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to ...

... distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4: 16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3: 1 Simply because you are my child and I am your father. 1 John 3: 1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7: 11 For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5: 48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1 ... . Ephesians 3: 14-15 My question is. Will you be my child?. John 1: 12-13 I am waiting for you. Luke 15: 11-32 Love, Your father-God! [Father Heart Communications, 1999, FathersLoveLetter.com] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... placed them in coffee cans and tall juice cans that she had covered with aluminum foil. I was too young to know very much about flowers but I did recognize the irises and peonies or" pineys" as Grandma called them. Daddy had already mounted the American Flag on the pole that extended from the side of the house and he was loading the huge box full of flowers into the trunk of the car. I noticed the flag unfurling in the soft breeze as we ... there by veteran organizations to honor the soldiers who had served our country, many of them giving their lives to keep our country free. Next, we drove what seemed to me to be a very long way. It was where Daddy's relatives, including his parents and grandparents, had been buried. As we got out of the car, I looked up to see the familiar little white church with the name, Eucebia, written high up near the gabled roof. Church ...

... Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be main streamed into conventional schools. At a Chush fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all that attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out," Where is the perfection in my son Jerry? Everything God does is done ... perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection ?" The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish and stilled by the piercing query." I believe ," the father answered," that when God brings a child like this into the world, the perfection that He seeks is in the way people react to this child" He then told the ...

... A Child Shall Lead Them From time to time I travel to town from my new found country home. On this particular Saturday it was Adam's turn to accompany dad on the forty-five minute drive-a coveted pleasure. As we left he promised his two brothers, Tyler and Brandon, he would return with a bounty of candy they all would share. After parking the truck I woke Adam telling him we had arrived. His sleepy brown eyes opened peering out the window ... " Can we get candy, daddy ?"" Yes, honey. We will get you candy. We need to walk down the street" Adam, 7, is a curious boy who never lacks for questions. As we walked, he asked about the grand limestone church to our left." What is that, daddy ?"" It's a church, honey. That's the house of God. People go there to pray ," I say, trying to avoid a lengthy ...

... she could help -if only he could get up the courage to ask her … But on this day he knew he could wait no longer. His mother was very sick. He knew that this kind lady would help him find his dad. Oh, he so desperately needed to find his dad. Amelia felt a tug on her sleeve. She pulled her arm away quickly, looking around to see who it was that was trying to accost her. That was when she ... , said," Take me now, son, to your home. Do you have any brothers or sisters, or are you and she there all alone ?"" Just Mama and me ," was his answer," since my daddy took off for to roam. My mama said that's just what happened. And she told me she's glad that he's gone" Amelia smiled down at the small boy, who told her that his name was Jack. He led her on ...

... Dearest Dad (A tribute to my Father) Dearest Dad, I am truly blessed for having you as my father. You left a godly legacy that provided a good foundation for my own journey in life. Growing up with eight siblings of different personalities and idiosyncrasies can be chaotic at times. But I remember what you would always tell us-“ love one another ” We learned not to let our differences keep us apart. You also showed us how to love ... Dearest Dad (A tribute to my Father) Dearest Dad, I am truly blessed for having you as my father. You left a godly legacy that provided a good foundation for my own journey in life. Growing up with eight siblings of different personalities and idiosyncrasies can be chaotic at times. But I remember what you would always tell us-“ love one another ” We learned not to let our differences keep us apart. You also showed us how to love ...

... Everybody Knows Everybody PROLOG (SkyWriting.Net ): The following is a true story. No editing was done, so you could experience the overall tone of the story about a Father and the unconditional love of his young son. Enjoy... Today was a special day, the type of day which restores a faith of sorts. And in that faith I found a lesson, taught to me by my 6-year-old son, Brandon. I watched him at the kitchen table carefully ... confidence trick, invented by the Swiss). Hurry he did. In fact, he forgot his well-packed lunch, a mistake I was painfully aware of on the forty-minute drive to town. He admonished me several times saying," Dad, you made me rush now I have no lunch" He changed the words over the duration of the scolding but the meaning remained the same," I need a lunch because you made me forget mine" I purchased a sandwich and ...

... the sandbox." Sure" said the little boy. The two little boys played for hours. They made sand castles and made really funny sounds with their mouths. Sounds which made them laugh real hard. Then the little boy's father came with a wheel chair to pick up his son. The little boy who had always wanted to fly ran over to the boy's father and whispered something into his ear." That would be okay ," said the man. The little ... I'm Flying Daddy Once upon a time there was a little boy who was raised in a orphanage. The little boy had always wished that he could fly like a bird. It was very difficult for him to understand why he could not fly. There were birds at the zoo that were much bigger than he, and they could fly." Why can't I ?" he thought." Is there something wrong with me ?" he wondered. There was another little boy ...

... The Miracle Tess was a precocious eight year old when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn't have the money for the doctor bills and our house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard ... say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation," Only a miracle can save him now" Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door ...

... How Rich Are We? One day a father and his rich family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night on the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son," How was the trip ?"" Very good Dad !"" Did you see how poor people can be ?" the father asked ... " Yeah !"" And what did you learn ?" The son answered," I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard; they have a whole horizon" When the little boy was finished, his father was speechless ...

... could do was complain about how unfair it was that I had to pay the full price for doing the exact same thing all of them had done without any noticeable consequences. After about a week of this, I complained to my father about the inequity of the situation (and in case any of the boys are reading this: no, I didn't rat you out. I think the statute of limitations on raspberry rustling had already elapsed)." I don't think it's ... at all ," Dad said." You took raspberries without asking, and you got exactly the punishment you deserved"" But what about the other guys ?" I asked." They didn't get punished at all !"" That's not my concern, nor should it be yours ," Dad said." You can't control what happens to other people. You can only deal with what happens to you. You made a bad choice that night, and you were punished for it ...

... The plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy. Now Frank trudged homeward, cold and uneasy. How could he explain to his parents that he had given his presents away?" Where are your presents, son ?" asked his father as Frank entered the house. Frank answered," I gave them away"" The airplane from Aunt Susan? Your coat from Grandma? Your flashlight? We thought you were happy with your gifts"" I was-very happy ... by gifts from a teenage boy who simply called himself the Christmas Scout. No one could identify him, but the children of the Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Claus himself" Frank felt his father's arms go around his shoulders, 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 ...

... the sandbox. The little boy grunted, struggled, pushed, shoved-but his only reward was to have the rock roll back, smashing his chubby fingers. Finally he burst into tears of frustration. All this time the boy's father watched from his living room window as the drama unfolded. At the moment the tears fell, a large shadow moved across the boy and the sandbox. It was the boy's father. Gently but firmly he said," Son, why ... you use all the strength that you had available ?" Defeated, the boy sobbed back," But I did, Daddy, I did! I used all the strength that I had !"" No, son ," corrected the father kindly." You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me" With that the father reached down, picked up the rock, and removed it from the sandbox. Do you have" rocks" in your life that ...

... , she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail. They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he ... that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail. They were standing ...

... Mom ,” with great kids and the badge to show for it. Then one day, it all began to fall apart, right before my eyes. I was shocked to find that our car was missing one morning, when her father got up for work. We checked our daughter's room, only to find her missing as well. Frantic, we began making phone calls; to her cell phone, her friend's homes, etc. No response. Then finally she answered ... . The blow of his daughter's “ new roommate ” was evident as he shared with me how he felt robbed of that precious experience of watching her go out on a date, with the boy coming to our home, seeking her father's approval. Sure he had “ met the boy ” but he definitely wasn't ready for this! Again and again, my family and friends would reassure us that our daughter was just trying to “ find herself ,” “ to be her own ...

... his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said," This is for you, Daddy" He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her," Don't you know that ... you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it ?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said ," Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy" The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness. It is told that the man kept that gold box by his bed for years and whenever he ...

... . So if you feel led in your heart to pass this on to anyone just say a prayer for your brothers and sisters when you send it, and God will pour out his blessings on their family and your family too. Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray and confess your word over my family and surround them with my faith. I believe and confess that you give your angels charge over my family to accompany and defend and preserve them in all ... A God I remember when back when I was growing up, my family and me lived in a house that didn't have electricity. We had free gas, so we didn't get cold. But we didn't have much money because my dad couldn't find a good job in those days, to feed the family of eleven hungry children. At the start of the school year, we would each get a new pair of shoes, one pair of pants, and one shirt, ...

... out to God and said," Take this cup from me" Jesus declared: I don't want to do this, I don't want to go to the cross, I don't want to finish what you sent me to do. Father, let's switch to plan 'B '-quickly. But as he prayed and struggled, He finally found the faith, the strength, the focus to say," Father, what I want doesn't matter. Not my will, but ... been wasted. For three years, Jesus taught and healed and restored and loved and rebuked. For three years he lived His life constantly reflecting the glory of God. During this time, He was always in perfect obedience to the Father's will. But then it came time for the cross. In the garden came the greatest battle of His life. He cried out to God and said," Take this cup from me" Jesus declared: I don't want to do ...

... 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 ... 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 was relieved when in the darkness I felt Daddy's warm hand leading me down the hall and out the back door to our backyard. As I stood in the pouring rain, his hand let go of mine and he was gone. Frightened, I turned back to the house. There ...

... a long time." You do know what they're saying, don't you, my son ?" you said at last, your eyes glistening." Yes, Mom, I know" Your voice started to rise." If your father were still alive, he'd have some words, I'll tell you. Going about like that before you are married. Disgracing the family and all. You. you and Mary ought to be ashamed of yourselves" You'd never have believed me ... lots of things I couldn't tell you about last summer. You wouldn't have believed me then, but maybe I can tell you now. I hope you can understand. You know, Mom, I've always loved Mary. You and dad used to tease me about her when she was still a girl. She and her brothers used to play on our street. Our families got together for supper. But the hardest day of my life came scarcely a year ago when I ...

... trash." Oh no! I don ’ t believe it ," whispered a lady to her husband." That ’ s all we need-a bunch of homeless people milling around here" One worried little girl tugged on her dad ’ s sleeve." But Daddy" Daddy was busy sizing up the bearded stranger, whose baggy, outdated trousers and faded flannel shirt had dusted too many park benches." Don ’ t stare at him, honey ," he whispered ... and hurried her inside. Soft music filled the high-ceilinged sanctuary as churchgoers settled into their usual spots. The choir sang an opening chorus," In His presence there is comfort. in His presence there is peace". Sunlight suddenly flooded the center aisle. The double doors swung open and the homeless man, sloppy and stooped, headed toward the front." Oh no, it ’ s him !" somebody muttered." What does he think he ’ s doing, ...

... 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 ... been wounded in the war, and didn ’ t live in the area." I guess she hasn't seen him for a while, he lived some place in another state, and I only knew about it because Renι ’ s Dad was helping her with the burial arrangements" Our daughter finished. I thought about the prayer chain that was used for everything from an illness with a newborn to someone who had been diagnosed with cancer, and yet nobody had shared a thing ...

... , and a wife. I have the opportunity to minister to teens and women across the nation, sharing the story of my life and the beauty of purpose and the fact that God loved us from the beginning. My mother and father were saved when I was in my junior year of high school. I found a note from my dad under my pillow one day. I still carry it with me, the tattered pieces a reminder of what God has done. My ... father, who very rarely shared the depth of his emotions, said in that letter," I have watched you and I see that you have something that is of great worth, a treasure. I know that it is real and I admire you for your faith and your love for God" We have never spoken of that letter, but it came at a time when I prayed for a sign." God, show me that you hear my prayers. Heal ...

... The Old Woman With The Cane After a long day of going back and forth to doctor's appointments for my fiance's father and his ill sister, I was just about ready to fall over in sheer exhaustion. However, something inside keeps you going because, well, you have to. As we were leaving our last appointment, I was walking behind the three of them and noticed an old woman with a cane and special walking shoes attempting to step from the curb and ... people are for. I even laughed to make her feel better and said," I'm used to this !" I am used to it, and I don't mind it. My fiance and I are getting quite accustomed to helping his dad's ill sister into the car and his father, too. It's just what you do. Well, it's what most people do. After the old woman was seated I tucked her coat into the car so it wouldn't get stuck in the ...

... I now have" 1-1 / 2 left feet" Regardless, I still don't get the phenomenon and I am happy for the show's millions of viewers. Some time ago, after I was injured, I tried to dance. My father was retiring as Senior Rabbi of his synagogue and the synagogue was having a party for him at a hotel ballroom with a band and, you guessed it, there was dancing. Everyone was there, everyone was dancing, everyone was having ... then replied," MichaelŠ oh noŠ my back is killing me and my feet are aching as well. But thank you for the offer" I then quickly went to my grandmother's left where my other grandmother, my 90 year old father's mother, was sitting and asked her the same question." Honey, my knees are killing me and my neck is so sore, but if you can go out to the dance floor, I can go as well" That was ...

... or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me" The shirt was Mother's final gift. She had known for three months that she had ... to Mom. When Mom wrote to thank me for her" real" gifts, she said the yellow shirt was lovely. She never mentioned it again. The next year, my husband, daughter and I stopped at Mom and Dad's to pick up some furniture. Days later, when we uncrated the kitchen table, I noticed something yellow taped to its bottom. The shirt! And so the pattern was set. On our next visit home, I secretly placed the ...

... the Bible, the number three often times reflects divine perfection. Okay, he could have it. Divine perfection. The sum of all he was, all I ever knew him to be as a friend, a husband and a father could be described as divinely perfect. I spoke to Jim two more times before he died. Yes, three in all. He died on the third of the month just three days shy of his three month prognosis. The obituary said ... talking about it that she never thought I was serious. Imagine that. Talking about something for years and one wouldn't't be taken seriously. How many years? You guessed it .three. There it was again. Well, this past Father's Day my wife came home with another dog. I call him Phil. Having three dogs is all I ever imagined it to be and more. So, it would appear to be obvious that three would have to be my lucky number ...

... , but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart. The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid ... wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was five, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart. The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a ...

... empty too !" Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him," Do you know why the tomb was empty ?"" Oh yes !" Jeremy exclaimed." Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up !" The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away. Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary ... ," Miss Miller, that one is mine" Next, Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom." My Daddy helped me !" he beamed. Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy's she thought, and of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not ...

... said inside and out. Jimmy's Mom, the one who was in such a hurry, has now settled down, too. She's caught up in a conversation with another hurried Mom. They are swapping complaints and gripes. A nearby Dad jumps in with his moans and groans until there is a symphony of wailing parents." There out to be a law !" I said out loud." For what ?" I hear a young voice ask. It was Jimmy. He ... may have mixed up your letters on this one ," I cautiously try to correct him." Nope! That's right !" he said." But that's not a word"" Is too !" he corrects me." When my Daddy went away, Grand mama said that she asked God for him to come back. A family needs 2 B together ," he said as he pointed to his paper. It stunned me for a moment. But he stood there, blond ...

... Daddy, could we plant Daisies again this year ?" one child asked." Yes, of course. They were Mom's favorite ," he said." Ours, too !" they said in unison." That doesn't surprise me ," Dad said as he smiled and kissed them.~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2008 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... leave, remember that" All the flowers of all our tomorrows are in the seeds of today" Robert H. Schuller" Just then his children came running through the door." Here comes tomorrow's flowers ," he said." Daddy, could we plant Daisies again this year ?" one child asked." Yes, of course. They were Mom's favorite ," he said." Ours, too !" they said in unison." That doesn't surprise me ," Dad said ...

... came flashing back." Stop shaking the floor !" Dad yelled. We were three boys in a four room house. I was the youngest of the family. Our house was so small, it was impossible not to bother our father. We tried to walk softly, but the floor shook and upset him. I was 18 when we got an indoor bathroom. Before that, we used an outhouse. We were poor and knew it. My friends had indoor bathrooms ... red, heart-shaped balloon tied to it. For a short time I thought I was different, but I was wrong. I was not the only balloon. Memories from the past came flashing back." Stop shaking the floor !" Dad yelled. We were three boys in a four room house. I was the youngest of the family. Our house was so small, it was impossible not to bother our father. We tried to walk softly, but the floor shook ...

... up. We wished them well, expecting things to be just fine. A couple of days later when we were at a game watching the boys, I noticed Tracy and her Mom weren't there. I made my way to Tracy's Dad, and asked him how the checkup had gone." Not good ," he said." The cancer is back" The tears swelled in his eyes, and I said how sorry I was to hear that. The baseball season ended ... in our division, I noticed Tracy's Mom was quite watchful of her actions, always concerned if there was a chill in the air as we sat in the area where Moms sit during these games, mostly on hard bleachers! While Dads seemed to stand near the coach's corner, ready to give him advice if need be, a friendship began between Karen and I. Tracy was so sweet and a loving child toward her family. I commented on this to Karen, and ...

... as the rudiments of courtesy, yet it is so easy to be rude and unthinking toward God. How often we forget to gratefully acknowledge His goodness towards us. This Thanksgiving let your prayers and expressions of love rise toward your Heavenly Father." What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116: 12-13) [by Dr. Ralph F ... hot from the oven. Creamed onions, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Uncles and aunts and cousins to play with. Grandmothers and grandfathers with family gathered round. Children waiting for the Great Pumpkin rise over Charlie Brown's pumpkin patch and dads watching college football. A day to relax and maybe rake leaves in the afternoon. But Thanksgiving? How much will our celebrations on Thanksgiving have to do with giving thanks? A glance at the first Thanksgiving brings it all back. On ...

... the whole neighborhood, well, the whole community found out about it after awhile and some started little things to raise money. Gloria, the little crippled girl who owned Shep The Wonder Dog who pulled her around in a carriage her dad had made, started a lemonade stand in front of her house to help. Several of us started a neighborhood vegetable stand selling things from our gardens. They even had rummage sales and lawns were being mowed that didn't need it. Special ... where we were all gathered watching in anticipation of his first visions. He looked around at all of us who he recognized by our voices, but had never seen. Then he looked up into the sky and exclaimed," look daddy, God's home, his lights are on" There was not a dry eye among us. Mark Crider 2006 mark @cccoating.com Write Mark and let him know what you thought of his story! Mark & Sandra Crider live at their bird ...

... :" Dad, I won. I'm bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born" Frank Havens had just won the gold medal for the United States in the canoe racing event, a medal his father had dreamed of winning but never did. Like I said, no regrets. Thomas Kinkade eloquently said," When we learn to say a deep, passionate yes to the things that really matter, then peace begins to settle onto our ... a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a cablegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The cablegram read:" Dad, I won. I'm bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born" Frank Havens had just won the gold medal for the United States in the canoe racing event, a medal his father had dreamed of ...

... garden ?” “ What happened to ‘ Make do, use it up, wear it out ?’ ‘ We ’ re going to be in the poorhouse if you buy another mower !’” I teased borrowing expressions handed down by his frugal Wisconsin father and mother. Old Seven Dollar, thank you for your many years of dependable service. Even Roy believes you have finally earned your well deserved retirement. There is a special niche in the left hand corner of the barn just for you ... May you rust in peace!~Kay Seefeldt~A tribute to my husband for Father's day. [by: Kay Seefeldt, Copyright 2005, (birdnest @megalink.net)-submitted by: Kay Seefeldt] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... was headed out of Jacksonville, Florida, and I think I was westward bound-whatever that direction was. All I knew was that someone had told me that I was born somewhere in California, and I had a mother and father out there somewhere. It was November so it was getting a little cold as the sun went down. I knew from past experience that I could not stay on the main road as the police would be looking for me. They would ... tracks, I came across a large bonfire. There were several men standing around in a circle trying to stay warm." Where you headed kid ?" yelled one of the men." Going to California to find my mom and dad ," I hollered back at him." Going the wrong way kid ," he said, cupping his hands over his mouth like a bull-horn. Slowly I walked over to where the men were standing and I asked if I might get warm ...

... prepared by You. From that moment, calmness and peace overwhelmed me as I waited for-no, looked forward to-the formerly-dreaded operation on that table prepared by God. I knew I was totally, trustingly in His wonderful Father hands. THOU PREPAREST A TABLE!~Connie Faust~[ by: Connie Faust, Copyright 1983 (beracah1 @evenlink.com)-submitted by: Connie Faust] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ... operating table for me! If I had felt His presence before, it was vastly magnified as I pondered the amazing, comforting words. My blood pressure, I'm sure, was at a level of near-perfection as I reveled in the Father's love for me. Not only was God with me in the hospital, but He revealed His individualized care through that unique application of Psalm 23: 5. Thou preparest an operating table before me in the presence of my enemies! Thou ...

... slowly melt down the sides. By now your mind has already consumed it, but your belly cries out with a rumble" I can't wait any longer !"" This is heavenly ," mother says." You are an angel ," father adds. Then, from the smallest child comes the biggest question." Grandmother, when you go to heaven can we still visit ?" the child asks. Grandmother takes her place at the head of the table, picks up her fork ... clanking of the pans, the sound of the rolling pin, the thump of the oven door as it closes and the signal that makes you jump to your feet. the baking sheet sliding off the rack .you're home. Mom and dad rush to get the children up. Running down the hallway they pause for moment to inhale the smell of fresh coffee. Not just any coffee. This coffee is created in the same old percolator that grandmother has used since grandfather and she ...

... benefit those who listen ” There is a children's song that very simply explains this way of thinking: “ Oh be careful little*mouth what you*say. Oh be careful little*mouth what you*say. For the Father up above, is looking down in love, So be careful little mouth what you say ”. Other Verses:*ears what you hear*eyes what you see*feet where you go To speak or to spell, is that ... would strive to say only things that are beneficial, we wouldn ’ t have to spell. Besides, grandchildren are very smart these days and it ’ s only a matter of time until I hear my little granddaughter say, “ Daddy, this D-U-M-B thing isn ’ t working ”.~Pamela Perry Blaine~April 11, 2008 pamyblaine @blaines.us About Pamela: She enjoys writing, music, and country living. She writes" Pam's Corner" for the local newspaper ...

... slowly than he had ever walked; to tell his wife how their son had brutally died-that others may live. If you can imagine the emotions which went this man's heart, you can begin to understand the feelings of our Father in Heaven when He sacrificed His Son to bridge the gap between us and eternal life. Is it any wonder that He caused the earth to tremble and the skies to darken when His Son died? How do you think God feels as ... pressure to keep the mechanism locked. Many lives depended on this man doing the right thing. Then, coming across the bridge from the direction of his control shack, he heard a sound that made his blood run cold." Daddy, where are you ?" His four-year-old son was crossing the bridge to look for him. His first impulse was to cry out to the child," Run! Run !" But the train was too close; the tiny legs would never ...

... you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid and I love you !" The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears," I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn't think you loved me. Now I don't need to" Addendum-John 13: 34 (NLT)" So now I am ... you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other" [Helice Bridges-Source Unknown.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... days when they were young, the children small and life filled to the max with love. I then reached down and in an effort to assure them I could relate, I held my own little child. Yes, this past Father's day I was given a new addition to my family. His name is Phil. Who is Phil? A Chihuahua mix now just 12 weeks old given to me by my wife. Yes, we now have three dogs. Ricky, ... must have finally given them both a sense that I meant no harm. One parent left for a moment, perhaps to get something for the kids. I looked away periodically so as not to make them feel uncomfortable. Suddenly, dad returned with some special treats and the kids went wild. I can remember spoiling my own children, too. As they settled down, both parents turned to look at me. I felt at that very moment they understood. Maybe, ...

... a new bike for a 4 year old that didn't even know how to ride. But I begged and pleaded anyway. To no avail. However, the silver lining to the" no" that I kept receiving was when my dad said," Son, when you can ride a bike without training wheels, I'll buy you a new bike" This past week while on vacation, I was spending the day, like most days off at the pool in my backyard ... of my attention. He was smiling immensely and could not wait to catch his breath until the water ran off his face. As he drew in his smiling breath through pool water running off of his head, he exclaimed," DADDY! I TOUCH THE BOTTOM ALL BY M'SELF !" Of course I praised him for his accomplishment thinking of how far he has come lately with his confidence and ability in the water. He continued. Then, I realized. This boy had ...

... thinking about Christmas earlier than usual this year and I did indeed decorate my home. But I never really saw Christmas until Sunday." How many things in my life am I really not seeing ?" I asked. I am a father, but do I really see my children? I need to" look closer" I am a husband, but do I really see my wife? I am employed by someone part of my time. But do I really see what ... I shouted and they all returned the greeting. As I always do, I responded to the urgency of sharing this moment with those I love. I called my son and left a message on his phone." This is some fatherly Christmas advice. Take time today and everyday to look closer. Get down and play with your train display. Stand before your tree and really look at each ornament you hung" When I turned around, Marianne and my two dogs, ...

... checked every stable until we found you... found him" The boy paused." How many newborns in Bethlehem do you know with a cattle manger for a cradle ?" Joseph chuckled. So that was it. The heavenly Father Himself had provided a bed for His child. A special cradle. A sign to these crude shepherds that God cared for them too. Joseph squeezed Mary's hand very tightly. [by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson-from 'Sermon_Fodder ' ... She looked up at the cave's low ceiling." You could hang it somewhere. No baby I know has a cradle like that. It's fit for a king" Joseph grinned." Not every boy has a carpenter for a dad ," he said. But he wondered. Why couldn't little Jesus be home in that cradle? Why does this special child the angel told Mary and him about have to be born in this smelly stable? A hill-country carpenter's home is bad ...

... Jeremy, who was four years old at the time. Mike was moving the tiller very slowly in order to do a good job of breaking up the soil for planting. My son was just inches behind my husband and each time that Mike took a step, Jeremy took a step. He would carefully put his own small foot in the huge imprint made from my husband ’ s boot. Jeremy had to really stretch in order to imitate the larger stride of his father. Very slowly he extended each of his legs, one at a time, almost as far as his legs would go. The process was slow. He took a step with his right foot and then his left and then he would wait patiently for when it would be time to take the next step. Sometimes Jeremy would lose his balance because he would become engrossed in a glittering rock or a wriggling insect along the way. The dog that kept barking for him to ...

... Who's Your Daddy? A number of years ago a seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife:" I hope he doesn't come over here" But sure enough, the man did come over to their table." Where are you folks from ?" he asked in a friendly voice." Oklahoma ," they answered." Great to have you here in Tennessee ," the stranger said." What do you do for a living ?"" I teach at a seminary ," he replied." Oh, you teach preachers how to preach? Well, I've got a really great story for you" And with that, the gentleman pulled up a ...

... The Stranger This is very interesting and not the ending I had expected. Really makes you think. A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on. As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger .he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies. If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my ...

... young Heather said as she knelt beside her bed saying her prayers. Mom was just outside her door when she over heard the conversation between her daughter and God. It had been predicted that this day would be an average Spring day, as far as the weatherman could see. But his forecast was based on scientific facts, not the prayers of a little girl. For by the end of this otherwise normal day, it would be a glorious one. Mom and Dad were up early as usual, to get ready for work. Like any other day they fumbled in the morning fog that filled their minds. Like robots they went about their daily routine. Reaching in to start the shower, Mom came across a note taped on the wall. Opening it she read," You are loved !" printed in mixed colorful crayon. Dad came walking in just then." I found this in my sock drawer ," he said. They exchanged ...

... Saved At Sea After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak," A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast ," he began," when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean" The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued," Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life. ...

... own. How can you choose just one? A trip down memory lane brought me back to a tree lined street in the Roseland community-a quaint and quiet neighborhood where we lived until I was about 12 years old. Across the railroad tracks from our home was an indoor pool. My brothers, sister and I would often go swimming there. One afternoon, as I ran across the tracks from the" Pump" as we called it, I saw my dad in the backyard, the contents of a kiddie pool strewn about the lawn. Patience was not a virtue that my dad possessed, which is why our pool was the only pool in the neighborhood whose liner was clamped down with clothes pins. When filled to the rim the shallow water reached right below my knees. But it didn't stop us from splish-splashing away many hot summer days. My dad also loved having barbecues, though he was far from a genius at the grill ...

... The Fence There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said," You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The ...

... Laughing with Dad A couple of weeks ago, my dad, who is seventy-six, had total knee replacement surgery on his left knee. He came through the surgery just fine and although they told him he would be in the hospital five days he was able to leave in three. He had a local anesthetic and was able to see and hear everything that went on in the operating room. Later in his room, he was laughing as he told the story of hearing the hammer and saw as they took out the bone. With a smile on his face and a mischievous glint in his eye, he advised the Dr's they needed 2 sharpen the saw, since he could smell the bone burning as they removed it, which of course meant the blade was dull. He came home and is doing the exercises the therapist gave him and even when it hurts he manages to laugh at the pain and make jokes about the new metal knee ...

... . I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy. Then Mother would say to me," My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a pre-drawn plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing" Many times through the years I have looked up to my Heavenly Father and said," Father, what are You doing ?" He has answered," I am embroidering your life" I say," But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be bright ?" The Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on My knee and you ...

... ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face. Grandfather said," Come, sit, tell me what has happened today" The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut brown face and the kind dark eyes; the child's anger turned to quiet tears. The boy said," I went to the town today, with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me. Something that I wanted. I was so excited to be in the trading post, I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for ...

... blue like sapphires, flashed at him behind the wire screen that separated them in the visiting room. Both dimples showed when she smiled. A dress of yellow ruffles and ribbons hid the thinness of her body and made her look every inch of living Lily that she was. Jack sat up, cringing at the memory of the spotted lily his own Lily had brought him. She had hugged the clay pot before she let go of it. Then she said," Daddy, this is me. I am going to be with you all the time. Every time you see this lily think of me, for I am your Lily !" Lily soon had to wave goodbye, but the blooming lily remained to brightened his world of gloom, filling his cell with the slightest suggestion of perfume, so light, so alive, so pure! Not even the foul prison air stifled it! A thousand times a day Jack had stared at the blossom ...

... winter the snow builds up on the low sloped panels. Heat lost through the poorly insulated roof causes it to melt during relatively warm days. Water trapped under the snow seeps into the seams. At night, when the temperature drops, the water freezes and forces the seams apart. This continues all winter long. By spring you're living in a sieve. During one particularly nasty spring storm, one with high winds and heavy rains, my daughter approached me," Dad, there's a leak in my ceiling" She grabbed my hand," Come on, Dad, hurry. It's a big leak" I hesitated. The first ball game of the year was on TV. How bad could it be? It was probably just a small drip. She pulled me down the hall and into her room." See, dad !" She pointed at her ceiling." Look !" She wasn't exaggerating. The water poured though the ceiling in ...

... flesh and blood, a prisoner due to his belief in Christ, bishop of the Mediterranean city of Myra. What do we know about the real St. Nicholas? He was born, ancient biographers tell us, to wealthy parents in the city of Patara about 270 A.D. He was still young when his parents died and left him a fortune. As a teenager, Nicholas ' humility was already evident. He had heard about a family destitute and starving. The father had no money for food, much less the dowry needed to marry off his three daughters. He was ready to send his oldest girl into the streets to earn a living as a prostitute. Under the cover of night, Nicholas threw a bag of gold coins through the window of their humble dwelling. In the morning the father discovered the gold. How he rejoiced: his family was saved, his daughter's honor preserved, and a dowry for her marriage secured. Some ...

... directly in front of us, pushing a shopping cart at three feet per hour-the elderly couple from the parking lot. Judy and I stood waiting for them to move on down the line so we could reach the bacon. Very carefully, the old man reached over and picked up a small package of pork chops. Holding them out to his wife he replied," This sure would be good for our anniversary mother"" You know we can't afford that dad ," she replied. Slowly, the man placed the package back on the meat counter and the two of them continued down the aisle. Judy picked out a large package of bacon and off to the bread aisle we headed. As we passed the elderly couple, the man was trying to pick up a large package of hamburger." The small package dad. The small package ," the woman told him. Judy and I stopped and looked at one another." James ...

... bothering me !" And the devil smiled and said," This is good-this is very good" His black heart filled with admiration as he added," My minions have done an excellent job in this neighborhood. I'll have to reward them with an extra shift in the fiery furnace when I get back to the office" Suddenly a little demon popped up out of a sewer and ran frantically down the street, his arms flailing wildly in the air." Father, Father ," he screamed." Stop! Leave this place at once !"" What's the matter with you, Wickerwort ?" ol ' Scratch said angrily." Can't you hear the venom coming out of these people's mouths around here. The hate in this neighborhood is wonderful. Everyone is badmouthing everyone else. It is so glorious"" You don't understand, Father ," the little demon shouted." You're in the wrong neighborhood. There was a huge revival here last ...

... 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 status. His request was granted. The captain had also asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. Out of respect for the father, they did say they ...

... home. He was going to bring our big truck back and pull the car home with it. There was nothing we could do but wait in the car. I told stories and we sang nursery rhymes for what seemed like hours. I was getting more worried by the minute but did not want the children to know I was so scared. Finally my youngest son John who was three climbed over into the front seat beside me and said," Mommy, my daddy is gonna freeze to death out there. And we will freeze too" I said" No John, Daddy will be coming with the truck soon !" But the darkness and blowing snow was covering our car and made it impossible to see anything outside. John climbed over into the back seat and knelt down on 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 a gentle warm breeze – weather so inviting that, at my mother ’ s request, we took a long stroll along the boardwalk before driving to the medical center later that morning. With my arm around her shoulders, we walked for an hour, laughing at the antics of the seagulls, reminiscing about how our family used to boat across Long Island Sound for fresh crab dinners, how my brother and I played in the sand as children, and how my father taught us to fish off the adjacent pier. On that day, her memories of those distant years were amazingly focused, as was her ability to tactfully steer the conversation in a direction she thought more pressing. As with most discussions I had with my parents throughout my adult life, the topic ultimately worked its way to my career. My mother had carried on the support and inquiry, offering solicited and unsolicited advice, where my father left off when he passed away ten ...

... chick had no idea we were there. About that time, there was one more push, and the egg broke in two and our sweet little pink, wet chick toppled right out! It still wasn't free though. It was on its back and its little umbilical cord was still holding him to the back side of the egg. I really wanted to help that tiny, fragile baby to get rid of its entanglements. Then the thought came to me that Heavenly Father watches over us just like we were watching this little drama playing out before us. I told Dallin that Heavenly Father sees us just like this, going through struggles. Sometimes he seems to help us quickly, but many times He knows that the struggle is necessary for us to get stronger or to learn things that we'll need to know later in life, things that will help us. So even though we may not be aware that He is watching us and even rooting ...

... we desire it doesn ’ t always work quite like we envisioned it or it wasn ’ t nearly as wonderful as we thought it would be. We try different things with it to see if it might give us some kind of satisfaction or pleasure, yet it often falls short. Are we like cave babies, not understanding God ’ s purpose for what He has given us? Sometimes we ask for something, even demand it, from God. Like a loving father, he sometimes allows us to have what we think we want, perhaps to show us that we aren ’ t ready for it or that it is not what we wanted at all but we have to learn the hard way. We push all the buttons, we try different methods, and we might even whack it a time or two but it brings no pleasure. We taste and see that it is not as good as we had envisioned. Instead of bringing it ...

... God Used A Toothache. (Touching Story) Friday morning (September 17, 1999) I was reading the paper and noticed Darrell Scott (father of Rachel Scott, a student killed at Columbine High School) was coming to speak Sunday afternoon at Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, TN. I really wanted to go hear what Mr. Scott had to say but was a little apprehensive about announcing anything to my youth group about the event since it was going to be held at a Baptist church. I had a feeling someone would get offended if I promoted it. So, instead of any announcement in the main worship assembly, at the end of my Sunday school class I made mention of the event, told my high school kids I'd be going and invited anyone to ride with me who wanted to go. I expected to take two or three kids in my truck. Instead I ended up having to fire up the White House ...

... on them. If they want to lug it to school and talk about it, they're welcome. Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant." This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday. First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord" She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement." Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, oh, oh! ...

... the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it". I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said," No, Santa can't go where my sister is .I have to give the doll to my Mamma to take to her". I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said," She has gone to be with Jesus. My Daddy says that Mamma is going to have to go be with her" My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said," I told my Daddy to tell Mamma not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store" Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he'd had taken at the front of ...

... The Dark Candle A man had a little daughter-an only and much-beloved child. He lived for her-she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health. His best efforts proved unavailing and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends and refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. But one night he had a dream. He was in Heaven, and was witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed angelic child carried a candle. He noticed that one child's candle was not lighted. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his ...

... by a Viet Nam Veteran who prefers to remain anonymous. The other day I was walking into the local Wal-Mart store when I noticed an older man walking beside a younger man. The younger man was wearing army fatigues. I was curious so I stopped and asked," Excuse me young man, but I was just wondering if you were in the service or are you just wearing fatigues ?" The young man stated that he was really in the army and then his Dad added in a strong voice that was filled with pride," This is my son and he has just returned from his second tour in Iraq" I told him how glad I was that he had returned home safely and then I said," Young man, I would like to do something for you that no one outside of my family did for me when I returned home from serving in Viet Nam"" What is that ?" he asked." I'd be proud ...

... thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought," This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don't have any money to spend" Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the house ...

... 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 to him by our heavenly Father. He doesn ’ t worry about anything. Jack seems to have a good life. How do I know? A little bird told me." Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap ...

... much like the blooms produced from a tiny seed. In the next few days and weeks, I am expecting the tiny sprouts to grow taller. Then I am expecting a flowerpot filled with blossoms. The once neglected pot will hold beautiful flowers of assorted colors, simply because I planted faith along with those few seeds. This past weekend, our granddaughters Hannah and Katie came for a visit. Three-year-old Katie wasn't initially fond of the idea of returning home. When her Daddy told her that he had missed her, she looked up at him and whispered," But Daddy, I was just so happy at Nana and Pa's" We laughed together. We played together. We blew bubbles in the backyard. We watched television together. We went to the zoo. And we went on a picnic. The weekend was ours to do nothing but to plant seeds of happiness in the hearts of our granddaughters. Are you planting seeds of happiness in ...

... early, I thought. Was it really time to get up already? ' Philip hit the floor running. He always did: forever looking for what was around the next corner. John,.. .low gear John.. .dumped himself out of bed, and with eyes still half closed, slowly maneuvered his way down the hall. Andy, rummaging around in his room, whined," Oh man.. .I gotta do my spelling words yet !" As Dad herded this" happy huddle" into the sunny dining room, he slowly turned to the window," Oh Wow! Look outside! It really snowed last night !" He clicked on the radio and chuckled," Hummmmm?.. .I wonder if there will be school today" It got very quiet as all three scruffy heads swung around toward Dad and the newsworthy clock radio. No School? Could it be? They sat still. Not even breathing... ...

... The Family Strength I saw my future in-laws on rare occasions. The 760 miles between Montreal and Halifax prevented us from being together more than twice a year. Our meetings were few, but it was clear to see-I would have no use for mother-in-law jokes-she was pure gold. I loved her instantly. My father-in-law was more of a challenge. Behind his serious manner, he attempted to hide a soft heart. Few grew close enough to see his tenderness. I like to think I was one of those who did. They'd been through a lot in their lives. They immigrated to Canada during the Hungarian revolution. With two young girls in tow, they crossed the heavily guarded border into Austria and immigrated to a country they knew little about. They sought peace and found it in Canada. My mother-in-law suffered with cancer for many years, and although it was in remission, we knew her time was short. During ...

... they spied the alligators and giggled when they saw the monkeys. We drew pictures and colored. We did nothing special. But we had a great time doing it! Sunday came much too quickly. After four nights with Nana and Pa, it was time for the girls to return home. I expected them to be thrilled to get back to their toy room, their outside toys, their pets, and their home. While they were happy to see Mommy and Daddy, they did not want to leave Nana and Pa. We buckled them securely in their car seats, gave them goodbye kisses, and returned home, already missing the girls. After they arrived home and realized that Nana and Pa weren't around anymore, they were definitely unhappy! Our telephone rang." I want you, Nana ," Katie whimpered." I want Pa too" Hannah came to the telephone." I miss you Nana ," she cried." I ...

... had done this, they placed one of these arrangements on each veteran's grave. The veterans of the village also led a processional to the cemeteries and flags were flown at half-mast all over the town in honor of those who had died in the war. This observance in Waterloo, N.Y, continued on thereafter as a yearly observance. In the South there was a group of women who were probably one of the earliest groups who decorated the graves of their fallen husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers. There was a hymn written about this in 1867, by Nella L. Sweet. The dedication reads: “ To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead ” and the hymn reads:" Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping ” Words by G.W.R. Music by Mrs. L. Nella Sweet Kneel where our loves are sleeping, Dear ones days gone by, Here we bow in holy reverence, Our bosoms ...

... much could they take? Then, one day, when I called the family's home her mother sounded very happy and excited." Mike, we finally have some good news. The new medication is shrinking the tumor !" Marnie's mother's excitement was contagious. Finally, some good news. I was so happy for the family! I left town early on Thursday happy about the positive results. My parents left town earlier that same week with the same thoughts. (My father was Marnie's Rabbi and was constantly keeping in touch with her progress through the family) Therefore, we were all stunned, shocked, and saddened when the news came later that week that Marnie had passed away on Friday due to a stroke. Our beautiful Marnie, both inside and out, was gone. As Rabbi Brian Strauss said during his eulogy for Marnie," Rabbi Todd Doctor's beautiful metaphor comparing life to a candle really describes Marnie" Rabbi Strauss stated that with a ...

... when we planned our special trip to Grandma and Grandpa ’ s house that year, was that it would be our last Thanksgiving in that old rambling home. My younger brother and I were in our teens and although we knew Grandpa was in his eighties and had been under a doctor ’ s care, we are never prepared for the things in life that we know God has control of, and with only exciting thoughts for the holiday ahead, we started out in Dad ’ s old Studebaker for the house in the country where they lived. The trip was a good three hours drive from the city, and it was the house my Dad had grown up in. My grandfather had been the editor of the town newspaper as well as a school teacher. Grandma had been busy raising a large family, and although most of her family were now scattered in various directions across the states, on this special Thanksgiving everyone was together. The upstairs ...

... in the little Miller cafe next door to the post office waiting for the mail to be" put up". Sitting across from him in the booth was his old friend, Fred Hill. They were discussing the war which was still going on in the Pacific Theatre. Recruitment posters still lined the walls of the little cafe. Fred had not been in the service, because when the war started in 1941, his parents had been in very poor health; his father with a bad heart, and his mother with cancer. He was needed at home to care for them and operate the farm. His parents had since died, and the farm was now his-his and Maggie's. When Luther, Fred's best friend since childhood, had flown over Miller in the B-17, and when the bodies of the Hobbs boys and Billie Martin had been shipped home, and when Perry came home with hooks where his hands should have been, Fred ...

... used by those who would sneak aboard a railroad car to get from one place to another. Very few people had money to pay to ride a train and yet for many people it was imperative to find work to be able to survive. The preferred destination for most people looking for employment was to head west where they hoped to find jobs gathering in the harvests and the trains were the best mode of transportation. It was during such a time as this when my father-in-law, along with his brother took up “ hopping freights ” out of Missouri and headed west. I refer to my father-in-law as Grandpa because this is what my children call him. This is his story: “ There was just no work to be had in northeast Missouri ,” said Grandpa when I questioned him as to why he decided to hop a freight and leave the only home he had ever known when he was just nineteen years old. “ It was September of 1936 ...

... Rich-Poor Family In Church Prolog: Old Easter story-Timeless message. I'll never forget Easter 1946. I was 14, my little sister Ocy was 12, and my older sister Darlene 16. We lived at home with our mother, and the four of us knew what it was to do without many things. My dad had died five years before, leaving Mom with seven school kids to raise and no money. By 1946 my older sisters were married and my brothers had left home. A month before Easter the pastor of our church announced that a special Easter offering would be taken to help a poor family. He asked everyone to save and give sacrificially. When we got home, we talked about what we could do. We decided to buy 50 pounds of potatoes and live on them for a month. This would allow us to save $20 of our grocery money for the offering. When we thought that if we kept ...

... did! However, before we left, we spent several weeks traveling all over the country saying good bye to those we loved so much. It was a difficult assignment, but God provided the grace we all needed. I remember one particular good bye that will stay with me forever, or I hope it does. His name was Paw Phim. Paw in the Thai language is a term of respect and endearment for older men. It is equivalent to our" Father" Paw Phim had become like a second father to me, for it was in his village that I preached my first sermon in Thai. On that particular day, I knew no one understood, but Paw Phim took my hand after the sermon and told me it was one of the finest sermons he had ever heard. Years later I would ask Paw Phim if he really understood what I said, and he told me," Of course not, but what your ...

... Elusive Butterfly Long ago, in the land of Heart, lived a fair maiden who dared to dream dreams. As a young child, she recalled how her father would set her on his strong knee and tell her many wondrous stories about far away and exciting places; lands she somehow knew she would one day come to also travel upon. Of the many tales her father would tell, there was one particular story that always held special meaning, even carrying her into adulthood. It was the presumed true tale of a certain species of butterfly, one that was seen by very few. What made the butterfly highly sought after was its emerald green wings which housed two small heart shapes, one on each wing, thus its coined name," the elusive butterfly of love" It was said that the person who finds the elusive butterfly would live happily ever after, thus, it is no wonder the maiden searched ardently for the rare insect ...

... vehicles now, they seem to break down at the most inopportune times. I have medical bills I can't pay. I honestly don't know from one month to the next if I'm going to be able to pay any bills. I laugh at the 'me ' from last year for thinking things were so hopeless then. I thought I was at the end of my rope, but it seems I've lost my grip of the rope entirely now. I cry out to my Father wondering why He's allowing this. Where is He? Why doesn't He fix this mess? Do I not matter enough to Him for Him to bring me just a glimpse of hope? Then I remember Moses. He spent 40 years tending sheep in the desert before God appeared in a burning bush and eventually revealed His plan for Moses ' life. What about Joseph? He was sold into slavery by his own brothers and it was 25 years before it was evident to him ...

... Anjana used to go to as a child. “ Nirmala didi (Nirmala Hiremath) who heads the creche convinced my parents that I should stay in a hostel and continue studying. CHANGING LIVES This creche has changed the lives and fortunes of many children of construction site labourers ,” Anjana states. Another story is that of Ravinder Kadam who has recently found a job with a BPO and hopes to acquire a post-graduation in commerce. “ I would have become a labourer like my father had it not been for the mobile creche where I went as a child. I got interested in learning new things and became desperate to be able to speak and write in English. Therefore, despite my father ’ s opposition, I continued to study. I am now planning to invest in a house so that we don ’ t have to live on construction sites any longer ,” he states. There are many such people today who have been able to carve out a ...

... began to rule. Christiana and her peers lived only for the times of joy, pouting and resisting those that kept them from their fun. At one particularly dark and trying hour, Celeste and Chaucer, who had been on this flight much longer and had learned to take things more in stride, hovered near their lovely and delicate daughter." How do you manage to remain so calm when our enemies are near ?" Christiana asked." My dear ", said her father," When we began this journey, before you were born, the father of snowflakes, the one who formed us, spoke a promise for us to hold close to our hearts along the way"" Long ago ," he said," because the snowflake journey is fraught with enemies, I sent my perfect snowflake to the earth. He made the same journey that all snowflakes make, but because of who he is, he defeated the foe of the snowflakes and ...

... was told she would give birth to the King of Kings. She was obedient to God, and Christ was born of a virgin in a meager cave surrounded by animals. When he was a young man his Mother, Mary, had to allow him to do his own thing, and let go. Thinking him lost in a crowd one day she found him teaching at 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 ...

... 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 it because you are always in the dark that you've never seen the Light? Watch creation. Watch what always is. One always becomes what one has caused. Did I not hear you boast of misery and pain, of death and dying? Are you not the Father of such things ?" Just then, a very bright light shone so brightly that there was not a shadow to be seen, not even under a rock. It was all things. It was the flowers and the bees and all love and life. It was the SON, a different SON." Where are you now? Called the Light to the dark." Come see my secret !" But the dark was quiet because it wasn't anywhere. [Contributed by Marjeana ...

... have enough STAR pennies to go around. So, she went to look in a small box as she had brought along the ANGEL pennies just in case she didn't have enough of the others. Guess what-lo and behold, she found she still had her 3 ANGEL coins. She had searched through each coin one by one so as not to give an ANGEL in error. This was my affirmation that indeed Patti and I had held hands directly with our Heavenly Father and it was incredible! I'll cherish this special moment with Christ forever. My ANGEL penny is now mounted in a coin pendant holder and I wear it often. [Kathy Thielan, copyright 2003 (GracedByYou @aol.com)-from '2TheHeart '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... with a homeless man or woman. His first year, he had found a man who had been on his own since he was thirteen. In the summer he worked odd jobs, but in winter he lived at the local rescue mission where he earned an occasional dollar by cleaning up the place. The second year, he shared his Thanksgiving dinner with an elderly man whose wife had died long before and his children had moved to another city. They never contacted their father nor offered to help him in any way." I reckon they're ashamed of me ," the rheumy old man had said. Throughout the year, Jimmy often thought about the two men. He had gone to the mission to try to find them, but they were gone without a trace. Now Jimmy wondered who he would meet this Thanksgiving. As soon as he arrived at the park, he saw a ragged woman sitting hunched over on the bench of one of the ...

... line and made their way up towards the podium. That's when I caught my first close-up glimpse of Kim. She looked up at us and was trying in vain to hold back the tears. She was not doing a good job of it. Believe me, holding back emotions is not something that Kim does very well. There she was, standing in line, about to receive her diploma, and she was probably thinking about a number of things. Maybe her Dad who passed away a few years ago and didn't get to see her reach her goal, or her grandmother, who also passed away recently, and who had always wanted to attend college but her family didn't have the money. For me it was like something from a movie. You know, the dramatic slow motion scene where all the crowd noise grows quiet, and the camera slowly moves up on her face as the tears begin to fall. She was a good distance ...

... Bouquet"" But, why do people pay for that ?" In spite of herself she chuckled." Do you really want to know ?"" I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think about nothing else !"" That might be good ," said Jenny." Well ," she continued," Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery"" Ouch !" said Sandra." That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel"" What did you do ?"" I learned to be thankful for ...

... will strive to serve God first in my life, loving Him, my family, and yes, my country. Although things don't look very good sometimes, God is still in control of the universe, including countries and flags. The flag is not an idol to me but a symbol of good and not evil. Our flag stands for our country and for freedom and that freedom has often been costly. Many have served and some given even their lives. My father and my brother served during two different wars and now I have a son in the military. I do not put my trust in flags, constitutions, or governments. You are right about that, Tim, they will not save you. I do put my trust in the God who can save us and who causes kingdoms to rise and fall. If America will turn back to God, she will still be a great country." If my people, which are ...

... finished. This is our big moment. Ready? Stop! Drop! Splash! Up! We ’ re outta here! You ’ re doing great! Just keep doing what I do and you ’ ll be fine" Those two pelicans have gone on down the coast, but I see similar scenes everyday. There is the mother who sits with her daughter sharing her years of experience as a wife, a mother, and a lady. There ’ s the father showing his son how to hold a baseball bat and how to stand at the plate. An older mechanic patiently explains the strange noise under the hood to the new guy. An experienced teacher illustrates her technique of classroom discipline to the recent graduate. The long-time student of the Word explains a text to his disciple. Jesus when he asked Peter," Do you love me ?" People taking time to share their wisdom, explain their success, and reveal their failures. Both ...

... closet doors off the track and onto the bed? But I wasn ’ t impressed with that either, at least not then. My husband was just as stunned and speechless as I was. All we could do is take it all in and try to keep our shock and horror in check. He stood both boys in the corner and told them, “ don ’ t move, until we get this room cleaned up ” “ Can you leave the doors there daddy ?” our oldest son asked. “ AND don ’ t talk either ,” he replied. It took us hours that day to get the room back to normal. I had to wash everything that was thrown out the window. The poor shoes couldn ’ t be saved; they were completely ruined along with every nerve in my husband ’ s body and mine. Oh yes, I asked that question that day and a few others along the way until their adulthood. But ...

... and higher until he could see the forest beneath him. It was only then that he realized all Tree Dwellers were meant to fly. The Wind Walker spent the rest of his days moving with the Wind, learning His ways and proclaiming" The Story". The Good News is that this is a possibility for all mankind to leave the tree behind and walk with God. Jesus said I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by Me. Jesus didn't die just to save people from hell but that they might have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Don't settle for religion when you can walk with God. [David McNamara-from Chaplain 777 (chaplain777 @hotmail.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Tony Snow's Testimony This is an outstanding testimony from Tony Snow, President Bush's Press Secretary, and his fight with cancer. Commentator and broadaster Tony Snow Announced that he had colon cancer in 2005. Following surgery and chemo-thrapy, Snow joined the Bush Administration in April, 2006, as press secretary. Unfortunately, on March 23, 2007, Snow, 51, a husband and father of three, Announced that the cancer had recurred, with tumors found in his abdomen, Leading to surgery in April, followed by more chemotherapy. Snow went back to work in the White House Briefing Room on May 3, But has resigned since, 'for economic reasons, ' And to pursue 'other interests ' It needs little intro... It speaks for itself.~~~~~~~~~'Blessings arrive in unexpected packages,-in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases-and there are millions in America ...

... of the seeds in it, gave the second stalk of corn to a sweet maiden, and ate the third. His one full stalk's worth of replanted corn kernels gave him 200 stalks of corn! And the kernels of these he continued to replant, setting aside only a bare minimum to eat. He eventually planted a hundred acres of corn. With his fortune, he not only won the hand of the sweet maiden but purchased the land owned by the sweet maiden's father. And he never hungered again. The more you give, the more you get. However, that should NOT be the reason for your giving. Proverbs 11: 24 NLT It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. Proverbs 11: 25 NLT The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. [Author unknown-from 'Guidewords '-Ed: anon.] Inspirational Stories ...

... What Happened? The other day I saw a father, mother and two sons on the line in front of me at Dunkin Donuts. It was obvious that they had just come from a soccer game. The two young boys were dressed in thin shorts and tee shirts, while their parents were dressed warmly in jeans and thick jackets. The two boys never stopped shivering the entire five minutes we were in line together. What is going on in society when we are making our kids play sports, in every kind of foul weather, including rain, snow and icy winds just for the pleasure of watching them participate in some kind of sport? It seems that we are living vicariously through our kids no matter what the cost is to them or us. Whatever happened to calling off a game because it is too cold or too wet? When did we start playing sports on Mother's Day? I always remember being home with my mother and ...

... husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn't be anything coming. Somehow, something was missing that Christmas Eve. There was a feeling that things weren't complete. The kids went to bed and before I went to bed, I again checked to see if the Jesus had come-- no, the doorstep was empty. In our family, the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them. Even before they opened their stockings, each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the Baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my ...

... his thick Jordanian accent while twisting his handlebar mustache. Over the twenty years since, I have never forgotten those few words and often share them with various friends who are going through difficult times with their spouses. It has been a source of encouragement to all. Quite honestly, sometimes my question has been," Why me, Lord? Why me? Did You really have to trust me this much ?" Yet, it seems in the distance I can hear my Father chuckle and simply say" In time, you will understand" But in the thirty-three (almost thirty-four years of marriage) I am slowly acknowledging that if just a few words in this simple statement are reversed the meaning, however personally hurtful, is also true." Husbands, no matter how difficult your woman is, know that God trusted you with her !" They say opposites attract. Oh so true! He's a night person, and I'm usually up at daybreak. ...

... you ever imagined and greater than all you believe. Stand up! Get moving! Start planning! Discover today what God sees in you, by asking Him to reveal it in all of its glory. You need not stand on a stage, in a spot light, write an epic novel or discover the cure for cancer. But you must, I repeat, you MUST, live up to your full potential. Perhaps as a wife, mother, husband, father, teacher, mechanic, singer, dancer, painter, friend, lover, janitor, plumber or anything you believe is your gift to the world. For as the ugly duckling became the graceful swan, you will develop into the perfection only you can be. The greatest, shining example of YOU! Now, go and watch this ordinary, simple, woman who is mocked by the crowd and judges until .until God said" Shut up and listen! She is my ...

... planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile." Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable" I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13: ...

... to offer food. But am I as willing when it comes to something like this? A phone call to someone who doesn ’ t really want to talk anyway? I just wanted to be left alone. But wasn ’ t that what Jesus wanted when he went to the wilderness to pray? He could have said, “ Enough! I ’ ve ministered and ministered. This is my time. I ’ m hurting. I need to be alone with my Father. Go away and come again some other time ” Yet He didn ’ t consider the inconvenience to Himself when people came to Him wanting something. Their needs were important to them, and therefore He had compassion. Whether the person on the other end of the line wanted to talk much was not the point. Mr. Whiteside had a need. He needed to reach out and connect with someone, if only for a moment. I thought of my shining Example, ...

... as security, wealth or lavish gifts. This was something I held as more valuable than any of that. Her reaction showed that she felt the same way. Later I walked into our back yard and stood upon the small deck outside our shed we call" Hope House" Looking toward the near harvest moon, I held the book up and said," Look, God, at what you and I have done !" Then I shared it with my mom and dad who have been gone for some time now." I hope you are proud"" This is the moment". one of many in my life. One of many more to come. You have them, too. Start celebrating yours now." 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 Wedding Dress When a mother dreams of her daughter's wedding day she has visions of the flowing white gown and a beautiful bouquet. She pictures her husband, the father of the bride, walking their daughter down the aisle, arm in arm while tears of happiness blur her view. Never in those days of anticipating her daughter's Cinderella day did she once think about something equally important-the shopping for the wedding dress. But, as the mother of the bride soon learns there are many tedious steps that need to be taken before the glorious event of walking down the aisle. As a newcomer to the bridal scene I pretty much thought that if you've seen one white wedding dress you've pretty much seen them all. Did I not learn anything from the past experience of shopping for Prom gowns? This, I was to learn, would be an experience like no other. The hangers each held a variety of styles. There were the poofy-foo-foo ...

... sad tears streamed rivers down her face she searched and searched. But the mitten could not be found. With little hope and no one's help she knelt in the halo of a street lamp. And on her knees she cried out to the one person she had heard truly loved her. Her simple prayer" Jesus I cannot find my mitten. I cannot go in without it. If You love me, please help me find it .please" must have melted the Father's heart of God. But for her, it seemed even He was silent, no one cared, and she had been cast aside once again. In the hush of the moment, she began to rise .now embraced by a cloak of darkness with the exception of large flakes of snow swirling around her. Illuminated by the glow of the lamplight, she heard no answer and felt so alone. But wait. As she went to brush the clumps of snow off her knees ...

... that little tree. Maybe I was finished. I felt like all the hope had been sucked out of me, too. The summer skies opened with life giving rain. After three years of drought, there was a new day for our gardens and our little tree. Perhaps by some miracle our Canadian princess would find life again. I must confess that I talked to God every day. Like a small child, placing my hand into the sheltering hand of my Father, I begged Him for that little tree. One day, my husband and daughter shouted at me." Come outside !" they called. Hastily, I covered my mouth to protect my lungs from the raw spring wind, and I hurried into the back yard." Look at the tree! Look at the tree! It's growing buds !" Hardly daring to hope, I journeyed over to the garden, and I searched, as my daughter gently guided my eyes to ...

... has been doing. How can I help you ?" She took a deep breath and asked," Well Joe, I'm curious about just one thing and thought you might know the answer. What kind of mutt is 'Fire ?" The old man softly chuckled before replying." Ma'am ", 'Fire ' isn't a mutt" Confused she continued," If she's not a mutt, what kind of dog is she ?" He chuckled again and replied," Fire's momma ' and daddy are both show dogs. 'Fire ' is a full-bred Collie" [By: Brian G. Jett-from Bill Rayborn] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... food left over. I wondered if God was doing the same thing that day. By far, that was the greatest Thanksgiving Day of my life. My entire family shared a hearty meal with us. We had plenty to eat. We even had enough food left over for the evening meal. That afternoon, when I had time to think about what had happened, I imagined a home, not far from where I lived. There was a mother and a father and six children sitting around the kitchen table, laughing and rejoicing. They enjoyed the same meal that our family had shared together that day. Then I realized that miracles happen when we step out in faith and in steps God. For with us, some things are impossible. But with God, all things are possible.~Nancy B. Gibbs~Daiseydood @aol.com Nancy is an author, a religion columnist, and an inspirational speaker. She speaks at many women ...

... . Everyone would be in a gala mood with local musicians in a Mardi Gras mood. Then on Christmas Day we all went back to church to read the scriptures and sing carols to remind us of the meaning of the blessed birth of the baby Jesus. We always thought that these were the things that meant Christmas. After the Christmas service young people received gifts of special chocolate, special cookies, and special crackers. Young people were told that the gifts come from Father Christmas, and this always meant Christmas for us. They also received new clothes and perhaps new pairs of shoes. Meanwhile throughout the celebration, everyone was greeted with the special greeting word," Afishapa" meaning Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Oh how I wish that those memories were real tonight in order to bring us Christmas. However, this Christmas Eve things were different and I knew Christmas would never come. Every one was sad and desperate because of what happened ...

... " No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut ?" As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor. Brother Christianson turned to the room and said." And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father," Into thy hands I commend my spirit" With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died-even for those that didn't want His gift. And just like some of those in this room, many choose not to accept the gift that was provided for them. [Author Unknown-from Dave Aufrance (dgaufaaa @iohk.com ), via Owen Lorion] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... produce. And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy! They took the old barn down today and hauled it away to beautify a rich man's house. And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord has for us on the Great Sky Ranch. And I suspect we'll be more beautiful then for the seasons we've been through here. and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house. May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. [Author Unknown-from 'E-Mail Ministry ' (EMailMinistry @yahoogroups.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... show love to someone because I wanted to. I have been that way all of my life. I was always the kid who shared whatever money I had, candy I bought, or time I had available with people who needed it more than I did. But no one ever recognized that. No one. The only other time I heard it was when, while going through my divorce, my first wife told my son Keith," That the way your father is, he wants to save the world" She didn't mean it in a nice way. I do, by the way. I want to save the world. So, last Friday, when I walked into the office I knelt down next to Ann Marie. I told her," Although I am an inspirational writer and speaker, I have a poor self image. I do lots of things for lots of people. Many are perfect strangers. When you said ...

... 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 I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide. Then, I looked ...

... The Perfect Mistake My Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China! The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was really upset by the thought of having to buy another pair." It's not fair ," he told God as he drove home in frustration." I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this" Months later, the director ...

... line and made their way up towards the podium. That's when I caught my first close-up glimpse of Kim. She looked up at us and was trying in vain to hold back the tears. She was not doing a good job of it. Believe me, holding back emotions is not something that Kim does very well. There she was, standing in line, about to receive her diploma, and she was probably thinking about a number of things. Maybe her dad who passed away a few years ago and didn't get to see her reach her goal, or her grandmother, who also passed away recently, and who had always wanted to attend college, but her family didn't have the money. For me it was like something from a movie. You know, the dramatic slow motion scene where all the crowd noise grows quiet, and the camera slowly moves up on her face as the tears begin to fall. She was a good ...

... play number 111 in the hymnbook, At Calvary, pretty well because it was written in the key of C and had no flats or sharps. Without hesitation, Willie said that would be a great song to play next Sunday morning I immediately went home and began practicing number 111 all week long until my family probably heard it in their sleep. I practiced it slow, I practiced it fast; I practiced it while singing, and I practiced it while Momma or Daddy sang it for me so I could get the feel of accompanying someone else. The next Sunday came and I played number 111 and got through it just fine. Willie seemed pleased and told me to write down a list of songs that I could play and he would choose from them when he picked the hymns for Sunday school opening. As time went on, I worked hard to learn more hymns to add to the list. I knew number 111 well by then and ...

... glorious as a rose? When my roses bloom, I look carefully to make sure there's no bee hovering near; then I bend down to get close-nose-to-rose-close-and I inhale slowly and deeply, savoring the heavenly aroma. Did you know that you can have the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ in your life? The Bible says Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God in payment for our sin. God the Father was pleased with Jesus as He gave His life for us on the cross, and His obedience is likened to a fragrant offering. The more time we spend with Jesus Christ, getting to know Him better, the more we will resemble Him; we will begin to bear His fragrance. In the Bible, we read that through us, God spreads the knowledge of Christ; that, everywhere we go, we give off a sweet scent rising to God. This is ...

... excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7: 05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores. And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside." That one's goin ' to Chi-car-go !" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights. I don't think Kevin knows anything exists outside his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He ...

... Knowing this encounter could only have been arranged by God, I began to counsel the woman. As she told me of her despair and frustration, the presence of the Holy Spirit flooded the phone booth giving me words of wisdom beyond my ability. In a matter of moments, she prayed the sinner's prayer and met the One who would lead her out of her situation into a new life. I walked away from that telephone booth with an electrifying sense of our heavenly Father's concern for each of His children. What were the astronomical odds of this happening? With all the millions of phones and innumerable combinations of numbers, only an all-knowing God could have caused that woman to call that number in that phone booth at that moment in time. Forgetting my drink and nearly bursting with exhilaration, I headed back to my family, wondering if they would believe my story. Maybe I better not tell this, I thought, but I couldn't contain it ...

... he had said. The words reverberated in his mind:" If only I could become one of them then I could save them" And then, at last, he understood God's Heart towards mankind, and he fell on his knees in the snow and Worshipped God. Addendum-John 1: 14" The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son." [Author Unknown-from several sources-Thank You!] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... the world). Some believe that only 3 %of the American people took part in the struggle for independence, and many aided the British cause by giving them housing etc. Prevalent in the hearts and minds of the American people, was apathy, self-interests, uncertainty, and fear. It is well known that George Washington was a man of prayer and great courage as he would ride and lead his own troops into battle. THE WORDS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON (THE FATHER OF AMERICA)" This afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause of her presence. A second, a third and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received ...

... Find Joy In The Ordinary We played every game we knew. We ran up and down the hall. We played" find me" behind the couch. We bounced the beach ball off each other's heads. We wrestled, played tag, and danced. It was a big evening for Mom, Dad, and little Jenna. We were having so much fun that we ignored the bedtime hour and turned off the T.V. And if the storm hadn't hit, who knows how late we would have played. But then the storm hit. Rain pattered, then tapped, then slapped against the windows. The winds roared in off the Atlantic and gushed through the nearby mountains with such force that all the power went off. The adjacent valley acted as a funnel, hosing wind on the city. We all went into the bedroom and lay on the bed. In the darkness we listened to the divine orchestra. Electricity danced in the sky ...

... Praying For Those Who Dream As I write this, the five most important men in the world to me are up to their ears in dream fulfillment. No, I'm not talking about the latest version of the USA Basketball Dream Team and their upcoming quest for Olympic gold. Sure, I wish them well. I'll be watching, no doubt. But I'm talking about the five men who are, or who will one day be, the fathers of my grandchildren-my two sons, my two sons-in-law and a young man who, unless I miss my guess, appears destined to be my future son-in-law. These are five terrific young men, and I love each one of them for the goodness of their souls. They all deserve my full and undivided attention-especially today. But today is a big day for all of them simultaneously, and so my thoughts and prayers and positive thoughts are being sent out in five different directions. ...

... , I remembered the meteor shower. The lightning was the same. The flashes of light were gone in the blink of an eye. I asked myself," Mike, how many of life's meteors and lightning bolts have you missed because you weren't paying attention ?" I had no answer to the question, for if I knew, then I wouldn't have missed them. How many times have I come home from work too wrapped in my own thoughts and missed those" daddy's home" smiles of my children? Those little smiles are lost forever, as I walked right by them. How many opportunities did I miss to praise my wife or my children? How many chances to say," I love you" to my wife did I miss? I made a pledge that night to pay more attention to those around me. When I arrive home from work, work stays at work and my attention is on my family, because those opportunities ...

... The Good Old Days It doesn't take much. It could be the scent of pine in the air that triggers Christmas memories for me. It could be a muffled metal to metal sound that reminds me that my Dad insisted on mashing the Sunday dinner potatoes by hand. He used this old fashioned masher that had a red and white wooden handle. I bought one at a yard sale a few years ago. I think I used it twice since then. It was a sound once again that grabbed my attention. I knew it was familiar, but couldn't place it at first. I was walking through my old neighborhood reminiscing about the" good old days" Yes, I find myself using that term more often now." I can remember when gas was 27 cents a gallon ," I told my nephew just yesterday. He looked at me like I was from another planet. But walking along the streets I grew up on was a ...

... was able to reach out and take my hand. I steadied him and we walked on for awhile holding hands and feeling connected in our love for each other. I think that sometimes the troubles we face in our journey through life are a lot like those holes in the ground. They are always there causing us to stumble and sometimes even to fall. It is good to know, however, that we can always reach out and take the hand of our Heavenly Father. He is always there by our side waiting to pick us up and steady us. He is always ready for us to take His hand and walk on with Him connected in love forever. The next time you stumble and fall on your journey through life then reach out and take God ’ s loving hand. And after you take it never let it go again. Walk on with God forever, choosing love and sharing joy with each step you take. Always remember ...

... I enjoyed the give and take of our brief conversations. At first we limited our comments to sports. That led to mention of our own respective athletic histories (his was impressive, mine was not). Which led to talk about our growing up years, which led to discussion of our families and eventually brought us full circle to the very subject we had been most steadfastly avoiding." So what brought you here to the company ?" I asked." My Dad worked here ," he said, simply." My older brother still works here. I never really thought of working anywhere else"" Do you like it here ?" I didn't intend it as a leading question, but given the circumstances, it sort of came out that way. He looked at me, as if he was trying to decide if I was trying to trap him. I guess he figured I wasn't smart enough to do that." Yeah ," he ...

... part in lifting me up from the floor on that imposing sisal. Then I would have to endure the mocking jeers of my fellow gymnasts for failing to climb the two-story obstacle. And every week was the same. I just wasn't strong enough to do it! Until one day, when everything changed. The tables were turned by the good intentions of one of my fellow classmates. The saints in Heaven would have been proud. Jimmy was an all-city bowler. His father owned the local bowling alley and Jimmy had bowled many a 300-game. We had both been casual acquaintances but both of us hung around in different circles. He, however, had a reputation as being an all-around nice guy. 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 ...

... would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me." My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said," Come ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in" I felt as if we were on holy ground." Could you use another Bible ?" I asked. He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite." I've read through it 14 times," he ...

... old man again after I left the park that day but I will never forget him and the words he spoke. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and wife I think of the man in the park. I have a feeling he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel his hands upon my face. Thank you, Father God, for hands. [Author Unknown-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... being more independent. People want to believe that getting better is possible. People enjoy stories with happy endings. And people want to be positive. Kevin Everett's story reminds us that sometimes there are happy endings.~Michael Segal~msegalhope @aol.com Shot in the head during a robbery, Michael Jordan Segal defied all odds by first surviving and then returning to college. He then earned two degrees with honors, married his high school sweetheart, Sharon, and became a father to their daughter Shawn. You can learn more about him by visiting his website at: http :// www.inspirationbymike.com [By: Mike Segal Copyright 2008 (msegalhope @aol.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... heard the bang on the glass. It hit pretty hard"" Mom, should we bury it ?"" I'm not sure, Michael. When I first looked out I saw another bird land beside it. It looked like it was trying to pick this one up. I think we should let nature take care of this. Let's put it on the roof of the car and see what happens" We placed the unmoving, little bird on the roof of my dad's car and went back into the house. From our living room window we watched as the bird's mate flew to its side, carefully grip the back of the dead bird's neck in it's tiny beak, and with a strength only love and devotion could provide, lifted its mate in the air. It carried the body from the car, across the street, over the meadow on the other side and into nearby trees. It flew only a few feet off the ground. ...

... all about my friend owing me. In a heartbeat, every detail around me seemed to shift to a brighter focus, the edges of the grass, the trees, everything-took on a sudden sharpness and clarity. Not a coincidental occurrence to me, but providential, I stood silent in a sacred moment. Even the sunlight dancing over the mailbox seemed alive and filled with the divine. Finally, reverently, I lifted my face to the skies and thanked my Father above. And I knew before I even stepped off the curb that before I went to the grocery store I'd be calling my friend Kathy. [by Anne Goodrich, copyright 2001 (Webmaster @ohangel.com)-from '2THEHEART '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... A Rose Is A Weed Is A Rose Seeing the United Parcel Truck pull into my driveway; I opened the garage door knowing that another package has arrived helping us with the Christmas in July Party we were putting together for the orphans at a local orphanage. As I stood watching the driver get the packages from the back of the truck; I saw Madison, my three year old granddaughter, picking weeds from the lawn. “ These are for my mommy and daddy ,” she replied, as she held out a hand full of worthless little weeds. I just smiled and nodded my head as I looked at her tight little closed fist. The UPS driver walked into the garage and sat the two packages down on the wooden bench. He and I stood talking about the numerous baseballs gloves, baseball bats, helmets and baseballs sitting about the room. I told him I had been raised in a Jacksonville, Florida orphanage and that during my ...

... he did this. The pastor looked slightly embarrassed, picked up the shoes and socks and told me a story from his student years:" My seminary professor told me I was a fine preacher, but that I had one fault. I was too arrogant. Too proud. I remembered that. And I remember my roots, too" He then told me that he had grown up as a janitor ’ s son and took his shoes off when he visited his Dad. Those were his roots. In the years since, he had earned several degrees and his gifts had brought him to this church. He was successful and praised, but he never wanted to forget where he came from." Whenever I start getting too proud and smug, I look down at my shiny Brooks Brothers shoes and fancy socks and realize it ’ s time to take off my" successful well-dressed suit-and-tie pastor" feet and put on the feet of a janitor ...

... life yet. Albert Einstein said," God doesn ’ t play dice" This is true for the world and for our lives. As I look back upon that day I can see God ’ s loving handiwork in it. I think He still had more for me to learn and do in this life. I just pray that I don ’ t waste a moment of it. I pray that I make everyday I have left a loving gift to my Heavenly Father who made me. May you do the same.~Joseph J. Mazzella~[ by: Joseph J. Mazzella Copyright 2008 (joecool @wirefire.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... as tears formed in each corner. He knew he had done the right thing. Slowly she unwrapped the box, careful not to rip the paper for she was sure that this was a keeper, a moment she will never forget. Removing the lid she found a chocolate heart that was broken into pieces along with a note:" The lady said all she had left was a broken heart. I told her so did we"" I am so sorry that Dad left us Mom. But I just wanted you to know we still have each other" Happy Valentines Day, Love, Your son, Adam What better love on Valentine's Day then the love of a mother and child." I believe in You !"~Bob Perks~" Reflect upon your present blessings-of which every man has many-not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some"-Added by Editor: SkyWriting.Net [by: Bob Perks ...

... Apples from Early June My Mother made plans in 1961 for a small orchard. She used string and stakes to outline the dimension to ensure its future, and later when Dad built the fence line he exactly complied with Mothers wishes. The string and stakes had been her way of letting him know this was important to her and for it not to be over looked. Now with the fence built Mom's orchard had officially become part of the property and our family history. Mother's orchard was planted on the west side of the house. A perfect spot Mom decided, because it would get the last sun of the day, and the water hose would easily reach every tree. She planted a variety of fruit trees including several types of cherry, pear, and apple trees. For years Mom's orchard just looked like little tiny twigs sticking out of the ground. But Mom was forever patient with her orchard's growth. Each year Mom measured the height ...

... would not have known. Had I not become so filled with pain that I feared bursting I would not have known. Had I not questioned, for the very first time my entire worthiness and reason for existence, I would not have known. I wouldn't have known the need to surrender, because I would not have felt the need to surrender. Surrender my life to God. I sat in a crumpled heap on the floor and felt the loving arms of the Father surrounding me. I felt the loving hands of Christ soothing away my hurts, pains, guilt and battle wounds. I cried like a baby in the arms of God, and He never turned away, never let go, never stopped loving me. It was then I knew what God wanted from me-because I'd just done it.-Ellen M. DuBois-[ by Ellen M. DuBois Copyright 2003-submitted by: Ellen M. DuBois] Inspirational Stories ...

... , I wanted to stop them in mid flight, pull them back, and re-word the sentence. Unfortunately words aren't delivered via a fly rod. They cannot be snapped back before landing. We don't get a few false casts so we deliver them more precisely. So what do we do with those words that wound, statements that sizzle, and replies that rip hearts? Well, of course the best solution is prevention. Unfortunately, many of us have what my dad called diarrhea of the mouth: we talk way too much about way too little and cause way too much damage. That's why James told us," My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry" (James 1: 19) Putting the brakes on and thinking about what we say before we say it is absolutely crucial to living a Christian life and blessing others. Unfortunately, this is very hard for some of us ...

... was told I could get the #6 bus and it would take me into Public Square" he said." I waited two hours. I guess it ain't comin !" He spoke to me about his 23 years as an Air Force pilot. Bombed Berlin. He served in England for a good portion of that time. I was overwhelmed with his story. I asked how he felt about killing people. He said it was part of his job." My father told me not to think about it. But I can't help it" I thanked God for connecting me with him. He continued. Two of his sons were killed in Vietnam. He had eight children. How powerful! Just like it was in the old days, big families. For a period he played on a major hockey team out of Pittsburgh. My heart stopped. What a find Perks! Then spent 8 years with the Steelers. Wait a minute. ...

... trip ), and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For over two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. If you weren't the way you are, he wouldn't have the flowers for his house" Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow Him, the Lord will use us, in spite of our flaws, to grace His Father's table in some way. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister, and as God calls you to the job He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to use them, so you too can help add beauty along the pathways He has chosen for you. Addendum-2 Timothy 2: 21" Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be ...

... to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid" The minister could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, he lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The sweet child replied," Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home"-Author Unknown-[ Source: 'A Moment to Consider ' (MexSchneiders @Compuserve.com)-from (witandwisdom @lists.tagnet.org)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... threes. After staring at the ground for what seemed like an eternity, Roy finally" found" the four leaf clover. I am still hoping for the day when I can claim finding a ten leaf clover, and Roy finds a four leaf all on his own, without the assistance of the" lucky eye" he married. Do I believe in luck or coincidence? No way! Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights (James 1: 17). He puts the opportunity out there for us. It is up to the" lucky ones" to take advantage of this seeming serendipity.~Kay Seefeldt~[ by: Kay Seefeldt (birdnest @megalink.net)-from 'Heartwarmers ' (publisher @heartwarmers.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother. One of Moses ' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me. After Solomon there were a ...

... just left with no flowers!" Right, said the clerk," I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet"" Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that !" exclaimed Sandra." Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today ," explained the clerk." She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery"" That same year I had lost my husband ," continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel"" So what did you do ?" asked Sandra." I learned to be ...

... . Her head was bandaged from the surgery that had failed to resolve her epilepsy. A third figure was Joan's brother. Addicted to drugs, he had been convicted of killing a police officer." I see why her burden is so heavy, Lord. But she's always smiling and helping others. I didn't realize"" Would you like to try another ?" He asked quietly. I tested several. Paula's felt heavy: She was raising four small boys without a father. Debra's did too: a childhood of sexual abuse and a marriage of emotional abuse. When I came to Ruth's burden, I didn't even try. I knew that inside I would find arthritis, old age, a demanding full-time job, and a beloved husband in a nursing home." They're all too heavy, Lord" I said." Give back my own" As I lifted the familiar load once again, It seemed much lighter than the others." ...

... Information Please When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember well the polished old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother used to talk to it. Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person-her name was Information Please, and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anybody's number and the correct time. My first personal experience with this genie-in-the-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there didn't seem to be any reason in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally ...

... up and say" Hello, Grandma! I love you !" I think it gave her pleasure and somewhat of a reality check to know she was somewhere she belonged. Our days were spent at Sandy Beach and some of the most satisfying, delicious meals shared on old weather-worn picnic tables nestled under the pines. I floated for hours on end in the lake. I had no fancy blown up vinyl rafts, just a simple inner tube from an old tire. My Dad was a mechanic. A few times a week we would head to Hanson's Park, which was located right on the lake. My first roller coaster ride was with my Uncle Al. I couldn't speak for hours afterwards. By today's ride standards that coaster would be a kiddie ride. But in the eyes of an 7 year old in 1957, it was the scariest ride on earth. I really can't remember what I did all day long back at the rented cottage, ...

... Everyone has his own obstacle. I believe that is the definition of being human. I thought of that as I smiled even more and gave CoCo a sugar cube for helping me achieve my goal.~Michael Segal~msegalhope @aol.com BIO: Shot in the head during a robbery, Michael Jordan Segal defied all odds by first surviving and then returning to college. He then earned two degrees with honors, married his high school sweetheart, Sharon, and became a father to their daughter Shawn. Mike is a social worker at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and an author (currently he has two book projects he's working on: an autobiography and an anthology of his short stories). He also is a very popular inspirational speaker sharing his" recipe" for recovery, happiness, and success. Please visit his website, www.InspirationByMike.com or call, toll free in the USA / Canada, 1-877-226-1003 for more information. [By: Mike Segal Copyright ...

... me greatly. It was true and that bothered me even more." Well, I couldn't pass by without offering help ," I said." I've run out of gas myself a few times" She looked nervous and a little uneasy so I thought I'd make her smile." You know I'm getting old. Now I'm running out of gas and time. It just seems to fly by" She then said something that I thought was a gem." My Dad said that old age is like toilet paper. The closer you get to the end of the roll the faster it spins" I laughed so hard I nearly dropped the container. She tried to start the car and it worked. I gave her the can and told her to keep the empty one in her trunk. Then I handed her $20." This is for that joke. I'll get more mileage out of that than you will when you fill your tank ...

... my feet as I used to be, I guess) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death. I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. 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 ...

... Thallus the Samaritan, Suetonius, Tacitus, Pliny contain references to Jesus. Jewish historian Josephus writes about Jesus ' crucifixion and resurrection. They knew something had happened. Jesus ' resurrection from the dead is actually 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. Ultimately, we Christians believe, our bodies, too, will be raised from the dead. And since Jesus is not dead, people can encounter Him today. You can know Him through a personal relationship. I could point to lots of people who can testify what Jesus has done in their lives to bring them from the brink of disaster to peace and meaning and joy. He changes people for good. If you're ...

... it weren't for the uniforms, you would just think they were teachers, plumbers, cooks, or insurance salesmen. They are in fact, your neighbors, friends and perhaps your loved ones. The difference is, when they go to work they are protecting your life, your rights, your children and they are putting their lives on the line for it all. But what about the families left behind. Wives, husbands, girl / boy friends, mothers and fathers are all back here counting the 2400 hours that pass by ever so slowly while we all go about our day living the life they are protecting. I stood up to speak to them. I am asking you to stand up and speak" for" them. In New Jersey and every state in America, there are family gatherings unlike anything you have experienced. These families are separated from those they love. They meet, plan, organize and quietly raise funds to provide ...

... Quite a Character I can remember when I was a child in grade school, my parents would attend the Parent Teacher Association meetings. I stayed at home shaking in my boots, fearful of what my teachers had to say about me. I don't know why. Most of the time when they returned home, my father would say," I asked how you were doing in class. She said" Bob's a charmer" I'd smile and sigh with relief." You're quite a character, Bob ," my mother would tell me. So, for most of my life I thought being a character was the most important thing. Being a" charmer" didn't hurt either. Then one day when I had been much too long in adulthood, I heard someone talk about my reputation. It wasn't very flattering. Most likely truthful to some extent, but not something I'd want my parents to hear at PTA. Being a charmer doesn't always ...

... replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated," Mom, let's run through the rain"" We'll get soaked if we do ," 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. ...

... situation seemed, the old mule fought" panic" and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up! You guessed it! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually end up blessing him. All because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. In addition to" shaking it off and step up ," we Christians have our heavenly Father to help get us though rough times. When the going gets rough, keep looking up, and trusting him. [Anonymous] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... like a dark cold cloud over us as she paused," I guess we'll just have to keep him then" Hooray! We all started dancing around, shouting and carrying on. She finally said for us to take the food back home, that she would get regular dog food for Shep. Several of us said we didn't want to because we didn't like the stuff anyway, but she insisted. Well, time rocked on when, lo and behold, Gloria's father came home with a puppy that looked like a little Shep. He said that older dogs train younger ones to do things easier than people do and they have a better attitude toward their work when they learn from other dogs. It must be true because it wasn't long before" Miss Doogey" and Shep were competing to get hooked up to pull Gloria or any of us in the wagon. Mr. Sullivan built a miniature buggy in his garage, just like in the ...

... music began to play. Suzanne and I took our places on the piano side of the church on the front pew. The pastor spoke a few words of welcome and then the program began. The choir sang “ In the Garden ”, “ The Old Rugged Cross ” and “ There Is a Fountain ” as narration was interspersed between songs. Everything was going just as we had practiced and then the moment came, it was the scripture that was our cue: “ Father, into your hands I commit my spirit ” When he had said this, he breathed his last ” As soon as the scripture was finished Suzanne and I began to sing the old spiritual, “ Were you there when they crucified my Lord ?” and I knew in my heart even as a child that in some mysterious way, I was there and that the Lord paid a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I couldn ’ t pay. When our ...

... vibrant colors of sunset, we search out our favorite spot to watch windmills cut silhouettes against the last rays of the setting sun, now, wrapped in a blanket of peace-filled stillness, we watch the moon casting ghostly shadows through the trees. The smoldering embers of our campfire glow as if sentinels of a sleeping city keeping watch with us into the darkening hours and the end of the day. A day that has been filled with the quiet yet exploding beauty of our Father's world. A day filled with memories of a symphony of summer praise. [by Shirley Iaria (shirleybear @webtv.net)-from 'CMI '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... about the card game. I don't play cards, so I thought I'd be safe in this conversation." What's this all about ?" I asked." Sometimes ," the man said." Sometimes what ?"" The word. I just told my friend that sometimes is a philosophy. He brought it up when I lost the last hand. He said exactly what you said," Sometimes you win"" How's that a philosophy ?"" My parents, my father in particular, always used that word when I asked about things growing up ," he said. Pausing for a moment as though he was remembering some particular conversations, he continued." It is how I was raised. Now that I look back I see how limiting that was and wonder how much more I could have accomplished ," he said." Give me an example ," I asked." We were poor. If I asked him if poor people ever get rich ...

... , what are you going to do with your flower ?" At first I did not know what he was talking about, but then I understood. I said," Do you mean this ?" as I pointed to the rose pinned to my coat. He said," Yes sir. I would like it if you are just going to throw it away" The little boy said," Sir, I'm going to give it to my granny. My mother and father got divorced last year. I was living with my mother, but I could not stay, so she sent me to live with my grandmother. She has been so good to me that I want to give that pretty flower to her for loving me" When the little boy finished I could hardly speak. My eyes filled with tears and I knew I had been touched in the depths of my soul. I reached up and unpinned my flower. With the flower in ...

... 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 as much as I do! He has never complained about how much I've spent on either child .no matter how out of budget I went. Since he knows how I hate to cook .he hasn't complained (much) about the 20, 000 fast food meals we've consumed. He almost drowned as a child .which is why he doesn't swim and maybe if we didn't make fun of his ultra white legs he'd wear shorts. ...

... sister, I realized that this idea of looking after her might be more interesting than I first imagined. We eventually fell in love, married, and have looked after one another for many years. There have been times that life turned out to be more challenging than either of us could have known. But we have always been able to go forward largely because we knew that somebody deeply cared. It isn't about marriage. it's about love. It's about mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers and special friends who are as close as family. It's about anybody who can say," I'll be around-you can count on me. I'll try to look after you and sometimes I will need you to look after me" Is there somebody you can depend on? And are others counting on you? We travel the path of life best when there is somebody to look after, and when someone is looking after us.~Steve Goodier ...

... and wealth, 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 U p to the Father in hopes that I would Not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly Judged Me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to Accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who Stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon ...

... Proudly Displayed I've had fridge art from three grandchildren. They're all priceless works, so some samples have been kept to delight me with pleasant memories during rainy-day treasure hunts. Sometimes there are ancient discoveries-works done by their mom some thirty years ago. Like the plastic butter dish used to mount a drawing of her family. Three people sporting age-labeled T-shirts. Herself with a 6. Me, at 27, red hair still intact! Her dad, with a huge 43. He did not appreciate her momentary dyslexia! I, on the other hand, was tickled by this production. I became her stepmom just months earlier. She lived with us, but it was still a proud surprise to be included in her family portrait. Then there's her seashell decorated with paper and marker saying," I'm sorry. I will never forget you" I no longer recall what transgression preceded this declaration. It may have come after a spousal argument ...

... said in a low voice," See you at the church"~Kristi Powers~NoodlesP29 @aol.com Kristi Powers resides in Wisconsin with her husband Michael. Her writing appears in Heart Touchers" Life-Changing Stories of Faith, Love, and Laughter ", Chicken Soup for the Christian Teenage Soul, Stories for a Women's Heart Vol. 2, Stories for the Extreme Teens Heart, Stories for a Teen's Heart Vol. 2, God's Way for Teens, and God's Way for Fathers. Kristi has been writing stories since she was a little girl and loves to share from her heart about God. She has been involved in youth ministry for the past nineteen years and is home-schooling her three young boys. Kristi and Michael invite you to join the thousands of world-wide readers on their free weekly inspirational e-mail list called HeartTouchers by visiting: http :// www.HeartTouchers.com [by Kristi Powers Copyright 2006, (NoodlesP29 @aol.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories ...

... I can see her now-running from her room, fully charged and ready to take on the world. She was five feet from the tree before she looked up and stopped. Her eyes opened wide. Her jaw dropped open, as she emitted a small cry of delight. She walked forward, raised her hand, and touched a red ball-the ball now held in my hand. She turned to me. Her eyes reflected the colored lights." Daddy, what is it ?"" It's Christmas, Sweetie. It's Christ's birthday. We're going to celebrate it" Her sparkling eyes, hanging jaw, and soft skin made me hold my arms out. She ran into them and gave me a hug that could have melted even Scrooge's hard heart. I picked up a cracked green ball, a veteran of the first time I allowed my kids to decorate the tree. They hung all the balls on one branch. When they ...

... youngest girl was fourteen. Julie worried about Mr. Mears getting so thin. At meal time, she would take a portion of their meager meal to Bernie. She would stay and talk to him, dusting and cleaning. After several months Bernie began to improve. He still had no customers to speak of, but from what he had left in the store, he would sack a few cans to take to Julie's family. In early spring, Julie saw her father planting a garden. This gave her an idea. She suggested to Bernie to make a garden in the big space beside the store, which they had once thought would become a parking lot, and sell the produce really cheap in the store. It would help the neighbors and also Bernie to have money for new merchandise. They would plant half the garden space now and half in three weeks giving them fresh produce for a long time. Julie prayed hard as they placed ...

... trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle... so many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three years old! To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church. After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just ...

... made us." It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens" [President Abraham Lincoln-from 'Inspired Buffalo ' (InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... 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 an outside source. That source is Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Addendum-Matthew 5: 16 (NIV) "'In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven" [Original source unknown-from Digory] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... best thing about the Waterford family was you could almost see the love in that house. You could certainly sense it. Until then, I thought families that really cared for each other only existed in American sitcoms. Here was the proof that they actually existed. But their obvious love for each other didn't mean they didn't have time for strangers. On the contrary. I felt more welcome in that home than I had in any other house (including my Mum and Dad's). This was over ten years ago and even now I think back to that home with a touch of nostalgia. They didn't have big hi-fi systems. The place didn't look like it belonged in a home designer magazine. But it was special. If I had the choice of having love or spotless matching linen in my house, I know which one I'd choose. And then there was Mrs Waterford (Alicia's mum). Before I go any further, I should ...

... , 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 I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon ...

... of the merchant, we see that he sold all he had and bought the single pearl. It speaks to us of the tremendous price the Lord paid for our redemption. The God of glory, the King of Kings & Lord of Lords left the splendor of Heaven to claim a pearl, and gained the pearl through paying the price that was far more than any here could pay. As a jeweler I would question the choice the Lord made choosing to leave the Father's side for a pearl instead of what we would think of as having greater significance, the girl's best friend, the much coveted diamond. You probably know that the diamond is graded in 'value ' according to the 4 C's: Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat-weight. The answer to my pondering was right there! The diamond receives a substantial portion of it's value from the way a person cuts it. The work of man's hand! The only natural gemstone that has more ...

... that sleeping on the porch was a great adventure, except for that one time when the cat decided to bring us a gift and we woke up to find half of a mouse upon our quilt! In later years, my parents enclosed our front porch for an extra room. I hated to see the porch closed in but I was glad when my parents simply moved the old porch swing and hung it from the huge old maple tree where the family still gathered. Daddy and my brother would often sit out there under that tree and play their guitars, usually with a dog or two stretched out beneath their feet as they played one more chorus of “ Just A Closer Walk With Thee ” I have always loved porch swings. After I was grown and married, the one thing that sold me on the house that we bought was the swing on the back porch that overlooked a pond. I ’ m glad to see that some houses being ...

... he turned toward the door, and there stood the little girl. She was ringing the bell and smiling sweetly. Pappy was puzzled as he strolled toward the small child." What's this, little lady? Have you changed your mind ?"" No ," she grinned." Momma says it's for you" Before Pappy had time to say another word, the child's mother stepped into the doorway, and choking back a tear, she gently said," Hello, Dad" The little girl tugged on her grandpa's shirttail." Here, Grandpa. Here's your hanky. Blow your nose" [Author Unknown-from E-mail Ministry] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago ," Jack said." Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence ' as he put it ," Mom told him." I loved that old house he lived in ," Jack said." You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life ," she said." He's the one who taught me carpentry ," he said." I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important .Mom, I'll be there for the funeral ," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his ...

... , clutching a Valentine -a favorite, I presumed. His usually smiling, moon-shaped face had a peculiar look on it, but before I could question him, he walked by me to his bedroom to change. I didn't think any more about it until suppertime. I handed the children plastic bags to put their Valentines in. And now, as the children gathered at the table for the evening meal, the excited pitch of their voices had risen to a crescendo. Daddy wouldn't be home for this special supper, as he was on the bridge crew with the Department of Highways, and was away repairing a washed out bridge. With the meal cleared away, and all the children in their pyjamas and housecoats, a habit we adopted on chilly winter evenings, we all gathered around the large dining room table. I had told the children at supper that my surprise was: we were going to have a valentine party, and that we would ...

... to speak to, she finally said," Don't you feel these squeezes every once in a while? They're quite unpleasant and sometimes even painful"" Yes ," he answered." What's special about that ?"" Well ," the sister said, I think that these squeezes are there to get us ready for another place, much more beautiful than this, where we will see our mother face-to-face. Don't you think that's exciting ?"" How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" 1 John 3: 1-2 (NIV) ...

... Take The Plunge" Watch me dive off the high board, Dad ," my ten-year-old son called out. I looked up to the ten-foot-high diving board and waited as he stood at the edge, stooped over, arms extended. He had jumped off the high board many times before, but now his nerve seemed to falter as he contemplated streaking through the air headfirst. The swimming pool was vacated, so he could take his time." You can do it, Robby ," I encouraged. But he couldn't. Not that evening. For 20 minutes he attempted to muster the courage to make the plunge, and he finally gave up when the pool closed for the night." I feel disappointed in myself ," Robby said on the way home." I feel terrible. I know I can do it, though. I know I can" He persuaded me to take him swimming again the next evening. Like the night before, ...