... people from the church and pitched right in. I remember thanking them for being such an encouragement to us during the months we had lived there. My friend simply said," Just pass it on" She never took credit for anything — she just praised the Lord for everything. I was so grateful they were ... The Easter Gift It had been a busy time adjusting to a new school for the children as well as making friends and feeling settled in a suburb of Atlanta. With two in elementary and one in junior high, it was a fragile age, and building friendships without peer pressure was important. The days were ... together where conversation could flow easily. I thought about how God brings people into our lives at just the right time and how fortunate we were for their friendship. We were getting settled and feeling like the South was somewhat “ home ” to us, when Steve came in and announced that they wanted him to consider ...

... My canteen is empty. All the water must have leaked out somehow. Oh dear, Bobby. Maybe you didn't tighten the cap properly, answers his friend while he is having a drink of cool water from his own canteen, hmm, this is good! I'm so thirsty. May I please have a drink ... to see what they could find. It's a hot day and the sun is baking the dry Kalahari desert sand. After walking for a while the two friends decide to stop for a drink of water from their canteens. What a lovely day it is, Casper. I like hot weather, don't you? Bobby ... with his family in the Kalahari Desert. His full name is actually Bob Scrufftail Longtooth van Kogel, but everybody calls him Bobby for short. Bobby's best friend's name is Casper. They are two very lively and inquisitive little baboons who are always getting into scrapes. As everybody knows baboons enjoy eating scorpions, and Bobby ...

... , who was now in college, informed us that she would not be going with us, but would be moving out on her own … with a friend. It was hard enough when my two sons ventured out into the world, but it was devastating for me to think about our little girl, our baby ... she entered the house that morning, the tears began to flow. She explained that she" was tired of being the good girl ” All of her friends were at that party, and she was never allowed to go, so she just decided to rebel. I remember looking at her with my mouth open, ... . 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, and confessed that she was “ on the freeway, coming back from a party ” She had ...

... gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two peoples ' worries and fears. ... you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; You worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere. To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, But into life-and that the journey continues After ... us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of live. I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common ...

... " Mrs. Waterford" Everyone has a best friend in High School. It's as compulsory as taking maths. Well, my best friend was Alicia Waterford. We did the usual best-friend things: sat around talking about boys, learning to blow smoke-rings, visiting each other's houses. I loved visiting Alica. Alicia ... bad. It's amazing. I'd like to say the church leaders changed their mind. They didn't. I never went to Antioch again. I still remained friends with Alicia, but eventually, as many high-school friendships do, we lost contact. I never see Alicia anymore. I never see Mrs Waterford. I never ... anyone from that wonderful Waterford family. But I think of them every day. Mrs Waterford, if you ever see this, I'd like to tell you something. I'd like to thank you for being such a wonderful person. I'd like to thank you for remaining on my side. But most of all, I'd ...

... really see my wife? I am employed by someone part of my time. But do I really see what it is I do? I am a friend, but do I really" see" my friends? I do need to" look closer" I am a child of God. But do I really ... God in my life and those He places within it? I need to" look closer" Take time to really examine every aspect of your life. Make a list of all the labels you place on who you are and ask yourself if you really" see" yourself and others. If you are in search ... love, look closer. You are loved. If you are in search of friendship, look closer and see those who consider you one. If you are in search of a better relationship with those in your family, look closer and see how really important they are. If you can't find Christmas this year, ...

... is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach .but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story" I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill ... all of his books. I thought to myself," Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd" I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon ), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he ...

... display. One of the ladies had her arms overflowing with little toys and other items. I think most of it was for friends back at the group home where they lived. She was naming what she had chosen special for each friend. She then carefully picked out a ring which she said she was buying for her boyfriend. The other lady tried on different rings and then decided upon one for herself, with the guidance of the caregiver, who was so kind and ... around the store eventually they came up to the counter where I was standing, to look at the ring display. One of the ladies had her arms overflowing with little toys and other items. I think most of it was for friends back at the group home where they lived. She was naming what she had chosen special for each friend. She then carefully picked out a ring which she said she was buying for her boyfriend. The other lady tried on different rings ...

... . But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles. That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads" I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked:" What's it like ?"" What ?"" To walk into a town carrying all your ... Name Is Daniel It was an unusually cold day for the month of May. Spring had arrived and everything was alive with color. But a cold front from the north had brought winter's chill back to Indiana. I sat with two friends in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town square. The food and the company were both especially good that day. As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, ...

... yes, my smile. I painted it on there just for me. Even though most people don't see it, it reminds me that things aren't as bad as they seem ," he said." That's quite an attitude, my friend ," I said." Well, I'm your friend now am I ?" he asked." Yes, I consider everyone a friend until they prove me otherwise. Many have. I'd rather treat someone as a friend and keep them as ... in your eyes. You see, you came down to my level. I was the one who was nervous ," he said." Why ?" I asked." I don't normally have someone looking in my eyes. Even my friends stand or sit when they speak to me ," he said with a sigh." They have no idea what they are missing ," I told him." This old crooked face of mine is nothing to brag about ," he said. ...

... 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 boy who had always wanted to fly like a bird ran over to his new friend and said," You are my only friend and I wish that there was something that I could do to make you walk and run like other little boys and girls. But I can't. But there is something that I can do ... run." But I have wondered what it would be like to walk and run like other boys and girls"" That is very sad" said the little boy who wanted to fly." Do you think we could be friends ?" he said to the little boy in 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 ...

... and noticed a circle of people around John's truck, talking about the Bible on the dashboard. Mr. Scott spoke of his son, Craig, who escaped death after looking down the barrel of a gun. He escaped because his friend crouched next to him in the library, Isaiah Shoels, was black and a more desirable target for the two gunmen who hurled numerous racial slurs and put-downs in his direction before killing him execution-style. Cassie Bernall's story has received more national attention ... Klebold and Eric Harris (the two gunmen) came down the hill behind the school to begin their assault, their first target was Mark Taylor. At the very moment bullets pierced Mark's body, he was witnessing to two of his friends about his relationship with Jesus Christ. They next turned their guns on Rachel. Three weeks earlier Rachel had witnessed to Dylan and Eric and warned them about the violent video games to which they seemed to be addicted. Their first shot hit ...

... Me Up" They were actually passing boxes of tissues throughout the room." I could only imagine" No, you couldn't." I understand how they must feel" You couldn't possibly. Unless you are a family member or friend. Like the" Friend I finally met ," Jane Hackbarth. She has been one of my readers for many years. She introduced me to Marie Durling, the Family Programs Specialist who planned that conference. It is 0930 as I write ... They look like ordinary, regular folks. So do the military. If it weren't for the uniforms, you would just think they were teachers, plumbers, cooks, or insurance salesmen. They are in fact, your neighbors, friends and perhaps your loved ones. The difference is, when they go to work they are protecting your life, your rights, your children and they are putting their lives on the line for it all. But what about the families left ...

... tether. As he got closer he recognized a familiar figure, wrapped in a blanket, hunched over the fire. Bonard stopped and dismounted. The figure continued to stare into the crackling, popping flames. Bonard knew that his old friend was ignoring him on purpose." Running Wolf ," Bonard shouted above the wind." What in blazes are you doing out here ?" The old Indian continued looking into the fire." Dying ," came the reply." That's what ... stay here all night ," Bonard answered." It might take a long time for both of us to die"" You are stubborn, Bonard ," the old Indian muttered." And you talk too much" The two old friends sat side by side in silence, staring into the fire for many minutes. Then Bonard said," By the way, I saw an old friend of yours today" When Running Wolf didn't reply, Bonard continued." Jody came ...

... alive-one of his hind legs crushed in a steel leg-hold trap. Horrified, Ted wished he'd taken Spotty's earlier appeals seriously. Then Ted noticed something quite remarkable. Spotty had done more than simply lead Brownie's human to his trapped friend. In a circle around the injured dog, Ted found an array of dog food and table scraps, which were identified as the remains of every meal Spotty had been fed that week! Spotty had been visiting Brownie regularly, in a ... Faithful Friends Brownie and Spotty were neighbor dogs who met every day to play together. Like pairs of dogs you can find in most any neighborhood, these two loved each other and played together so often that they had worn a path through the grass of the field between their respective houses. One evening, Brownie's family noticed that Brownie hadn't returned home. They went looking for him with no success. Brownie didn't show up the next day, and, despite their efforts ...

... just doesn't seem right that a phrase so powerful would not be heard and used regularly." I'm proud of you !" When was the last time you said that to someone? Not just someone you love, but a neighbor, friend, or co-worker. To a neighbor." You make a difference in the world in everything you do. I watch the people around you, how they react whenever you're there. They smile, laugh often and feel better for having ... Now for you, my" friend I've never met"." You take time each day to search out and read positive, uplifting messages on the internet. Your love for people shows when you pass along special messages for your friends facing challenges. Your faith is strong and evident when you lift up others, offer spiritual support and encouragement and pray for people you don't even know. You are a part of the world's largest support group giving hope to those whose only ...

... where his wife, Jenny, worked. This morning he was 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 ... . Only the foundation remained to show where it had been. Luther put the chairs on the front porch and drove home, tears in his eyes. The two men are now in their mid-seventies, and are still the best of friends. They never spoke of the incident. How could they? There was nothing to say. [by Joe Edwards (frogwilly @webtv.net)-from 'Heartwarmers '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... happened during World War II. His family owned no washing machine and, since gasoline was rationed, they could ill afford trips to the laundry several miles away. Keeping clothes clean became a problem for young John's household. A family friend was drafted into the service, and his wife prepared to go with him. John's family offered to store their furniture while they were away. To the family's surprise, the friends suggested they use their Bendix while they were gone." ... would be better for it to be running ," they said," than sitting up rusting" So this is how they acquired the washer. Young John helped with the washing, and across the years he developed an affection for the old, green Bendix. But eventually the war ended. Their friends returned. In the meantime he had forgotten how the machine came to be in their basement in the first place. When the friends came to take it away, John grew ...

... Wait a minute, Bill. Where are you going ?"" I don't know ," he heard a voice reply." I can't tell one direction from the other. But I'm heading somewhere. Hold on tight" Jack felt his friend pull him again. Oh, well, he figured, one way is as good as another. Jack started moving forward. The wind-lashed rain stung his face and grimy water dripped into his eyes. He was moving blind. The soft ... Bill was kneeling and coughing up muddy water from his lungs. There was another brilliant flash of lightning and a deafening clap of thunder." Are you all right, Bill ," Jack asked anxiously as he put his arm over his friend's back." Yeah, I think so ," Bill sputtered. Then Bill sat down on the bank, trying to catch his breath." Now, what are we going to do. The car's gone and we can't get back across ...

... ," she whispered to her faithful companion as he sat upon her finger," You are not beautiful emerald green. Now, especially after so many years, your wings are dull and frayed. Do not worry though, my little friend, you are not the elusive butterfly of love, but you have been faithful, good, and true. I will keep you by my side always" The maiden set down her winged companion and went outside to the rose garden to ... ." What is this ?" the maiden thought. The ragged wings of her beloved companion seemed to reveal under them something more lovely. Carefully, and tenderly, the maiden peeled away the tattered, old shell which encased her winged friends body, to reveal beautiful wings of emerald green, a small pink heart on each side. Both tears and joy filled the maiden's heart, and her story was thus passed down by the old fishermen sitting down by the sea. Real ...

... is written in one ’ s own handwriting. Most people probably don ’ t think of it as a treasure to keep at the time the letter is written or received but years later those letters from your mother, sister, or friend become more valuable to you, especially when those people are no longer living. Not only do you have a copy of their words and thoughts but also an image of their own handwriting. There are few people who probably sit down and ... I was there. For years, the main mode of communication was through letter writing. It was expected that anyone in the family that traveled, visited, or lived away from home would write letters to their immediate family and close friends. If family members neglected to write letters home to family and friends, they would often be reprimanded for their neglect. It was something that was expected. If someone wrote to you, then you were supposed to write back. It ...

... be my lucky number, my favorite roll of the dice, the number I'd place a bet on or the horse I'd pick in a race. It was until recently. It was a normal phone call I thought, from my friend. I hear from him only a few times a year, but for some reason I expected to hear his voice when he called that day." Well, it's about time !" I said when I answered the phone." I ... afterwards that three was perfection to me. Everything about that number meant happy things in my life. Nobody should make three a bad number. The truth is it is just a number. There is power in one. There is friendship and love in two. In 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 ...

... . They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose 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's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal. It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday ...

... he arrives home from work around midnight. To add insult to injury, he laughs at my earlier terrifying plight. Then to his total shock and amazement I once more pick up the book to discover the fate of my new fictional friend. Now I ask you, I couldn't leave her helpless at the fate of the glowing eyes for the remainder of the night, could I? Okay, okay I guess I have to admit, I might not be the easiest person ... , the more God trusts you with them. Glory to God !" Speaking in 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 ...

... me." I don't know ," I replied. It was the simple truth. I had no idea what she could do. But just asking was enough. How many times have you felt helpless and lost when confronted with a friend or perfect stranger who is obviously struggling with something in their life. I went through a divorce and many of my friends stopped calling me. In some instances they saw me approaching at the mall or on the street and they went the ... way. When cancer entered our lives both times, people we expected to hear from never called. One woman told me that when her husband was dying his best friend and best man at their wedding never stopped by to see him. Why?" I don't know what to say" That's usually the reason for doing nothing and in their minds it's justified. So, on black Friday when Marianne and I went shopping, we stopped for breakfast about half way through. ...

... talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it," Love from your Valentine" I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, ... 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh-because they know that love can't be beaten! Valentine Traditions Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentine's Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse ...

... Free Hugs, and stood at the Pitt Street Mall-one of the busiest streets in the center of Sydney. He put his arms anyone who accepted his offer. At first, he left his wallet at home, had a friend watch over him, and expected to be ridiculed. After fifteen minutes, a woman approached him." My dog died today ," she said." It's also the first anniversary of my only daughter's death. I could use a hug ... They offered hugs to anyone and everyone.~~~*~~~Juan Mann returned to Sydney, Australia in 2004, after living in Europe for several years. He was depressed over his parent's divorce. Most of his friends had moved on. It was just him. He sat for months. Alone and depressed, Juan decided to make a difference and reach out. He made a sign that read, Free Hugs, and stood at the Pitt Street Mall ...

... and prayed God would spare her. On a sunny January day, Tracy gave up her battle with cancer, and the Lord took her to her new Heavenly home. While attending the funeral service we were happy to see Tracy's little friends were singing favorite songs she had liked. They wanted to make this a celebration of Tracy's life. It was a beautiful tribute to a sweet little girl from a loving Church family. The burial took place across from the school Tracy attended ... 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 then she told me Tracy had leukemia and was in remission. She wanted more than anything to play ...

... deepest and that was our swimming hole, as we called it back in the late thirties and early forties. When I was just a small child and not allowed to go there without someone with me, I had a very special friend who was in her late teens and she always came and got me to go swimming. Her name was Ellen Ruth and I loved her so much. I thought she was so beautiful and so kind and I think she really loved me ... my mouth. I trusted her completely and I loved all the attention she gave me and thought I was very special for someone her age to" Hang around" with someone as young as me. She did have a lot of friends her own age and when we went swimming, there were always about six other girls her age. Of course I knew them all and some had sisters my age that they brought along. Ellen Ruth was an only child and maybe that ...

... motorcycle on a trailer. They even dropped the bike off at a Honda shop." That's just me ," Terry told the Morris newspaper." Isn't that what you're supposed to do ?" In return, the Rummels insisted their new friends stay the night in Indiana and made them a home-cooked meal. The Morris, Illinois, newspaper wrote about the Rummels ' experience because Brenda sent a thank you note to the community. People who read her letter to the editor asked the ... trips have taken them to every state except Alaska and Hawaii. However, on this trip, their motorcycle broke down in the middle of nowhere-but really they were in just the right place. The breakdown led to numerous new friendships. Terry and Pat Svetlecich brought them back home in their motor home and pulled the motorcycle on a trailer. They even dropped the bike off at a Honda shop." That's just me ," Terry told the Morris newspaper." Isn't ...

... was so shy he had never even spoken to the crossing guard" A child who held the reputation of being arrogant was suddenly helping another clean out her desk. One lonely child reported on a classmate:" When I needed a friend to play with, she was there" The reports went up weekly but not just as ordinary reports, over the weekend, the innovative and artistically inclined Laurie, chose a theme so that every single report was set on special paper, ... story about her middle child. She says," I've always been amazed at Laurie, at her resilience and her determination. I'm proud of her for her willingness to share with others and for the care she demonstrates toward family, friends and even strangers" ABOUT THE WRITER Braun-Haley lives in Central Alberta. She has a number of stories and books published and is the author of" A Little Door A Little Light" a book she was challenged to write following the death ...

... couldn't run away. I had no money, no place to go. I was 13 years old. Where could I go? I started smoking at the bus stop, pushing boundaries with my teachers, and drinking with my best friend. My attempts to be tough must have appeared hilarious to others. I was skinny to a fault and looked younger than my age. Being tough didn't come natural. My heart was gentle and I hated conflict and fighting, yet every ... show me that you hear my prayers. Heal my family. Let me know that you are listening" The folded piece of paper under my pillow was heaven sent and priceless. For years my mom and I have been best of friends. She is compassionate, loving, and whole, and the memories of our past are forgiven and forgotten. Today I am still running after the same God that touched my life when I was 15. I always tell my teen audiences ...

... friends had become worried over her being gone so long and had come to find her. Helena hugged each one and smiled as she had not smiled in a very long time." What has happened to change you so ," a friend asked. Helena grinned and looked up," I just learned how much I am loved and how good it feels to know I am not alone" From that day to this, Helena spent her days and nights knowing that no matter ... words were the truest she had ever heard. She lay back in the grass under the blue sky and fell asleep. She slept for the day and the night. The next morning when she woke she found that her family and friends had become worried over her being gone so long and had come to find her. Helena hugged each one and smiled as she had not smiled in a very long time." What has happened to change you so ," a friend asked ...

... stop to notice how the world puts on a show? Did you ever take a minute just to stop and watch the snow? Have you ever seen a rainbow in a droplet of God's tears? If you haven't, my good friend, you've wasted all those years. A young Mother and daughter wasted no time at all. After the first big snow of the season, they headed directly to the local park. All bundled up and ready to go, they loaded ... She had grown up in a small town just a few miles from where she and her daughter now live. Going back there to ride down the hill together has always been special to her. As a little girl playing with her friends she often declared" One day I'll bring my kids here, for this is the best place on Earth" And so she did. This year seemed extra special. Her daughter was finally old enough to take a few trips down the ...

... " There's nothing you can do ," said my grandma." You'll just have to tell him that you can't help with the corn this year"" Well that just doesn't sit well with me ," said my grandpa." My friend is depending on me. I can't exactly let my neighbor's harvest rot in the field, can I ?"" If you don't have the equipment, you just can't do it ," she said." Well, I could do it the ... and you could count on him to keep his promises. That's what made it so hard one autumn when difficult circumstances closed in on him. He had promised to harvest a few ribbons of corn that wound around the hills on a friend's farm, but after harvesting his own corn, Grandpa's little corn picker coughed, sputtered and quit. It would be out of commission until a particular part could be ordered, but that would take far too long to help this year. ...

... pondered all 'nite about Jesus, but the next day while at work when Jack was near him I got another man to get into an argument with him, and man did Jack lose it, well needless to say I got his friend back, another close call"" I did lose one though, this lady just would not give up on her boy, I had him into drugs and drinking and living it up, but she just wouldn't get off her knees for ... got to see the argument and he was really close to asking Jesus into his life, that was a close one"" Then the other day {I should get a medal for this} this 'fella Jack took one of his friends at work to church with him. This man almost decided to ask Jesus into his heart, BOY, what a struggle I had and I hate being in church. Well, this man pondered all 'nite about Jesus, but the next ...

... will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she ... , trusting that she will not lead him astray. Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom he places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see God. ...

... hobbies, interests and a little shared history. I was stunned-and a little embarrassed-by the ease with which Sylvia negotiated that transition. Turns out it doesn't take much to turn an unfamiliar face in the hall into a friend. You just have to get over yourself and reach out a little. Ask a question. Learn a name. And just like that-no more new guy.~Joseph Walker~< ValueSpeak @msn.com >Joseph Walker began his ... she announce that she didn't know him, she asked him his name, told him her name and engaged him in conversation-clearly an interpersonal tactic aimed at getting personal information out of him. Before long they were chatting like old friends about some things they had in common. And suddenly for Sylvia, the new guy wasn't the new guy anymore. He was Mitch, a colleague with children, hobbies, interests and a little shared history. I was stunned-and ...

... will ever know. And when my husband left us 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 he had a daddy after all, and a fine male role model to call, his Grandpa. As ... when Bud was only fifteen, and then He called Momma eight months after that. It was a very dark time in my life, saying good-bye to both my towers of strength, my hero and my heroine; my two best friends. I thought my life would surely end! God must have given me the strength of steel, for with out Him I could not have healed and dealt with such great loss. My family foundation had crumbled under my feet. But ...

... love to roam. But first I check the nurses out to see if I may walk about. They always say," We're glad you've come. The folks all here call you their chum" I've come to see a special friend. I know she'll be there in the end. But first I'll greet some other folk, my head they'll pat, my back they'll stroke. So onward down the hall I go; although my progress may seem slow. These are ... friends all sitting there. Some are sleeping; some just stare. Too bad these people at the home seem oh, so sad, and all alone. They sit and dream of days gone by. It breaks my heart to see them cry. And yet, how they all come alive when they see me — a dog — arrive. There's Mr. Johnson in the hall. I heard that he has had a fall. He can no longer wheel his chair ...

... Our Greatest Gift" Recently, a friend told me a story about twins talking to each other in the womb. The sister said to the brother," I believe there is life after birth" Her brother protested vehemently," No, no, this is all there is. This is a dark and cozy place, and we have nothing else to do but cling to the cord that feeds us. The little girl insisted." There must be something more ... 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 ...

... soon give up. Their number is beyond hundreds and must be more than a thousand-enough to feed an entire colony of woodpeckers the whole winter long. They will not starve, for their food tree-their sterile food tree friend-sustains them. The childless fir will live on in the woodpeckers and their hatchlings. And as I see the pole surrounded by its woodpeckers, bearing a harvest not its own for a family not its own, I sense it has ... splinters the sides of the hole to widen it. It flies away momentarily, but now returns with something in its beak. It jams an acorn into the new hole until it is firmly wedged. And now the bird and his friends begin again. Bang, bang, bang. Peck, peck, peck. As I look carefully, I can see that this particular telephone pole has been a favorite of generations of Acorn Woodpeckers. Every deep crack, every widening crevice ...

... Stop Being Everybody's Victim (Adapted by Louis Lapides from John Powell, Why I am Afraid to Tell You Who I Am ?, Argus Comm) The late US syndicated columnist Sydney J. Harris accompanied his friend George to his favorite newsstand. George greeted the man selling the newspapers courteously, but in return he received gruff service. He barely acknowledged his customer and never even looked up at him when he requested the late night edition. Accepting the newspaper, which was shoved ... in his direction, George politely smiled and wished the newsman a pleasant weekend. The proprietor grunted an indiscernible sound and seemed relieved that the two men had completed their transaction. As the two friends walked down the street the columnist asked," Does he always treat you so rudely ?"" Yes, unfortunately, he does ," George responded." And are you always so kind and friendly to him ?"" Yes, I am !" George continued as they turned a corner ...

... I hang my flower paintings on the wall my home fills with the fresh scent that lingers in my soul from years of loving them up close. Again just like raising kids ," she said." Just like meeting you, my friend. You added beauty to my day and will brighten the dark corners of my memory just when I need it most ," I told her. The tomato was perfect with dinner.~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob ... here"" I love your attitude. But tell me what new thing have you discovered? You said you need to focus on new things you can do"" Well, I can go to the grocery store and make new friends by running into perfect strangers with my cart ," she said grinning." Or they can fall over you when they aren't paying attention ," I added." What I've discovered is I can't grow flowers any more, but I can paint ...

... described as" slow" He didn't learn his ABCs as fast as other kids. He couldn't compete in schoolyard races. But Kevin had a way with people. His bright smile and big heart won him plenty of friends. My friend Randy, the pastor at Kevin's church, decided they needed a basketball team for boys. Kevin signed on and soon basketball became a center of his life. He practiced hard. While the other boys worked at dribbling the basketball and shooting ... who might be described as" slow" He didn't learn his ABCs as fast as other kids. He couldn't compete in schoolyard races. But Kevin had a way with people. His bright smile and big heart won him plenty of friends. My friend Randy, the pastor at Kevin's church, decided they needed a basketball team for boys. Kevin signed on and soon basketball became a center of his life. He practiced hard. While the other boys worked at dribbling the ...

... will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. He recognizes no differences in people, treating each person as an equal and a friend. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet ... angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God-to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an" educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith ...

... Mom to come home. But you give me a shout when you're passing through and I'll be happy to come back to you" Well I came back and said," Before you 10-10, what's your home 20, little CB friend ?" He gave me his home address and I didn't hesitate one second because this hot load of freight was just 'gonna have to wait. I turned that truck around on a dime and headed for Jackson Street 229. As I rounded the ... . I remember him saying, 'Someday this old truck will be yours, Teddy Bear ' But I know I will never get to ride in an 18-wheeler again. But this old base will keep me in touch with all my trucker friends. Teddy Bear's going to back out now and leave you alone, 'cause it's almost time for Mom to come home. But you give me a shout when you're passing through and I'll be happy to come back to you" Well I ...

... got out my own embroidery materials and added an apostrophe and seven more letters. Now the shirt proudly proclaimed," I BELONG TO PAT'S MOTHER" But I didn't stop there. I zig-zagged all the frayed seams, then had a friend mail the shirt in a fancy box to Mom from Arlington, VA. We enclosed an official looking letter from" The Institute for the Destitute ," announcing that she was the recipient of an award for good deeds. I would have given ... to see Mom's face when she opened the box. But, of course, she never mentioned it. Two years later, in 1978, I remarried. The day of our wedding, Harold and I put our car in a friend's garage to avoid practical jokers. After the wedding, while my husband drove us to our honeymoon suite, I reached for a pillow in the car to rest my head. It felt lumpy. I unzipped the case and found, wrapped ...

... 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 ... ) and turn it into something beautiful-if we let Him. The true value of the pearl is not seen from the outside. To the world around it the pearl is just another barnacle covered nasty looking shell. Oh, friends the Lord looks upon the heart. Are you doing the same, to others? Only the Lord sees us as complete in Him. If the world knew what we will look like when our Bridegroom comes for us, they would surely ...

... apple tree 'Early June ' was knocked to its side by the strong winds. As the entire family was called and gathered to come see the sad condition of 'Early June, it was clear mother was worried and concerned for her longtime friend. Seeing this damaged apple tree lying on its side was like seeing someone taking their last breathes. My brother was the first to speak," Well Mom it sure doesn't look good. She has been partly uprooted. I don't know ... I just feel that Mom's little apple tree 'Early June ' will keep producing apples, as long as Mom (now 72-years-old) keeps baking her delicious apple pies, and giving 'Early June ' all the credit. I think like many friends do, they have an understanding. [Melodie Lynn Tilander, Copyright 2002 (lynnmelodie @hotmail.com)-from '2THEHEART '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... and me, and the baby." Mary, even if our friends don't come, at least you and I can pledge our love before God" I paused." I think my Mom will be there. And maybe your friend Rebecca would come if her dad will let her. How about your parents ?" I could feel Mary's tiny frame shuddering as she sobbed quietly." Mary ," I said. I could feel myself speaking more boldly." No matter what ... have him perform the ceremony" I know it was awful sudden, Mom, but I figured the sooner we got married the better it would be for her, and me, and the baby." Mary, even if our friends don't come, at least you and I can pledge our love before God" I paused." I think my Mom will be there. And maybe your friend Rebecca would come if her dad will let her. How about your parents ...

... This Is Good An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking," This is good !" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual," This is good !" To which the king replied," No, this is NOT good !" and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to ...

... Then Fly, My Friend!" So why did you climb all the way up here to begin with ?" asked the spider." My world was so limited down there. I wanted to see what I was missing ," replied the caterpillar." And now all you want to do is go back down ?"" Yes, I do"" I've been down there ," said the spider." I was just there yesterday. You see, all I need to do is float down on my web"" That's why life is so unfair ," said the caterpillar." Some of us have so much more than others. It took me so long to get way up here. Then I was disappointed. When I was down there I had choices to make. I could go wherever I wanted and eat so many things. Up here in this tree, there is nowhere to go and these leaves all taste the same. ...

... hand him my worries, but most of the time I took them back again. I ran into God's arms when things were hard, but it was difficult to remain there when everything stayed the same. Maybe, I thought, I really only had a fast food faith. Maybe I expected drive-in window solutions, with answers to my prayers all neatly wrapped and no waiting. As I had done a hundred times before, I went into my kitchen and dialed my friend Kathy's number. I was so grateful for a friend like this-a soul baring, sharing laughter and tears kind of friend. And as we had so often before, we discussed Life and talked about how difficult it was sometimes to hang onto faith when things were hard. But a true friend, she was my cheerleader-her words brimming over with encouragement." God knows, and he cares. Something will happen, it will all work out, I just ...

... 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. ...

... one has one good leg. The other is crippled and held close to the body. The very first time I noticed it, I was amazed by the perfect balance and ease this bird expressed in doing what every other Chickadee does. I have made it a point to stand just a few feet away from the feeders so I can see them close up. The only birds that appear unaffected by my presence are the Chickadees and an occasional sparrow. My one legged friend always stops by. We talk. Yes, it's true. I make a high pitched" beep, beep beep ," sound and they respond. My friend even dances from pole to pole on the feeder, finally grabbing a sunflower seed and vanishing to the nearby holly bushes and back again." How do you do it ?" I asked." You are limited and not the same as all the others" He teases me and jumps back and forth to show off ...

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

... Believing, Still I was speaking with a friend yesterday. We were talking about change, challenge and hope. We spoke of life and all the dreams that we attached to it when we were dreaming younger and planning older." I have dreams that give me answers" she said." I dream of lost things and places to find them"" I believe in the dreams that I have and events that occur that at one time earlier in my life I would have declared" just a coincidence ", or pure luck"" Did you ever have one not work out right ?" I asked." Almost. But even when it didn't work I still believed in it" She went on to tell me the" Diamond Earring Story". One day she took her children to a nearby park to play games, run and just have fun. Somewhere along the way she lost one of her diamond earrings. She hadn't discovered it ...

... Love And The Cabbie I was in New York the other day and rode with a friend in a taxi. When we got out, my friend said to the driver," Thank you for the ride. You did a superb job of driving" The taxi driver was stunned for a second. Then he said," Are you a wise guy or something ?"" No, my dear man, and I'm not putting you on. I admire the way you keep cool in heavy traffic"" Yeah ," the driver said and drove off." What was that all about ?" I asked. I am trying to bring love back to New York ," he said." I believe it's the only thing that can save the city"" How can one man save New York ?"" It's not one man. I believe I have made that taxi driver's day. Suppose he has 20 fares. He's going to be nice to ...

... man began laughing hysterically." There you go. I told you. That's exactly what I said ," the man shouted. I was a bit confused at this point. I thought they were going to ask me 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 ...

... , where their strong beaks dig through the river bottoms for food. And there is, between the arrogant swans and the prolific geese, an indifference, almost a disdain. Once or twice each year, snow and sleet move into the area. When this happens, if the river is at its narrowest, or the creek shallow, there is a freeze which hardens the water to ice. It was on such a! morning near Oxford, Maryland, that a friend of mine set the breakfast table beside the huge window, which overlooked the Tred Avon River. Across the river, beyond the dock, the snow laced the rim of the shore in white. For a moment she stood quietly, looking at what the night's storm had painted. Suddenly she leaned forward and peered close to the frosted window." It really is ," she cried out loud," there is a goose out there" She reached to the bookcase and pulled ...

... . Now he should be apologizing for moving slower? My heart ached as I looked into his eyes. I wished that I could see what he had seen all those years. His face weathered from life itself, was creased and wrinkled. The small soft pockets under his eyes and the gentle lines that curved up and around them told me he had many happy moments, too. Those were traces left behind from laughter and a smiling, happy man." My friend, can I help you with those things ?" I asked. Hesitant at first, he finally said," Well, yes, thank you !" I placed my hand under his left arm and walked with him a safe distance away from the rush of people." So what are you shopping for, sir ?"" Oh, just a little something for my neighbor. She's a young mother raising kids on her own. She's always so nice to me. I thought ...

... is one of those go getters who would spend all his waking hours playing sports. Soccer is #1 with him, but baseball is a close second. Competitive sports are good for kids whether they win or lose. It teaches them how to play by the rules, set goals, never quit and everyone gets a chance no matter how good you are. Johnny knew that last part wasn't true. You see, he had been playing every game but noticed his friend Jake would only be in for two innings." He's a good player. He just needs a chance ," he told his mom. Game after game it was the same story. Two innings and he was through." Mom, it's not fair ," he said." Well, according to the rules the each player must be permitted to play at least two innings ," she said." That stinks! We should all play as much as possible ," he insisted ...

... place to return and spend the night. Spring is here now and the flocks of geese have migrated back to Alaska and Canada for their summer home, and nesting. The little flock at the pond was no different. They are also gone. All except one lone goose who did not fly away with the flock. Left behind! What a terrifying thing it must be for this one lone goose to be" left behind" It's mate, it's offspring, it's friends, it's acquaintances all gone! Not even another goose to keep watch while it sleeps, leaving it unguarded to a roving predator that might wander into the area. Not even another goose to quack at. It's sad but the" left behind" goose probably won't live until the flock returns in the fall. The story of the goose is true and it brings the following thoughts to mind: Will you be" left behind" when Jesus calls the sheep of His flock ...

... had to have. All day long I kept coming into the house and listening at his door. Sleeping sounds: slow, even snoring. I cracked the door, and there hanging at the foot of the bed were those pants, that change, those ice cream sandwiches; my chance to be the big man in the neighborhood. I slipped in and took a handful of change. We ate like greedy pigs, and I was a hero to my band of friends as we sat in the shade of the corner store. They thought I was rich. I told them it was birthday money I'd saved. I felt satisfied before I ever ate them sandwiches. I was somebody. That went on every day for about two weeks and what a time it was! I had 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 ...

... had told the children at supper that my surprise was: we were going to have a valentine party, and that we would save our dessert until then. The excited children clutched their plastic bags in their hands and assumed their usual mealtime places. I brought out some candy I had saved for the occasion, and set the large heart-shaped cake in the middle of the table. Now it was time for us all to share the valentines the kiddies had gotten from their friends at school. They pulled the cards from the plastic bags and set them on the table in front of them. It was then I noticed that David had only one card in front of him. My heart nearly broke, but now was not the time for questioning. There would be time for that later. When it was David's turn to share his valentine, that strange look reappeared on his face. He turned the card over, and his usual smile returned to ...

... we want in our lives. I am sure you've heard it all before." What you think about the most manifests in your life"" You reap what you sow"" If you believe it you can achieve it" Out of all the principles of success and happiness, that one singular concept is the absolute truth. It is the key to all success in life. But it can also be the key to failure and even death. Pete is a friend of mine. One of those people you call" friend" but you really don't know everything about them. Just when you think you have him figured out, he tells you something completely surprising. Something even brilliant." Did I ever tell you about the time I thought I was going to die ?" he asked." No, I don't think I heard that one ," I replied." In reality I almost caused my death. You see I went through ...

... The Right One My grandma and grandpa celebrated their 55th anniversary surrounded by their children, grandchildren, and a lifetime collection of friends. I thought that Grandma had forgotten anything she may have known about being single. I was wrong. As she was getting ready for the party, arranging her long white hair in a French twist, my grandma commented," I'm always surprised when I look in the mirror and see all these wrinkles" Holding her hand over her heart, she added," In here, I'm still a young woman" She applied bright red lipstick. I sat on the bed watching her primp." So, what is the secret of a long happy marriage ?" She sprayed floral cologne on her wrists." Don't settle" I must have looked puzzled." Don't settle. That is all you need to know" She tucked a stray wisp of hair in place. I twisted my own hair around my fingers ...

... to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special. I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experience to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them. I'm not" saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event-such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom. I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I ...

... concern, for she said quietly," Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in" Somehow I felt better. Another day I was on the telephone." Information Please"" Information ," said the now familiar voice." How do you spell fix ?" I asked. All this took place in a small town in the pacific Northwest. Then when I was 9 years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. Information Please belonged in that old wooden box back home, and I somehow never thought of trying the tall, shiny new phone that sat on the hall table. Yet as I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me; often in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on ...

... notice that it was working itself loose. Finally it dropped off the engine and plunged into a small pool of dirty oil below. With the first screw no longer holding up its end of the load, the second was faced with doing the work of two. Meanwhile the first screw, now covered with grimy oil, wailed and lamented." Just look at me! I'm dirty and filthy and all my beauty is gone. By laughing at the blemish on my friend the second screw, I worked myself loose and fell into the muck. Now I'm doomed" Now, it just so happened that a short time later the owner of the engine started it up. He immediately noticed that something didn't sound right-the engine was running rough. When he checked, he instantly saw that one of the two screws holding the vital part was missing." Ah ha !" the owner said." One of the screws must have worked itself ...

... it is too cold or too wet? When did we start playing sports on Mother's Day? I always remember being home with my mother and our family on mom's special day. We would all be huddled around my mother, making sure that she enjoyed her" well deserved" day of rest. When did we start having our children play sports on Thanksgiving? This warm, wonderful day of giving and thanks used to be a special day to share with family and friends. We would spend the entire day eating, relaxing and enjoying the ones we loved. We would never have wasted a precious minute worrying about dragging our kids away from their warm houses to play a game (in the cold) three towns away. It seems that we are now so preoccupied with driving our kids from one place to another, that we have lost sight of what is really important. When did the family start playing second fiddle to sports? I can ...

... I saw him. I guess you could measure it in years, but I will think of it more along the line of the changing color of his hair. It was pure white now. Pre-maturely white, I would think since he is only in his early 40's. These were my thoughts as we approached each other. It wouldn't be until after our conversation that I would understand. Life has a way of aging us." Where have you been, my friend ?" I asked." I haven't gone far but I've been there and back ," he replied with a smile. It just didn't seem right. He was always happy and upbeat. He walked like a man in love with the world. Today he dragged himself across the room as if he were now angry at it." So, how long has it been, five, ten years since we last spoke ?" I asked. He shook his head slowly as if ...

... on the children. It sounded like she didn't get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package-new dish towels, the next year's Relief Society lesson manual-not much, but something for her to open. I was touched when at church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation. As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in this giving me a gift. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the Baby Jesus! He had come! I realized on that Christmas Day, that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don't expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another. We had waited ...

... What will you take?" Time, faith and the love of my family and friends ," he said. How wonderful. Somehow, from the moment we met, I knew we would connect. His response was perfect. His answer was mine. It is that time of year when we reflect back on accomplishments and failures. It is a wrapping up and an unfolding all in one. The sentimental fool that I am keeps me deep in thought filling my days with mood swings easily compared to riding a roller coaster. Oddly, I love those ups and yes, even the downs. The happy thoughts remind me that life is good. The sad thoughts remind me that life is fragile. In the end I hope for more happy than sad, but still come out on top when the ball officially drops on New Years Eve, if I can at least find balance. You may think this strange, too, when I say ...

... I thought I couldn't satisfy on my own. Someone, anyone with a pulse would do. Over the years, I dated quite a few guys I liked-I was even engaged once but" till death do we part" seemed a very long time. I always ended up alone again. So holidays, especially with the Aunt Nells of the family, can weaken my confidence, leaving me a little bereft. One day, noting my frustration surrounding the holidays, a friend of mine suggested we try something different on the next such occasion." How` bout you and I go down to a homeless shelter and help out? Then maybe we'll be grateful for what we have ," she proposed. I had a thousand reasons why this wasn't a good idea, but my friend persisted. The next Christmas I found myself in an old downtown warehouse, doling out food. Never in my life had I seen so many turkeys and rows of pumpkin ...

... Robby's Special Piano Recital For His Mother At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from DeMoines, Iowa. I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons-something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a prodigy though I have taught some talented students. However I've also had my share of what I call" musically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I refer that students (especially boys !) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby ...

... Newton had an exact replica of our solar system made in miniature. At its center was a large golden ball representing the sun, and revolving around it were small spheres attached at the ends of rods of varying lengths. They represented Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and the other planets. These were all geared together by cogs and belts to make them move around the" sun" in perfect harmony. One day as Newton was studying the model, a friend who did not believe in the biblical account of creation stopped by for a visit. Marveling at the device and watching as the scientist made the heavenly bodies move on their orbits, the man exclaimed," My, Newton, what an exquisite thing! Who made it for you ?" Without looking up, Sir Isaac replied," Nobody"" Nobody ?" his friend asked." That's right! I said nobody! All of these balls and cogs and belts and gears ...

... . Before this year, I thought Christmas in my village came with many things. Christmas had always been for me one of the joyous religious festivals. It was the time for beautiful Christmas music on the streets, on radio, television, and every where. Christmas had always been a religious celebration and the church started preparing way back in November. We really felt that we were preparing for the birth of the baby Jesus. Christmas was the time when relatives and friends visited each other so there were always people traveling and visiting with great joy from all the different tribes. I always thought that was all Christmas was. Oh, how I wished I had some of the traditional food consumed at the Christmas Eve dinner and the Christmas Day dinner, I knew I could not taste the rice, chicken, goat, lamb, and fruits of various kinds. The houses were always decorated with beautiful paper ornaments. The children and all the young ...

... have their own baby. Cory Hyde thought she would never receive a Mother's Day card. But she got herself a special job and now has some treasures she will keep for a lifetime. Hopefully, you'll benifit from her experience and enjoy her perspective in this Gem of a story. I'll be turning 40 soon! I am so excited by this prospect that I'm planning this big theme party! The theme will be" I've never". While explaining this to a friend of mine, I laughingly gave the example of" I've never had a baby shower, so someone would have to bring a baby gift. Then I'll donate it to the nursery at the church" I was smiling through this little explanation, until I saw the look on her face. With tears in her eyes she said," That's so sad "! Well, there was a time when I felt that way too. Finding out in my 20's that I couldn't have ...

... juicy berries. Now, I've got to tell you, there isn't anything that tastes better than vine-ripened raspberries, fresh off the bush. I probably shouldn't admit it, but they seem to taste even better if there is a little subterfuge involved. And we were savoring every bite of ill-gotten berry when all of a sudden the Jordans ' backyard lights flicked on, and Mr. Jordan came charging outside." What you boys doing out here ?" he shouted as my friends scrambled off in all directions, uneaten raspberries flying every which way. He made a valiant attempt to grab one or two as they dashed past him, but they were too quick for the older gentleman to catch, and within seconds the boys disappeared into the dark of the summer evening. All except one. Uh, that would be me. Speed was never my strength. I was tall. I was strong. But I wasn't very fast. Fast was for the ...

... garden supply shops. Except for Peter. Peter was about my age, average height, touches of white around each temple and when it came to gardening very knowledgeable." I didn't expect to see anyone in this section so early ," I said as I entered the room." Why not ?" he replied." Well Spring hasn't arrived yet. Although I've been carrying it around in my heart for months now" I said smiling." Well, my uninformed friend, gardening, like your life, isn't a project you tend to when it's the right season. It takes planning and readiness all year long ," Peter told me. Okay, he had my attention. I know I don't know much about gardening, but life? I pride myself on my life skills." But gardening is seasonal. I never saw anyone in their garden with snow up to their knees ," I said." That's because a good gardener is inside ...

... man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people !" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. Oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear. Our family always will be grateful to have known him-from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God; for OUR blessings. Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful flower of all; a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself," If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had !" My friend changed my mind." I ran short of pots ," she explained," and knowing how beautiful ...

... men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time witnessed to him of the Lord Jesus Christ. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said," Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards" At this I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone out in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, 26 guards." My five friends also saw them and we all counted them. ...

... 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 own little ...

... 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 before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception-and especially the flowers-would be remembered ...

... Parable Of The Merchant And His Wives Once upon a time there was a rich merchant who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the third wife very much. He was very proud of her and always wanted to show her off to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other man. He also, loved his second wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his second wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant's first wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care ...

... The Key To Life “ I bet that old man has a million dollars stashed in one of those steel lockers down at the Trailways Bus Station. I see him down there all the time ,” said a young teenage boy to his friend. “ I bet he wears the key to the locker around his neck. I saw him pull out a purple bag several times when he was sitting on top of the heater vent down by the Florida Theater ” “ If he has a million dollars why would he be living on the street ?” his friend asked. “ He ’ s crazy and he ’ s all messed up in the head. That ’ s why ” I had been standing in the alleyway, for more than two hours, waiting for a chance to steal a new pair of shoes from the shoe store located across the street from the alley. Once again I had runaway from the orphanage; as tomorrow was my ninth birthday ...

... them to understand the Christmas Spirit so we say that someone named Santa is responsible for Christmas. Parent's know when a child asks whether Santa is real that they're old enough to understand the Christmas Spirit" Frankie looked surprised." What's the Christmas Spirit ?"" The Christmas Spirit is love-pure and simple. Every year, right around December, there's a special feeling in the air. People are kinder, they give to those who have little and spend time with friends and family. Have you noticed a change recently ?" Frankie thought for a moment." Everything seems prettier. People seem happier"" That's the Christmas Spirit at work. Do you remember the Lady at Mapes a few weeks ago ?" Frankie nodded and grinned." Oh yeah! She was so nice !"" She had the Christmas Spirit. She forgave me even though she didn't know me. She wished me a Merry Christmas and I can still feel that wish today ...

... :" Presented to Calvin Coolidge, Speaker of the House, by the Massachusetts General Court" And now he was more surprised!" Are you President Coolidge ?" he asked. He evidently did not think he'd find the President sleeping in a hotel!" Yes, I am, and I don't want you to take that charm ," he said. Then he asked," Why, Son, are you doing this ?" The young man explained that he and a friend traveled to Washington during their college break. They spent all of their money and had no money to pay the hotel bill or pay for train passage back to school." If you don't mind ," he said," I'll just take the wallet" Coolidge did mind. He knew he had about $80 in his wallet. So he said," How much will it take to pay your hotel bill and get you and your friend back to the campus? Sit ...

... the presents he wanted. And he enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose of exchanging gifts and good wishes. But, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed by a reckless driver. Frank missed his brother and the close companionship they had together. Frank said good-bye to his relatives and explained to his parents that he was leaving a little early to see a friend; and from there he could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his new plaid jacket. It was his FAVORITE gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled. Then Frank headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy Scout troop. Frank always felt understood by him. Though rich in wisdom, he lived in the Flats, the section of town where most of the poor lived, and his patrol leader did ...

... " That's a really neat idea sweetheart, but Lassie is what's known as a Collie and you can't teach a Collie to stay by your side all of the time because they're outside dogs and I'm afraid your Lassie dog would run away. Do you understand what I'm saying honey ?" Kevin looked down and was clearly disappointed by what he felt was his last ditch effort to gain his mother's favor as it would relate to his getting his youthful mind's hero-a dog and friend like Lassie. Months passed and Kevin stopped asking his mother whether or not he could get a dog like Lassie. She noticed his increasing quietness and sadness with each passing episode and thought back to her childhood. Her parents surprised her one Christmas with a little scroungy mutt that she adored. She got this ugly little dog that Christmas when she was about her son's age and the guilt of not allowing Kevin to have a dog to be his best friend finally got to her ...

... . As I turned around I smelled a horrible" dirty body" smell. and there standing behind me were two poor men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was" smiling" His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's light as he searched for acceptance. He said," Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentle man was his salvation. I held my tears. as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked them what they wanted. The man doing the ordering said," Coffee is all Miss"-because that was all they could afford. To sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. hey, they just wanted to be warm. Then ...

... . border. I became choked with emotion at the sign of togetherness. I had no idea what was going on, and later, when I discovered what it was all about, wished I had stopped and asked. It turned out they were traveling down to the border to meet American riders. The Canadian cowboys were raising cash along the way and, when they arrived at the border, they gave what they had collected. Everywhere I go I see neighbors, friends and relatives looking for ways they can express their thoughts and prayers to the American people. Canadians look for ways to help and make a difference. It looked like quite a few cowboys found a way to help. As I left the small town where I'd driven to attend the funeral, rain drops touched my windshield. Good, I thought, with this drought perhaps we'd see a bit of rain. I felt as if the rain drops were representative of the tears of ...

... How To Have A Life Of Joy Do you know how to have a life of joy? A businessman on his deathbed called his friend and said," Bill, I want you to promise me that when I die you will have my remains cremated"" And what ," his friend asked," do you want me to do with your ashes ?" The businessman said," Just put them in an envelope and mail them as taxes to the government and write on the envelope, 'NOW YOU HAVE EVERYTHING!" Paying taxes is not usually a joy. But GIVING can be joyful. We pay the taxes because we have to. But when we choose to give time or money, then giving can add to our overall happiness. Mother Teresa teaches us an important lesson about happiness. She was one of those people who emanated joy. Born in 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia, she felt called as a teenager to move to Calcutta ...

... against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a Spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor Automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer." Had she lost a child? -No -she has no idea what I'm feeling ," Sandra shuddered." Thanksgiving? Thankful for what ?" she wondered." For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child ?"" Good afternoon, can I help you ?" ...

... If not now, I am sure the Spring thaw will reveal it's location ," he said." Gee, I wouldn't count on that. I'd keep searching until I found it again ," I said" Like you were searching for those lost days with your children ?" he said. It caught me off guard. The truth does that." Yes, I have been searching and most likely will the rest of my days ," I said." Well, my friend, there is a lesson here. Long after the cold, bitter and lost days of our lives, the warmth of hope and ideals renewed still remain ," he said." I need to wait for my Spring thaw ?" I asked." Yes. And that comes when you warm up to the realities in your life. Your children could not remain children all of their lives. If God wills it, you will once again experience the joy of children. Theirs ...

... , he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps" I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark ...

... the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she 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. When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to you and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's continue praying for one another. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you both. Passing this on to one not yet considered a friend is something Christ would do. [Author Unknown-from 'E-Mail Ministry ' (emailministry @emailministry.org)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... ?" She replied," I am Temptation, I have what you want"" What do I want ?" replied Soul." You want to do all things which are of the flesh ," said Temptation. Soul replied," O.K, lead me" So he and Temptation went off and fulfilled the desires of the flesh. When Soul returned to the garden, he met a man named Condemnation. Condemnation said," Hey, I see you have met my friend, Temptation" Soul said," Yes, who are you ?"" I am Condemnation, I come after Temptation. We work hand-in-hand" Then Condemnation jumped on Soul's back and began to beat him. He hit him in the face and kicked him when he was down. This went on for several days. On about the third day, a man named Mercy came running and said," I command you, Condemnation, to stop beating Soul" Condemnation snickered, ...

... Clover Alert Since childhood, I have had this special" gift" of finding four leaf clovers wherever they may be lurking. One sweet summer vacation day, several of my childhood friends and I were playing in a field filled with daisies, when I discovered a four leaf clover-and then another, and another. The hunt was on. While my friends were unsuccessful, it wasn't long before I had bagged several four leaf clovers and a five leaf clover! Then I found a six leaf, then to my surprise and delight, a seven, an eight, and a nine. Many years later, upon opening my childhood Bible, dozens of dried, brittle memories of that day fell out bringing a smile to my face. I'd forgotten putting the clovers there for safe keeping. After marrying Roy, my second husband (another stroke of" luck ") and moving to the house we live in now, he was working on ...

... gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole that from her. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come for the holiday. Then Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. She has no idea what I'm feeling, thought Sandra with a shudder. Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?" Good afternoon, can I help you ?" The shop clerk's approach startled her. ...

... nearby begin to rustle. I looked off to my left where I came face to face with my enemy. Out of nowhere, at the urging of the wind, a small bunch of daisies show their faces, retreating on and off until a smile came to my face. In comparison to all the woes of the world this deserves no more stress or acknowledgement. I did build all of this to make my yard more beautiful and for the enjoyment of family and friends. I do count among those friends all the creatures great and small who bring joy to my life simply by watching them. I stood up, shook my head, and laughing about it all walked into my house. Yes, I tracked oil on the carpet. I am married. My wife will not let me live it down for the rest of my life. But I out stared a chipmunk at high noon.~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by ...

... glad. I really just love to roam around without someone explaining each piece to me. If I have a question I'll ask. Besides I was tired and since I hadn't found anything of interest in all the other shops, I was ready to call it quits. It was at that very last moment I saw it. It looked just like the one I had when I was a child. It actually was the real beginnings of my interest in writing. My friend Jimmy and I started a local newspaper in my attic. The first and only edition was typed on an old Underwood manual typewriter, just like the one in front of me. I reached up and gently pushed the carriage return back. It was a little more difficult than I remember, but I have been spoiled by the ease of the computer. I carefully, slowly ran my fingertips across the keys and was startled to discover a few keys missing." Who would ...

... he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord." Lord" he said," I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing ?" The Lord responded compassionately," My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled ...

... child ," he said, gazing at my little girl, with her soft dark curls and her big brown eyes. I agreed. Something about this man was vaguely familiar, but I just couldn ’ t place him. We talked. He was warm, kind, and funny. I was pensive from time to time, but it was a relief to have a kindred soul to distract me from my troubles. I introduced myself, and he told me that his friends called him" Chuck" As we were visiting, I just could not get out of my mind, that I knew this man from somewhere. I certainly knew no one who traveled first class, and it would have been unlikely that we had ever met. He was traveling from Los Angeles. I was traveling from the south, and we had no similar points of reference, except Atlanta. His voice was mesmerizing. It was so familiar. Strong and evenly tempered ...

... was then for the first time I actually showed my scar to someone." Look, I had an operation on my arm" My wife has been telling me that it really didn't look bad. It was healing very nicely. When I showed it to him and his assistant they said," Eeeeeewe! That's awful !" So much for healing nicely. That's when I discovered something." Doc, when I was a kid and fell I remember showing all my friends because I thought it was" cool" Having a scar at that age was like having a battle injury so you had to share it" I then pointed to a scar at the hairline on my forehead." That's when I got hit with a door !" I said proudly." That explains so much, Bob ," he said laughing." Then I went into young adulthood and vanity took over. I was in a band and never wanted anything to scar this ...

... my first, but I have. Yet seemingly in a heartbeat, Gracie is now my old dog, soon to be no longer by my side. The song" Mr. Bojangles" has haunted me ever since I lost my first love. He spoke with tears of fifteen years how his dog and him just traveled about. His dog up and died. He up and died. After twenty years he still grieves. Today, I said to my wise reverend friend Connie," Gracie won't be on this earth much longer" I barely got the words out." Do you think that having her is worth the pain of losing her ?" Connie said," Oh yes. Your sadness is so deep only because your love is so deep. What is a life without love ?" And so, I knelt on the floor next to my Gracie." Thank you for taking care of me-for protecting me from all of the ...

... he was just trying to help me. He was paying me for my work. At first I did more, then I thought I was taking advantage of his generosity. I wrote to him to say so. He never responded. So, I held back but I could hear his words over and over" You could do more" He is not God. But I see God in him and I accept that God sent him. When I write to my friend, he rarely responds with any more than one or two sentences. He doesn't have to because I know the answer before I ask it. Like talking with God. We ask, but we know the answer. I suggest that if you are not surrounded by people who bring out the best in you, you better start looking closer. Your life is filled with them. The very next time you see a friend, neighbor or family member, look into their eyes ...

... ! 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 Child !" And the self centered opened their hearts. The cynical ...

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

... Where I'm Supposed To Be I could have gone to a couple of gatherings at the homes of friends and family on Boxing Day. I could have stayed home and curled up with a good book all day. The last thing I intended to do with a perfectly good stretch of peace and quiet, was join the throng of post-Christmas shoppers. Yet, when my husband called and asked me to meet him at the mall, I went. Long lines of loud shoppers stood outside most of the stores. Everyone was noisy and animated. They couldn't get into those stores fast enough to spend their money. We were surprised by the number of young people in the mall. They outnumbered the adults 2 to 1-easy. After my husband found what he was looking for, we grabbed a quick bite to eat in the Food Court. I felt a little restless and decided to stay behind and do some research at the book store. ...

... hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base ' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers ' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him ' Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the ...

... forever. But I must know your secret !" Finally, Day decided to speak." Can't you see it my foolish one? Can't you see the evidence? It's shining brightly for all to see"" What is so evident ?" shot back Night." I can only see an end to you and no end to me! Even today, you are dimmer than you were yesterday. You three are dying, Sun. Light. Day"" My silly friend, It is you that causes death, not I. You will always become what you cause. 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 ...

... of boys which she instructed into the pew ahead of her. Anyone could have heard a hymnal drop as Mrs. Oddbody looked up and everyone could see the glow on her face. She looked twenty years younger. After Mrs. Oddbody and all the boys were seated the stranger turned away and went to take a seat next to the man who had tapped him on the shoulder the week before. The puffed-up man had no idea he was about to make a newfound friend. Just as Jesus planned to do with this church, why not begin today to change the people of your church. A good place to start is with the first person in your church who reads this story. Then forward it on to the person in your church who needs to change the least. They will be more likely to read it, apply it, and forward it on to the next person. Addendum-Matthew 5: 44 (NKJ)" But ...

... like Brandy was abandoned. Were there more out there like her? I learned about other homeless goldens and took them in, and found homes for many more. It's become a kind of calling for me. Those with disabilities-the old, the blind, the sick-have a special place in my heart. A place I'd never known I had until Brandy opened it. Sara (and Brandy !) live in New York and continue to look after other four-footed friends. [by: Sara Whalen copyright 2003-from '2TheHeart ' (editor @2theheart.com)] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... excitement as the traditional turkey dinner, the traditional afternoon of football, or the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television. But none of these things were on 17-year-old Jimmy's mind at the moment as he carefully maneuvered his car over the blacktop. He had his own tradition to tend to and what he was looking for he would probably find in the deserted park. Usually bustling with activity, even on cold days, the park was practically empty now. Everyone was home with friends and family enjoying their Thanksgiving turkey. Jimmy was tempted to have a bit more dinner himself, but his second helping sat on the car seat beside him along with a big hunk of Mom's homemade pumpkin pie and a Thermos bottle of hot coffee. Jimmy wouldn't succumb to temptation and eat more today. For the past two years, Jimmy had established a tradition for himself. He had never suffered a hungry day in his life. The son of an unwed teenaged mother, ...

... empathy toward the children living with cancer who were being treated there. What a truly magnificent place, especially knowing that no patient was ever turned away regardless of ability to pay. The hospital exuded living, and that is what I was all about. As my 20-year anniversary of being a cancer survivor approached, I wanted to do something special and unforgettable. I organized a fund raiser, calling it" A Mission of Love ," and thanks to my generous family and friends, raised $4, 000 for St. Jude's, planning to deliver it myself. Three quarters of the money would be given as a monetary donation to the hospital, and what was left would go toward purchasing toys for the children. I also had arranged with the hospital a t-shirt painting activity for any child who felt well enough to participate. Thanksgiving Day seemed the most appropriate day of the year for the mission, and so it was all arranged. My husband ...

... 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 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, but we went outside to use ours. We trudged through the snow to do our business, even when it was -25 degrees or lower. Years later, I had my own home and family. Our house sat on the side of a hill, with a great view of the cove below us. The ocean currents filled the cove with fresh water and provided for the osprey and bald eagles who fed there. They were wonderful to watch. The ...

... 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 was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us as humans have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, friends, family and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. [Author Unknown-from Denial Bahney] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... stranger went on to describe a forgiveness that is available to each and every one of us. without strings attached. Unconditionally He loves us. Unconditionally He gave his very life for us. Unconditionally and forever, we can have the peace and assurance that no matter who we are, where we ’ ve come from, or how badly we may have mistreated others or ourselves, there is hope. In Jesus, there is always hope." You see, my friends, it is never too late to change ," the man continued." He is the Author of change, and the Provider of forgiveness. He came to bring new meaning to ‘ life ’" Men and women squirmed as reality hit them like an electrical current. The stranger tugged at his knotted gray beard, and removed it." I ’ m here to tell you that we are loved with a Love far beyond human understanding, a Love that enables us to ...

... God talk. So I see it, I hear it, I write about it and talk about it in my speeches and seminars"" Maybe it's another way ," she said." Another way for what ?" I asked." Maybe God knows that the only way He can get to some of them is to use people like you, writers, poets and speakers. Your words, His thoughts ," she said." Yes, and through you, my friend. He sent you here. You gave me my story for today. You were my spark of lightening. We are each other's light in a world that has been dimmed by negativity, doubt and fear. Be the light and listen. That's God Talk"~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2006 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... is half-eaten, is always welcome. Bill gave him a floppy old sun hat one time, and he wore it all summer. But when Mr. Whiteside comes straight to the office, he ’ s not looking for Bill. He wants to see me. I know what he wants. He wants to make a phone call. He doesn ’ t read, so he hands me the little notepad someone at the retirement home filled with the phone numbers of his friends. I dial, and he talks. He doesn ’ t talk long because, sadly, no one ever takes too much time to talk to him, but he will keep giving me names as long as I ’ ll dial the numbers. Over the years I ’ ve missed a few calls because he doesn ’ t seem to recognize the call waiting beep. Or perhaps he just doesn ’ t want to acknowledge it and miss precious seconds in his already short conversations ...

... the broken things of your life, reassemble and restore all the pieces, and bring love and joy back to your life. AND like all good carpenters, He knows how to" hit the nail on the head" .whatever you need, whatever repair is in order, you can open His Word and find the precise word you need to hear from His holy lips. The answer may be in a song or verse or a" word in season" from a friend that finds its way into your heart-and you KNOW the Carpenter has been at work! His shop never closes -there's no charge for His services -and He does incredible work! Now believe it! Let the Christmas carpenter, skillful Workman in your life, have full control. Give Him all the broken pieces -He wants to fix whatever's wrong, to assemble all the parts, put them back in working order, and place YOU on display before the world as a heavenly-crafted ...

... that I am the strongest"" Okay ," said the bull, smiling." I'll buy that. You are strongest. Now leave and let me graze in peace"" Just one cotton-pickin ' minute. What do you mean by that ?" The bear raised a club-like paw." I will tear you to shreds. Defend yourself"" What you do is up to you ," the bull answered calmly." But if you do, what will all your friends-the ones who are watching us right now-think about you ?"" They will think that I am the strongest ," yelled the frustrated bear." I don't think so. I do not choose to fight you just because you choose to fight with me. I would only fight to defend one of the cows in my care. If you attack one of them, then I'd be obliged to give you a good lashing"" I can't attack them ," protested ...

... in the Bible. What's the point here? You! If you feel so small and insignificant in life and struggle to see any important gift that God has given you, then wake up! That small boy went to see Jesus and simply brought some lunch with him. Those five small barley loaves and two fishes fed thousands with 12 baskets full remaining. Gee, I always thought it was a big thing that I would share my baloney sandwich at school with my friends. I hated baloney, but they thought I was a nice guy. But this boy .now that's something! Every morning when you wake up what you bring into the world may be just what God needs to change it. You may be a part of miracle in the making. You may be bringing the loaves and fishes. Please, no baloney sandwiches. If you share what you have (smile, talent, time, food etc) with even one other person ...

... people were given God's word. Toward the end of his term Mr. Burris and three companions began a 180-mile journey with 4, 000 copies of the Chinese New Testament. In the first ten days about half of these New Testaments had been distributed. Then, in the remote countryside, they were stopped by five armed bandits who took everything -money, clothing, shoes-and the remaining 2, 000 copies of the New Testament. Mr. Burris and friends limped home barefooted in their shirts and trousers, glad to be alive. Approximately 25 years later when Mr. Burris was the pastor of a church in Ohio, he and his wife attended a lecture with slides presented by a missionary to South China. Among the slides shown was a picture of the very place in which he had been robbed by the bandits" Now ," the missionary said ," we come to the most important slide in my collection. I call it The ...

... The Great Lesson To encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked:" NO ADMITTANCE" When the house lights dimmed, and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear," Don't quit. Keep playing" Then leaning over, ...

... other family overflowing with females, they fought, snuck each others clothes and, in coming of age years, shared the all important teen-age secrets. They supported each other in bad times and shared the laughter in happy times. Not much has changed in the years since they have grown into adults. I recently read an empowering story about the Powers women. They have joined forces to fight breast cancer with what they call Team KA-POW. Membership to this team includes many friends and family who support Annie and Kathleen, both cancer patients who are dedicated to raising funds to find a cure for this dreaded disease. Breast cancer is not the only medical affliction affecting women in the Powers family. Along with her mother Marilyn, Debbie frequently fights the painful flare-ups that Rheumatoid arthritis brings. However, it doesn't divert her efforts to support the cause of cancer research on behalf of her sisters. But there is another side to this story-an inspiring show ...

... junk no one would waste their time bidding on .like that box. I don't know if you remember such things, but I have memories of seeing small wooden boxes, signs, napkin holders and silly little things made from cedar, I believe. They could be found at any number of vacation gift shops where we all bought gifts for family back home. The name of the town was printed in black letters across the front. They were really tacky but expected by friends and family left behind that year That's what this small box from the auction was to most everyone who had picked it up before Marianne did this day. But she knows me. She knows I would see it as treasure. It was a mailbox. Etched on the side was a family name .The Williams's and" Leave a note !" I opened the front and inside I found curled up pieces of paper. This was a treasure that had to be appreciated. But I'd ...

... his hands gently, slowly into the box before him and carefully removes the contents placing it on the table. Whatever this treasure may be, it is wrapped in plain brown paper. Moving it side to side, he pulls and tugs until it is revealed." This, this is Christmas ," he says. Then lifting it up slightly above his head he looks underneath as if searching for something. It is a classic old mantel clock." Oh, my friend that is beautiful !" I said." Mahogany wood ?" He doesn't answer me. He sat there lost in a place and time perhaps when you and I did not even exist. He held the clock, no embraced it like he was holding the most precious thing on earth." Oh, I'm sorry. I love this clock. It means the world to me ," he said." I can tell ," I reply. He smiles and glances back at me ...

... you return. You know how much I hate to see you leave. But I realized that I laid the stone for that path. I made it so that you can always come back to me" I know one day one of us will walk ahead and the other will be left behind. That path is one way. The promise is, I understand, eventually we will meet again and never have to leave. I like that idea. So, my friend, on your journey through life may every road you take always lead you back to the ones you love." 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. ...

... in fact, they are quite often open and trusting. These contented folks share at least two traits. The first is that they are trustworthy. They are known to be honest and true to their word. And the second trait these happy and satisfied people share is that they easily trust others. Sometimes their trust is misplaced, but they've discovered that the benefits of trusting usually outweigh the risks of disappointment. I expect I'll get taken in plenty of times yet by friends and strangers I believed in. But I hope the next time I trusted when I should have been more cautious, I can learn from the good folks of Wetumka and laugh at myself. Because I'd rather let others into my heart than shut them out. I'd rather be a sucker for a day than unhappy for a lifetime. And I'd rather believe there is goodness in most people, for that is the only way to find it.~Steve Goodier~[ by ...

... life to a candle really describes Marnie" Rabbi Strauss stated that with a candle one can do three things: one can snuff it out prematurely, one can allow it to burn out naturally, or ONE CAN TRANSFER THE FLAME TO ANOTHER CANDLE. True, Marnie Rose's" candle" was extinguished on that traumatic Friday; however, not before the candle had the chance to kindle so many other flames. That spirit will never completely fade away. Her family, her friends, and the countless patients and colleagues and other people whose lives she so dramatically touched by her inspiration will never forget her. That is why I believe that the most beautiful rose, both inside and out, is" THE MARNIE ROSE"~Michael Segal~msegalhope @aol.com BIO: Shot in the head during a robbery, Michael Segal defied all odds by first surviving and then returning to college. He then earned two degrees with honors, married his high school sweetheart ...

... Wanna Borrow A Jack? One day I went to a lawyer friend for advice." I'm in real trouble" I said." My neighbors across the road are going on vacation for a month; and instead of boarding their dogs they are going to keep them locked up and a woman is coming to feed them, if she doesn't forget. Meanwhile they'll be lonely and bark all day and howl all night, and I won't be able to sleep. I'll either have to call the SPCA to haul them away or I'll go berserk and go over there and shoot them and then when my neighbors return, they'll go berserk and come over and shoot me. My lawyer patted back a delicate yawn." Let me tell you a story ," he said." And don't stop me if you've heard it because it will do you good to hear it again"" A fellow was speeding down a country road late at night and ...

... Angels In The Alley Diane, a young Christian university student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and the time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than she had planned and had to walk home alone. But she wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he was waiting for her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection. Instantly, a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When ...

... The Rope A story is told about a mountain climber who liked to climb tall mountains for fun and to impress his friends. After years of preparation and training he felt he could handle any mountain terrain in the world, regardless of the degree of difficulty. During a climbing trip, with five other men, he decided he would make the final climb to the summit, solo, so he could get there first and claim the glory, while the others slept. After the rest of the climbing party turned-in for the night, he put on his climbing gear and headed toward the summit. As he started his climb, he was very glad there was a full moon to help him see where he was going. Although it was foolish to climb at night, alone, he did use a rope and put in good piton protection as he climbed. With the benefit of the full moon, he made rapid progress up the mountain, ...

... back" His mother could not even answer. She was choking from a coughing attack. The mother soon went to the hospital. She knew her life nearly was through. She said to her boy," You know, Jackie, I know God will look after you. I prayed to Him this very morning: Please show me, dear God, what to do. And then you came burstin ’ in, callin ’, 'I'm back, and I've brought a friend, too" She reached out her hand to Amelia. She said," Please find a home for my son. Won't you see that he's love and protected? Please don't leave him with just anyone" Amelia took her hand and she held it. She told her," Rest assured. It is done. I've found him a family who wants him. He'll have both a dad and a mom"~~~~~So Jackie went home with Amelia ...

... to hear. Maybe something I longed to hear again, but with a different tone. It was Administrative Professionals Day and although we had already made plans for gifts and a small lunch, I wanted to thank them in my own way. So I purchased two small potted mums on my way to work that morning. I walked in the door and handed one to each of the two wonderful ladies who do so much for all of us, but it was their friendship I was acknowledging today. They were both very appreciative. Later after the celebration ended one told me she had forgotten what day it was. So this really was a wonderful surprise. It would be the very next day that what I had done would return to me hundred fold. When I walked in the door that morning, I was greeted with the same beautiful smile I saw each day." Bob, I just wanted to tell you how great it was for ...

... mind. Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave) Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home. Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely (much too freely !) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now know ...

... The Smallest Snowflake Christiana was the smallest of all the snowflakes. It seemed she and her family, along with many other snowflake families, had been floating always through the long day as she tumbled delightfully about with her friends. But their journey took them as well through seemingly endless freezing cold and darkness. Sometimes the north wind blew them along their way so hard she could scarcely breathe. At these times, as much as the bracing wind would permit, Christiana huddled close to her parents, Celeste and Chaucer, completely unaware that they were as uncomfortable as she. At other times they were assailed by a gust of warmer air up in the atmosphere that threatened their very lives. Afraid, the little crystalline beauty would bow her minuscule head and cry. Celeste and Chaucer tried to shield and protect their little progeny as best they could. Sometimes however, it was all they could do to hold on themselves. The beloved but naive little ...

... Three Cows It was a year I will never forget! 1988 would see my family move back to the States after spending eight of the most rewarding years of our lives in the mission field of Thailand. Our departure was more sudden than we had anticipated, as there were problems in our home congregation and the money just was not there. Paula and I prayed for wisdom, and the answer came loud and clear. Yet, we had made so many friends; and it was difficult to pack up eight years into shipping crates and footlockers, get on a train which would take us to an airplane, and just leave! But we 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 ...

... you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers." When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive !" If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest. So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. Two thousand years ago Paul wrote to the ...

... ******** He was just an old man with a toothless grin, a wrinkled up face and a stubbled chin. His clothes were all tattered, and his house was cold, but old Grandpa Rice had a heart made of gold. If ever a stranger would pass by Gramp ’ s shack, he ’ d rush out to greet him, and he ’ d call him on back. He ’ d holler," Come in friend, set and chat fer a spell" Then he ’ d serve up some tea, and his stories he ’ d tell. His yarns were of the" old times ", when first he" came here ;" how he ’ d brought his new bride-oh, he loved her so dear. His eyes filled with tears as he talked of" dear Bell" He buried her there-and a wee babe, as well. With him in his shack on ...

... swift. He'd stop for weary travelers and offer them a lift. Sometimes he'd bring home drunkards, or folks who were in need. He'd share with them some supper, and then their souls he'd feed. He'd talk to them of Jesus. He'd tell them of God's grace." God sent His Son to free you. Your sins He will erase" Sometimes he'd house a stranger for days and days on end. He treated down-and-outers just as he would a friend. In times of great disaster you'd find that he was there. His home, although not fancy, with families he did share. His wife was just as generous. She'd shuffle things about. They'd make room for the destitute; they'd not turn one soul out. Quite often on a Saturday you'd find him in the slums. He'd play his sax for children. He'd preach Christ to the bums. He took them cast-off clothing, gathered from his neighborhood. And ...

... gray mitten she had lost. How could this be? But it was! Did God move the mitten so she could find it? Did He direct her to the spot so it could be found? Only He knows the answer. But to this little girl all she knew was that for the first time in her young life, she actually felt like she was loved; loved by the One who promised to love her and be with her always and be her friend, Jesus whom she had asked into her life maybe 6 months before. I cannot describe to you the gentle joy, the stillness and warmth, and peace in the heart of this little girl as she knocked on the door of her home and asked to be let in, knowing she had her mitten in one hand, and an extraordinary experience from God in her heart; a gift from Him that would be a light to her for the rest of her life. ...

... he ate and ran. I watched every gesture he made with his feet and his head. When the owners would come out to feed him, he would stand far away and wait until they left before going to his food. As time went on he rounded out very nicely and he became very muscular. His red coat glistened in the sun. Each day I would stand a little closer to the fence. I yearned for him to know that I was his friend. Each time he would draw a little closer, always staring intently at me, as if watching my every move also. I sang to him my favorite praise and worship songs from church and the radio and when I spoke to him it was always in a whisper or a low soft tone. One day as I slowly approached the fence, Lightning stood and never flinched, his ears were laid flat back, but he never moved. So I began to sing softly ...

... no more ," she said as she walked over and gave me a quick hug." I just came to say good-bye" Then she turned abruptly and walked out the door. Although I never saw Rose again, I still remember her vividly. That summer I learned a lesson I've never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose -irritating, demanding, unlovable-yet hurting inside. I've found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend." Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked" Luke 6: 35 NLT [by: Janet Seever, Copyright 2002 (jseever1 @shaw.ca)-from '2TheHeart '] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights ...

... God had blessed us with his voice and His earthly choir is not made of only one single voice ," he assured them." He will bless us again" That Christmas Eve, as everyone filled the church, you could hear the choir warming up in the basement. A small piano began playing followed by," O holy night, the stars are brightly shining" then silence. The minister began by welcoming everyone and in particular the visitors," Family and friends who return home each year"" In the center of the church you will notice a single seat holding a bouquet of Christmas flowers. It is in memory of a man we called," The Voice of Christmas" The service began building to that very moment they all waited for. Lights dimmed and a young child holding a single candle in his hand walked toward the front. The organist began the intro and the choir stood to sing," O holy night, ...

... happened to look back at his car and noticed for the first time someone sitting in the passenger seat. That concerned me. I suddenly felt outnumbered. Thoughts of car-jackings and robberies flashed through my mind. I really just wanted to get this over and survive it. Then, without warning, it began to pour. The night sky had hidden the approaching clouds. It hit like a waterfall and made it impossible to finish the tire change." Look, my friend, just stop what you're doing. I appreciate all your help. You better get going. I'll finish after the rain stops ," I said." Let me help you put your stuff back in the trunk. It will get ruined ," he insisted." Then get in my car. We'll wait with you ," he insisted." No, really. I'll take care of everything ," I said." You can't get in your car with the jack up like ...

... the fence. He said," You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Addendum-Proverbs 12: 18 (NIV)" Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" Epilog: If only we could all be more" Christ like" in our behavior. [Author Unknown-Ed: ...

... his mother." My mother moved to the United States in 1962. But I stayed behind in Honduras" He didn't say why she came or why he stayed." My mother was unable to read or write, even in her native language. So you can imagine how helpless she was in this new country. That's why I decided to move up here and help her"" She was living in New Orleans on Magazine Street. When my mother and some friends met me at the airport, she said, 'Luis, tonight, I am making for you a wonderful meal like I used to when you were a boy"" Across the street from my mother's apartment was the super market. I went with her to buy the groceries. When we walked in, I knew immediately that everything was going to be different in this country. The employees all saw my mother and said, 'Good morning, Mama ' She spoke to each ...

... grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by; still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot, but his Mother said he must be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his Mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was ...

... 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 Ditty time ?"" I think so, mom ," I said, as I smiled back at her. Judy and I headed back to the meat counter and rang the buzzer. Several seconds later our friend James Ditty came out of the freezer." Hey guys ," he replied as he shook my hand." James, how about four of your best center cut pork chops, maybe one and a half inches thick ," Judy told him." You got it" Judy and I waited for James to cut and wrap the meat. When he returned I took the marking pen from his pocket and wrote" HAPPY ANNIVERSARY" on top of the white package." How ...

... shop where my wife worked. I picked up and emptied all the dirty contents of the ash-trays into my dirty dog jacket. I filled the pockets with all the empty cigarette packs I could stuff into the pockets. I went to the local costume shop and bought teeth make-up that yellowed my teeth. My teeth had the worse fuzzy gross feeling. I didn ’ t wash my hair for a few days before the retreat and then put Vaseline into my hair. A friend gave me a little bottle of deer bow hunting juice. He told me not to put it on myself 'till I saw the bus of kids. I was ready to play the part of an undercover bum. I waited one night at a Shell gas station in Grawn, Michigan. It was raining a cold wet ugly snow that cold February night. I was freezing! I heard the large church bus approach the Northern gas station. I opened the little bottle of deer ...

... all too quickly but that was of no importance to me. The things I had seen were so beautiful and special that time seemed to have stood still. I had been lost in the overwhelming creations of God, and had learned that he provides for all his creatures no matter what their needs. I felt safe and secure in all that was around me, realizing that I too was a creature of God and that He was providing for me. Sleep well my friend, wherever you may be... [YMIRon © YMIRon @aol.com, July 1999-from Aiken Drum] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... or radishes in their gardens. One overachiever that I know, plants tomatoes in March and puts an old tire over each plant. He puts water inside the curve of the tire and then covers it with plastic. As the tomato grows, he just adds another tire to adjust for the height. When the weather permits, he removes the tires and has a tomato plant nearing maturity. He is always sure to have the first ripe tomato to brag about to his friends. We all tend to get anxious for Spring to arrive, especially if it has been a hard winter. After being snowed in for a few days, cabin fever sets in and we long for Spring. We even begin to think about mowing the yard, having forgotten all about how tired we were last year from mowing every week. In Frances Hodgson Burnett ’ s book, The Secret Garden, young Mary Lennox ’ s guardian, Mr. Craven, asks her ...

... wanted to get home quickly to the warmth of her house. Several blocks from the school she saw three boys standing on the sidewalk. They seemed to be arguing, but she couldn't make out the words-just a lot of shouting. Then one of the boys suddenly snatched the coat off one the other boy's back. The boy tried to hold onto his coat, but the other one was stronger. As soon as the coat was free, he and his friend ran off with it, laughing. The boy started to run after them but, in his haste, slipped and fell in the slushy snow, landing heavily on the sidewalk. The raggedy girl ran up to the boy on the ground. She was startled to find it was the very same boy who had always taunted her about her coat at school." What happened ?" she shouted. The boy on the ground was crying, tears streaming down his face." ...

... the rope. That may have very well be the only kindness or courtesy show to them in a very long time. Having been near the “ end of my rope ,” after my marriage of twenty years ended, I was in such a condition. I was within hours of trying to get up enough nerve to end the pain and misery. When I returned home someone had sent me a card in the mail which told me how much they appreciate me as a friend. That wonderful card probably saved my life. That person, without even knowing it, saved a life and became a hero. I went on to write many stories which last week saved the life of a teenage boy. In turn that makes the person who sent me the card a double hero. I suppose that is why I fight so hard to help the children now living in orphanages. Most children come out of these institutions with a very hard and vindictive attitude ...

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

... grade. There is a wordless, excited buzzing that sings in my head and makes me giddy. I can see the summer extending before me-An eternity of Popsicles and fireflies, of lying in grassy fields and feeling the earth rising up to hold me. I am riding my bicycle, my Huffy two-speed with the turquoise sparkle paint and the cushy banana seat with the psychedelic daisies, around and around and around the block. First I'm riding with a pack of friends, and we're all yelling raucously" No more homework, No more books, No more teachers, dirty looks !!" and feeling like rebels. Slowly the pack has dwindled and I am left alone in the twilight of a warm June night. The air is just a little cool, and smells green. The light is that golden light that only happens early in the morning and just before the sun goes down. Painter's light, but I don't know that yet. There ...

... putting any effort into trying to walk and then be miserable when I fail"" Trying is never failure" I'd get steaming mad at people like her. What did they know? They came out in droves. I heard various things I should try: a soy-based diet, massage, Yoga, acupuncture, positive thinking. All of these well-meaning non-experts believed that traditional medical doctors do not know everything about human potential. However, there was a common denominator in my friends ' advice. And that was the word," Try" What made me finally try? The answer is simpler than I'd have ever imagined. That day I tried walking on my own, I had simply said to myself," Why not ?" When I walk I have a Frankenstein-style gait. I get embarrassed so I explain. I met a gal who said," Stop excusing yourself. Walk proud !" She's just one of the many who've taught me that if ...

... Nothing life threatening. Still, life was not the same. When you reach 50 everything changes. It is a label, a neon light that goes with you wherever you go. Everything you felt at 49 was a concern. Everything you feel after 50 is simply classified as" getting old" I am 58. Add to that I have Fibromyalgia and I can never have another symptom that won't be labeled as age or fibro. I think doctors stop listening and friends your age always have something worse than you." I have this pain in my shoulder"" Pain? You want to know pain? I have such pain you could never handle it" I have been blessed. I have never been in the hospital or had an operation. I really have not had any terrible diseases. So, having to go to a physical therapist is a first for me." How long have you had this pain in your neck ?" ...

... . After a while, he heard a couple of by passers talking to each other about the new pieces of dress materials available in the market. The colors, make and the model, by then he were thinking about the variety they were talking which he can't see. He called them and asked about the price, they laughed at him and said," Do blind need a garment of rich and beauty ?" That afternoon he was sitting in the place where his friends left him. He started his daily job for his life; he had to beg. He heard strange noises of cry and troubled people. He then said," Will somebody help me". His eyes were filled with tears and the drops running down his cheeks. Within him he heard," You blind one, whom do you think you are? You are supposed to beg not cry for you are a born blind beggar" While he was thinking about his ...

... His was straggly, and far too long for the rest of him. At first I had wondered about having it docked. But as the time went on I was glad I had decided to let him keep it. His tail was like a compass, or possibly a road map. He had a different tail-wag for every part of his life, from waving it uncertainly when he met a stranger, to almost wagging his whole hind end off whenever he greeted a friend, or a member of the family. And he had a special kind of tail-wag for animals of nature, especially for squirrels -for which he had some strange obsession. Scruffy became" famous" the day one of the children asked if he could take the dog to school for" show and tell"." Show and tell ?" I asked." Dogs can't go into school ” But that is exactly what happened, David and I took Scruffy to school. David ...

... But then our future-son-in-law Hudson got in the car with his GPS unit, and again I scoffed." I can read a map ," I said." I don't need some robot telling me where to turn" Turns out I do. I was stunned by how smoothly we made it through territory that was new to us. We had to go to a reception in a rural area with lots of crazy twists and turns in the road, and our little GPS friend guided us safely and calmly through it. It even figured out an alternative route when I missed a turn. By the end of the evening I was totally reliant on the new technology, and even whined a little when it went for long periods of time without talking to me. So I guess I'm understanding Howard a little better these days. And I'm understanding the words of James M. Barrie, the author who created the stories of Peter Pan, the boy who ...

... was one of those momentous high school happenings that has remained in my thoughts and feelings to this day-an accomplishment to remember.~James Colasanti Jr.~< onegooddog1 at bellsouth.net >James is a lead clerk with Barnes & Noble Booksellers. A past president of the Animal Rescue & Foster Program of Greensboro, NC, James shares his home with a housemate and 11 dogs. His stories have appeared in New York Dog Magazine, Dog & Kennel Magazine, Best Friends Magazine, Pasta Magazine, Guilford Record, News / Record, and also in the archives at Petwarmers. Please take a minute to let James know what you think of his story:? subject = SkyWriting.Net-Hitting The Top "> James Colasanti Jr [by:? subject = SkyWriting.Net-Hitting The Top "> James Colasanti Jr Copyright 2009 (onegooddog1 at bellsouth.net)-from: James Colasanti Jr.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Happiness Has Two Doors It was by chance I discovered this. Discovering things is what I do. A friend once called me a" scavenger" and in doing so, finally gave me the answer I longed for when someone asked," What do you do for a living ?"" I am a scavenger !" I now declare proudly. Miners dig for gold and precious gems. I rummage through lives and words in search of the same thing. Yesterday I discovered that" Happiness has two doors" I believe it would be safe to say that everyone wants to be happy. Some want it to last forever and more realistic dreamers would appreciate even a moment or two in each day. Perhaps even, if they should be so bold as to dream so big, would like much longer periods mixed throughout the reality of life's ups and downs. Moments turn into hours and days into one greatly appreciated week. It is with this realization ...

... necessary, for within minutes they were doing laps ‘ round the couch. Hank ’ s stamina and determination showed immediately as his little legs dug into the carpet trying to keep up with a full-grown dog. With oodles of extra love and attention, Shiloh had coped with the loss of her lifetime pal, Josey, fairly well. Still, she was overjoyed when that rowdy, young boy entered her life. I wept thinking we should have provided her with a new friend sooner, and before those tears were dry — more tears began — tears of joy because Shiloh was so" taken" with Hank. That first evening, I knew there was something mystical about Hank. After a good romp and a nap, he awoke and took off to explore his new home. Soon he had located Shiloh ’ s food dish. He promptly picked it up by the edge, dragged it into the living room, and plunked it down at my ...

... got something to be thankful for ," said the man, as he raised his pants leg and showed me his fake leg." Did the big war do that to you ?" I asked him. The man did not answer me. He just got up from his seat on the ground and walked away off into the darkness." It's OK kid. He just takes the war harder than the rest of us. We were all in the war ," said his friend." You was in the war too ?" I asked. He looked down at the ground without answering my question. Then he broke into tears and covered his face. I sat there not knowing what to say. I just sipped on my warm coffee and tried to stay warm. The next thing I remember it was morning time. The four men all told me goodbye, except the one who could not talk-he spoke with his hands and fingers. Then ...

... was breathtaking. It wasn ’ t like anything I ’ d seen in the city, and looking out in front of the driveway, was a team of horses pulling a sleigh. Grandpa told us to all pile into the sleigh, and sit close to one another to stay warm. There were two long benches that faced one another, with seating in the middle of the old sleigh, and some blankets that Grandma brought out to help keep us warm. Some friends that we all knew who had a farm nearby were seated up front to take charge of the horses. Everyone, young and old got into the sleigh on that Thanksgiving Day. I remember the country roads and the beautiful white snow that blew like a soft feather into my face, and made such a picturesque landscape where we rode. It was bumpy in spots, and over the fields the sleigh runners threw off snow as we went along. Songs that the older crowd ...

... , scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle. Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friends foot. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These ...

... only white, but I usually wore a tie around it. I didn't exactly sit on the other side of the negotiating table, but I worked for the company behind the scenes to coordinate communication efforts to employees, customers and the media. To say there was a certain amount of tension around the company during the period of labor negotiations is like saying there is a certain amount of tension these days around Jon and Kate. So the timing wasn't right for a new friendship to take root. But as Kurt and I interacted during the course of the weeks of negotiations, we found we could do so pleasantly, if not completely comfortably. He had a gruff exterior, but a quick and affable sense of humor, and 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 ...

... 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. His son added," Thanks, Dad, for showing me how 'poor ' we are !" Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life-you've got everything! You can't buy any of these things. You may have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc; but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing! Addendum-1 Timothy 6: 17 (GNB)" Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not ...

... accepted that self esteem is not an ego trip but a verification that you are a living miracle created by God. Although we are all capable of grand accomplishments that can change the world, we all succeed at various levels none less important than the next. Some listen more intently to the voice and act upon those beliefs. Others cautiously follow taking life step by step. Even those who do not heed the call serve a purpose. They often serve as the best friend, the parent, the neighbor who ignites the spark in others bound for greater goals. In this day I will celebrate as if it was my birthday and 24 hours was my gift. I will treasure the sunrise and save the light in my hand for darkened days. I will fill my lungs to capacity with the sweet smell of life and consume the colors that surround me like a meal fit for a king. I will taste the reds and yellows of the flowers ...

... Simply because they were created to. Without question. Without hesitation, they begin to do what is natural and pre-programmed. They come into the fullness of what they were meant to be. Look around you. The trees do the same. The birds return on time. Even the tiniest micro organisms respond to the need to" be". So tell me how is it that you think that you cannot become all that you dream of? The difference, my friend, is choice. The rose can be nothing but a rose. But look at what that is. Smell it. Touch it. Watch what joy it brings to both the giver and the receiver. Its power or strength is in its ability to be what it was meant to be. The maple tree cannot produce bananas. But see the shelter it provides both animal and human being. But you choose to deny your fullest potential. You can be anything humanly possible ...

... wait on the rest of her tables. Since I hadn't had time to round up a busboy to replace Stevie and really didn't want to replace him, the girls were bussing their own tables until we decided what to do. After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand and a funny look on her face. What's up ?" I asked." I didn't get that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting cleared off until after they left, and Pony Pete and Tony Tipper were sitting there when I got back to clean it off ," she said." This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup" She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell on my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed" Something for Stevie"." Pony Pete asked me what that was about ," ...

... as it was intended to be-caring, forthright and authentic. Lumby is also where I found myself. In creating the town and writing the details about the stores, the monastery, the local newspaper and Montis Inn, I discovered what was within my core, and began composing, along with my novels, a life of meaning, a life that would make my mother proud. My first novel was completed in four months, and with divine intervention by my friends, the monks of New Skete Monastery, I was signed by Yorkville Press and the publishing wheels started. The day I received my author copies of The Lumby Lines was one of the happiest in my life. The following morning, I took several copies and drove down to see my mother. She had since moved from her home to an assisted care facility. When I walked in, her eyes danced with delight. Although she couldn ’ t remember my name, she ...

... If We Listen A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God. The young man couldn't help but wonder," Does God still speak to people ?" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the idea. Several different people talked about how God had led them to do things in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray," God. If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to serve your wishes" As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought, to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud," God is that you ?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But ...

... truck"" Great. I'll give you a free evaluation of the tires you're currently driving on"" Oh man, you have got to be kidding me! You are amazing !" Jim and I saw Bob sitting in the driver's seat. When Bob saw us, it appeared that he was smashing his head on the steering wheel. Jim took out a small metal gauge and measured the tread on our tires. Bob got out of the truck." My good friends ," Jim said." Your truck wouldn't pass inspection with tires like this"" It just did this morning ," Bob pointed to the sticker." Tell you what. I'm going to sell you those top-of-the-line tires at my cost" My mouth dropped. He said," I'll just write up the slip. You don't like what you see? We'll tear it up. Got a deal ?" He reached his hand out to both of us. I took his hand ...

... enough in life to wonder what it will bring this time. Permit me to remind you that one year ago, I was sitting in my living room scared out of my mind. Marianne had just found out she had breast cancer and 2005 was frightening. Now look how far we've come. The year I feared turned out to be a year of hope, faith and love. Hope for the future, strengthened by faith and encouraged by the love of thousands of friends I've never met. You. I can also remember all too many new years when I saw nothing but emptiness ahead. I was hopeless and lost. I thought there was no music left in me. But God knew better. He always sent someone into my life who sensed that need to connect. Pausing for a moment on their own journey, their kind words, loving concern and gentle touch brought me to life. They brought out the music in my soul. ...

... low and slammed into the side of the barn. He fell to the ground with a thud and said to himself," Oh, well, I'll just wait until they fly south in a few months. Then I'll rejoin them and become a wild duck again" But when the flock flew overhead once more, Wally again tried to lift himself out of the barnyard. He simply didn't have the strength. Every winter and every spring, he saw his wild duck friends flying overhead, and they would call out to him. But his attempts to leave were all in vain. Eventually Wally no longer paid any attention to the wild ducks flying overhead. He hardly even noticed them. He had, after all, become a barnyard duck. Sometimes we get tired of being the kind of ducks we should be-followers of Jesus Christ. It's not always easy to be obedient to God and to discipline ourselves to hang in there for the ...

... you see? The voice you heard, it was the voice of God, and this beautiful crane is a gift from Him. It's the most wonderful 50th wedding anniversary gift I could have received. Thank you for listening to Holy Spirit within your heart" And that's how Art learned to listen very carefully, when the Holy Spirit speaks to him within, and tells him to do things he may not understand-now or even later. Are you listening, my friend? God may be speaking to you. Addendum-1 Corinthians 2: 14" The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" [Author and original source unknown-from Denial] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... 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 to learn to do. It seems nearly impossible to do when we are mad, tired, frustrated, or feel like we are unheard and under-appreciated. So how do ...

... of the day impatiently waiting for the kids to get off of the school bus! I have loved, hugged, bathed, doctored, diapered, played, tied, baked, volunteered, and taxied -all sorts of things! None of which would gleam on any resume! I'm scared, God. What do I do now that they don't want me to play house or need me to read them a story? What do I do now that they turn to best friends for affirmation, consolation, and affection? What do I do now that it's not cool to play catch with mom anymore? I'm scared, God. Now where do I get my validation? I have been blessed to have been afforded opportunity to stay home and raise my children for the last 14 years. I am so thankful and would not change my decision for one minute. But it seems that my job is only part-time now. I can remember wanting time and ...

... before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit. Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself! On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare ...

... look and see. At the Counsel of Nicaea, in 300 A.D, he stood the test you see. When months of fighting between the bishops began to take it ’ s toll, brave Nicklaus stood up to fight for God and right and all. He told all that would listen that Jesus was truly God. He would not budge an inch you see when he stood for his First Love. Another Bishop would not bend, he would not listen to his friend. Nicklaus after all the words, four months of talk went on, used his fists instead! And then he still fought on and won! A poor family lived in Nicklaus ’ parish. The three daughters faced lives of poverty and shame if no one would help. With no money for a dowery they had no way to wed. No husband meant shame and disgrace. It also meant no one was there to take care of her, for women could not work ...

... . She stayed on top of the water long enough for me to rub her beautiful barnacle covered, scarred head and snout. She did that twice. Incredible. Everyone was busy taking pictures while I got soaked. I didn't care. It was a miraculous feeling. She swam away and the captain steered the boat toward other whales we could see in the distance. Then the guide yelled again that two were coming close to the boat. There was my new found friend with her baby. It was unbelievable to see how she nudged her baby toward our boat. She was bringing her baby to meet me! Before long, I was within 5 feet of the most beautiful baby whale you can imagine. The mother swam just on the other side of her and after I had long enough to absorb what I was seeing, she guided her baby away from the boat and out into the waters. That was the last we saw of her ...

... Cowboys and Indians During my childhood, the beautiful Appalachian mountains of Southern West Virginia served as the playground of my friends and me. We were rugged outdoor kids who simply loved adventure. We didn't sit indoors like most kids today, playing video games and surfing the Net; we were too busy out playing ball, swinging on grapevines, catching crawdads and minnows, hiking, swimming or fishing at the old pond, camping, or anything else that would get us out of the house. Had our parents only known a fraction of what we were doing, they would have surely maintained a fuller prayer life. We especially loved to play games. We'd play hide-and-seek, tag, and tackle-the-man-with-the-football, as well as make-believe games like cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers. In the world of make-believe, guns were created by sticking your thumb straight up and extending your index finger straight out while curling the other three fingers around a make-believe pistol grip ...

... dear guardian angel knew his work here was done, last night he slept his final sleep. We held him as he died and told him we loved him, would miss him and that one day we would all be together in heaven. I woke up this morning realizing that we had actually experienced two miracles in our lives, Tony being cured of epilepsy, and the miracle of our little guardian angel who watched over him all those years. He was a true friend and we will miss him. Addendum-Luke 4: 10 (GNB)" For the scripture says, 'God will order His angels to take good care of you" [Judy Guarino (judybg @geocities.com)-from Heartwarmers4u] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... been claimed. We wouldn't have been happy on Christmas knowing that some child's gift was still on the layaway shelf. But the person who had put a dollar down on the package never returned. Early Christmas morning we and our twelve-year-old son, Tom, opened gifts. But I'll tell you, there was something humdrum about this Christmas. Tom was growing up; I missed his childish exuberance of past years. As soon as breakfast was over Tom left to visit his friend next door. Herman mumbled," I'm going back to sleep. There's nothing left to stay up for" So there I was alone, feeling let down. And then it began. A strange, persistent urge. It seemed to be telling me to go to the store. I looked at the sleet and icy sidewalk outside. That's crazy, I said to myself. I tried dismissing the urge, but it wouldn't leave me alone. In fact, it was ...

... V" formation, seemingly pointing us to the Western Pennsylvania border, past miles of roadside pumpkin stands and endless fields of late season sweet corn. Finally, my husband turns down the familiar gravel road. I spot the lake, glistening in the warm October sun." We're here !" I rustle my girls from the back seat." Hurry and say hello to everyone" The small white cottage reminds me of a doll house-the good cozy kind, where friends and family happily gather, spilling out into the yard when the quarters get a bit tight. I smile as I walk past the well manicured lawn, bedecked for fall with orange and yellow mums peeking from cast iron buckets. As always, dried cornstalks climb the back porch rails. I spy a row of perfectly orange pumpkins, gifts from my uncle's garden. I wonder if my girls will remember to take one home at day's end. For years, my uncle has ...

... by this event, but that she would remember it. I shall never forget it. I shall never forget seeing Jesus ' suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection through the eyes of an innocent child. Following the pageant the actors all assembled in the foyer to be greeted by the audience. As we passed by some of the soldiers Bailey screamed out," Bad soldier, don't you hurt Jesus" The actor who portrayed Jesus was some distance away surrounded by well-wishers and friends. Bailey broke away from us and ran toward Him, wrapping herself around His legs, holding on for dear life. He hugged her and said," Jesus loves you" He patted her to go away. She wouldn't let go. She kept clinging to Him, laughing and calling His name. She wasn't about to let go of her Jesus. I think God in heaven stopped what ever was going on that day and made all the angels watch Bailey." ...

... The Easiest Way To Learn A true story points to a universal truth about human beings: we learn best by watching how others behave. President Calvin Coolidge once invited friends from his hometown to dine with him at the White House. Unsure of their table manners, the guests decided to imitate the president. They watched closely to see which utensils he used, what foods he ate and when. Their strategy seemed to succeed until coffee was served. Coolidge poured some coffee into his saucer. They did the same. He added sugar and cream. His guests did, too. Then the president bent over and put his saucer on the floor for the cat! Like Coolidge's hometown guests, we, too, seem to learn best by imitation. Kids learn by observing parents when they are young, and by copying their peers as they grow older. In fact, parents should probably be less concerned about whether their children are paying attention to ...

... anticipation of beautiful things popping up. Yes, there will be some weeds mixed in. Be grateful for the weeds. They help you to appreciate the flowers more. But don't ever just focus on one part. You are one spirit with many parts. In order to find the flower you need to treat the whole growth" The young man returned." Sir, Bill's not here today. He'll be in tomorrow if you'd like to come back"" My friend, I think I found the solution"" Excellent, what's wrong with them ?"" I need to appreciate the leaves more ," I said. Upon my return home I walked out by the pond and took a second look at those plants. There springing up from the water was a whole bunch of potential. That evening Marianne and I sat on our deck and talked for about an hour. I told her we need to love the plants more and appreciate the beauty ...

... approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking I a saw bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word` Union, ' bearing the American flag which he placed between the divided nation, and said,` Remember ye are brethren ' Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons became friends once more, and united around the National Standard." And again I heard the mysterious voice saying,` Son of the Republic, look and learn ' At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were soon joined into ...

... the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice," Will I start to die right away ?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood. Addendum-John 15: 13 (NIV)" Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" [Unknown source-from Chuck K.] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... him to be well and safe-today and always. Let's see. that's one hand and four" other hands" Way more than I can" handle ," if you'll pardon the expression. So I offer my positive thoughts and encouragement, and commend them all to God, and trust that He will look after them wherever they are. Because I can't. It's a helpless feeling, isn't it? Whether you're a parent or a sibling or a sweetheart or a friend, it's hard to know that people who are dear to you are facing difficult or important moments in their lives, and there isn't anything you can do to help them. And so we offer encouragement and we send out our positive thoughts, in hopes that it makes a difference. And we leave the rest to God. Who, it turns out, sort of specializes in dream fulfillment.~Joseph Walker~< ValueSpeak @msn.com >Joseph Walker began his professional writing ...

... spin such a web, especially just one tiny strand. I moved closer to investigate. When I reached down to break the web I discovered it wasn't a web at all. It was a piece of fishing line. I gave it a tug and saw it was tangled in the bushes, and the other end was knotted under the car. One of the boys was sitting on the front deck of the house. I remarked," Looks like someone booby-trapped your friend's car" He came closer to see what I was talking about. I gave the line a tug. It was tightly jammed under the wheel of the vehicle." Strange, it seems to go all the way under ," I said. I walked to the back of the car and saw a robin. It fluttered to get away, but the line, which was wrapped around its tiny leg, held it firm. The poor bird flapped around on the pavement with ...

... suit. A mom can have a 102 degree fever, hacking cough, and horrible rash, but she still has to make supper, make a cover for a 6th grade Science book, and take a sliver out of an 8-year-old's finger. If head lice is invading your son's class, he'll pick that day to borrow Josh's comb (even though he usually never combs his hair). A teenager may call your jokes lame-but she usually repeats them to her friends. Nothing feels better after a hard day at the office, dentist, or tax accountant, than a big hug and sticky" tootsie roll" kiss from your favorite kid. The best presents are not made of gold or silver, but consist of uncooked macaroni noodles glued to a jar and sprayed with paint. Being a Mom is the best job in the world, and it's truly worth the spider veins, extra pounds and extra wrinkles. Happy Mothers Day! [ ...

... bottom ," he said. With little effort, four of us lifted and placed the man over his final resting place. Including the funeral director, there were six of us in attendance. The chaplain began his brief service and I began to disconnect. I mean, I couldn't believe this. All the thoughts of how sad this was. All the images of no one being there for him and no one caring trashed my brain." And so we commit our friend" the chaplain went on. And then it was over." May I ask ," the director said." Did any of you know him? I mean, would you know him by sight ?" One of the nurses replied," Yes"" Would you please take a moment to identify him ?" he asked. He was about to open the casket. We all stood there nervously anxious and uneasy. I've certainly seen enough dead people in my life, but ...

... in" I wasn't headed that way at all. But I knew I was suppose to talk to this man. I knew it the minute I saw him get out of the pickup truck that dropped him off at the gas station. His name was Michael. We chit chatted about the weather and such for a few minutes. But I was curious. I always am when I'm around senior citizens. He just got out of the Veterans hospital and was visiting a friend." I 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. ...

... and successful in their life. Wanting, planning and wishing are words for children." I have a passion for !" is a powerful statement. It says" I want it bad enough to work for it ,"" Do whatever it takes to get it ,"" It is a part of who I am" Wow! Which one of those people do you think will succeed? The" wisher" or the one with a" passion" for it? My friend Mark has a passion for what he does. I could hear it in his voice. He wants to teach people to venture inside themselves to find what they are looking for. I knew what he was talking about. It's what I tell you. Everything you need you have already. It's inside. You know the right thing to do, but it takes work. Your search for outside answers is a feeble attempt at trying to find an easier way to get there ...

... to teach us?" Is there something wrong with your ears? You're not all deaf are you ?" One brave soul at the back of the class asked what we all wanted to know." Mr. Stevens, aren't you going to teach us ?"" Rubbish !" Mr. Stevens replied." You're smart kids. Open your books and get to it. If you have any trouble or any questions raise your hand, and I'll come help you" My friend Paul and I exchanged glances and opened our books to the first chapter. A competition began. Paul and I spent all our free time at home working through the lessons. Mr. Stevens, true to his word, helped anyone who was stuck on a problem. It was his clue a lesson was needed. He'd stop us from what we were doing to teach all the students what one struggled with. It was a strange method of teaching, but it was very ...

... , tap. This time I stopped and looked downward. There he stood. His eyes were whiter because of his grubby cheeks and coal-black hair." Pao, senhor ?" (Bread, sir ?) Living in Brazil, one has daily opportunities to buy a candy bar or sandwich for these little outcasts. It's the least one can do. I told him to come with me and we entered the sidewalk cafe." Coffee for me and something tasty for my little friend" The boy ran to the pastry counter and made his choice. Normally, these youngsters take the food and scamper back out into the street without a word. But this little fellow surprised me. The cafe consisted of a long bar: one end for pastries and the other for coffee. As the boy was making his choice, I went to the other end of the bar and began drinking my coffee. Just as I was getting my derailed train of thought back ...

... , meditate, or just do some thinking …“ woolgathering ” Momma used to call it. Even if the sun wasn ’ t shining, there was nothing quite like the sound of rain on the porch roof. It was such a secure feeling and a perfect time to curl up on the porch swing with a quilt and a good book and listen to the soft pattering of the raindrops. The summer nights were also very good for “ porch sittin ”. We made friends with the night sky as we enjoyed God ’ s creation. As a child I learned about stars and constellations from my parents. I learned how to identify the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, and then identify the North Star and the Milky Way. There were all the different night sounds that were a little frightening at first until Momma explained the howling of the coyotes, the loud noise of the bullfrog, and the calls of hoot owls and whippoorwills. We also ...

... Promise? I was in a hurry. It was raining on their picnic and I had just set up my sound system on the front porch in hopes of getting them outside at least for awhile. I happened to hear one of the residents comment that it was too" cold and damp" to go out there." I have to move all of this inside ," I told my friend. In a short time and much hurry, I had everything set up again in their living room. But I was clearly exhausted. Sweat ran down my face and the back of my neck was wet. I looked like I was standing in the rain. I was there to run a sing-a-long. The residents were varied in ages, so I started out with classics like," By the light of the silvery moon" Then I handed a few of the younger people a handful of CD's I brought that just might have something they would ...

... had his operation to remove the cancerous tumor from his leg. Maybe it would have been different if we were closer to home. Perhaps I would have been looking out the window at familiar landmarks and I would have found comfort in it. This, however, was in stark contrast. I have passed by hospitals a thousand times and never thought about what it would be like to be a face on the other side of the glass. Yes, I've visited with friends and family before when they were there. But, this was different. This time and this place would be our home for months. I can remember very clearly standing in the window of the waiting room that day. Almost oblivious to my surroundings I was suddenly shaken when I happened to glance across the street." I can't believe it !" I whispered. I had been there so many times through the years. Standing there I would never have given any thought at ...

... you had that miracle at hand. Would you feel a sense of urgency to do something with it or would you just sit by and wait until the opportunities faded or your time ran out? What about your obligation to God? Above all else, beyond what others might expect, don't you think that if God gave you that miracle that you would make it a priority in your life to use it in such a way as to please Him? Well, my friend, this isn't some foolish idea. This isn't some ethical question in a college course. It is indeed reality. YOU are that miracle created, born with great expectations and given unto the world as the miracle of life. You are capable of all those things and obligated by faith to use this miracle. Wake up to this reality. Step up to the challenge. Live up to expectations. Be the miracle!" I believe in You !" J~Bob Perks ...

... " When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always what they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks people wear if you want to know what is in their hearts. Remove your own masks to let people know who you really are. When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever. Always appreciate what you have. You never know when you might lose it. Never take your friends or family for granted, because today and sometimes only this very moment is the only guarantee you may have. When someone inflicts injury upon you, it teaches you that the human state is a very fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best as you can, it's the one thing that you are sure to have forever. When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike. When you encounter people who are different from you ...

... Number 111 “ You haven ’ t changed a bit ,” I said as I pulled the old burgundy colored hymnbook from the shelf. I ’ m not in the habit of talking to books but it might be interesting if this particular hymnbook could talk back to me. I have a collection of old hymnbooks that friends have given me or I have gathered from various places over the years but this hymnbook was special. The old hymnbook with an arched church window etched on the front and the words “ Tabernacle Hymns ” looked quite the same as it did the first time I saw it. An edge or two was frayed but it was still in good condition. I opened it up and inside the cover was the date, 1957, so it would have been fairly new when it was given to me. I remembered this hymnbook well because it was the very first one that I had used as I learned to play the piano. Tucked ...

... , I did speak with about a dozen people that day. As I was gathering my notes and adjusting my tie, I heard someone say," It's also what you didn't see" I looked around and saw no one. Shrugging it off, I continued my effort to collect myself. I picked up my belongings and turned quickly, nearly running into a man standing directly behind me." Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were there, my friend ," I said." I didn't mean to startle you ," he said." I heard your talk"" Oh, thanks for being there"" It's also what you didn't see ," he said. Not having any idea what that meant, I looked over my glasses and paused for a second before asking," What didn't I see ?"" You said," You are a total summation of everything you believe and see in the world ," he explained. ...

... quickly turned to laughter at her ready response of," Bring it on over, Honey, bring it on over !" Our clothes were never cleaner, brighter, or less wrinkled than during the almost two years that Betty faithfully and lovingly did our laundry. Then when our little foster daughters were placed in their" forever home" through adoption, we both knew it was time for me to resume the task, and although she no longer does our laundry, our friendship remains strong. She laughed one day when I told her I wanted to be just like her when I grew up. I still do. [by: Ronni Wintermote (MountainWings.com)-from Margrit, via InspiredBuffalo @lighthouse.net] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... door opened and a young man about twenty came into the store pushing his self in a wheelchair. The salesman sat down his coffee cup and walked toward the young man. “ I need a new pair of shoes ,” said the customer. As he turned the corner there was a blanket across his lap. I was shocked to see that the young man had no legs. The salesman stood there having no idea what he should say. “ A gift for a friend ?” I asked the boy. “ No ,” he replied. They are for me ,” he continued, with a smile on his face. I just smiled back and watched to see what would happen next. “ What type of shoe would you like ?” asked the clerk. “ How ‘ bout a pair of cowboy boots. You got any cowboy boots in here ?” The man pointed to the back wall where three or four pairs of boots were displayed. “ Let ...

... 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~[ by: Steve Goodier Copyright ...

... . But there's something about the wind"" There you go again ," he said." Explain the wind to me, then ," I asked of him. He fumbled with his hat. He nervously tapped his fingers on the table and said," Because I just know"" But there's something about the wind ," I said one more time as I smiled. He shook his head in frustration. Placing my hand on his shoulder I said," My friend, you believe the wind exists because you see the tree move. I believe that God exists because I can see the tree"~Bob Perks~2believe @comcast.net [by: Bob Perks Copyright 2007 (2believe @comcast.net)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... the help of a walker. It was very oblivious to any observer that something very painful had happened to me. There was one other customer in the store and she asked the question that I had heard many times, What happened to you? I told her that I had parked my ride in a painful way in August. The she asked, Where? I told her my near-death story. Then she began to gush with excitement. She explained that her best friend s husband was the volunteer fireman that was both the witness and first responder to the accident. Then she said a chilling comment, He thinks you are dead, you ought to call him. The lady opened her purse and wrote down a phone number to my rescuer. This unusual conversation led to a very unusual conversation. I was the not so dead man who was thanking his rescuer for the gift of life and for each new day. How do thank someone for ...

... grocery shopping and continues to sneak and smoke after a bilateral carotid endartectomy. AND he spends way too much time in his recliner! This same man wouldn't miss a day of work unless he was half dead and he hands over his check every payday. He would drive day and night to pick up either of our girls if they needed him. He loves my mom and Granny almost as much as I do. If you called him and said," I'm Sue's friend, we've never met and my car won't start" he would be out of the door in a flash to help you out. What an incredible father he has been. I know he loves our girls 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 ...

... rebel in her own right, settled in to her new world. She adapted pretty well to the few things that we asked of her. The" rules" were few and simple. Stay sober, go to meetings and work on building a foundation for the rest of your life. What everyone else looked at was what a generous gift we were giving to her. What I found out was what a wonderful gift I was given! Amber and I developed a friendship that is priceless to me. She is the same age as my oldest daughter, and I look at her daughter as the granddaughter that I haven't had yet. Amber lived with us for about a year and a half and during that time she worked and went to school to start a new career. Amber lost her mother, Carol, unexpectedly one morning and she walked through that with grace and dignity. She has regained her self respect, her dignity, her family ...

... hat, shirt and jacket and that year, when the marathon went through their neighborhood, these young men proudly guarded the runners along their way. Fred decided what was truly important to him and he found a way to do it. He lived with intent. That single decision made his life remarkably different. In 1990, Fred Lebow found he had a brain tumor. In 1992 he ran his final race. He crossed the finish line holding the hand of his friend and Norwegian Olympic medalist, Grete Waitz. A bronze statue was created of Fred in his running clothes, checking his watch. It is now placed at the finish line of every race. Fred died in 1994. But as one sports writer said," Fate handed him a short race. With his gall, with his love of life, Fred Lebow turned it into a marathon" Fred would say that it's not about how long you live, but how you run ...

... he dies. Then, and only then, will the geese set out again to find another formation to which they can join themselves. Galatians 6: 2 tells us to" bear one another ’ s burdens" Verse 9 tells us" not to grow weary while we are doing good, for we shall reap the benefits eventually" Are we willing to sacrifice our time to help a hurting Christian? Or perhaps to spend sometime sitting by the bedside of a sick friend? Or perhaps we know a neighbor who is suffering from depression. Are we willing to go out of our way to help? Or perhaps to extend an invitation to that one for a Sunday supper? We will reap the benefits if we will do as the geese do. Support one another.~Helen Dowd~Copyright 2006 www.occupytillicome.com [by Helen Dowd Copyright 2006, (hmdowd @telus.net)-submitted by: Helen Dowd] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... our September calendars with dates for chaperoning school activities and adhering to the more rigid schedules that fall brings our way. These dog days of summer are finding me in a bit of a melancholy mood. As the heat continues to be an issue my heart happens to be melting with memories of summer's sweet song of yesterday. On a faraway street corner, many, many years ago stood a lemonade stand that held the promise of making lots of money for two enthusiastic best friends. This memory is brought alive as I see today's mommies spending no less than ten bucks on ingredients 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 to burnt. Now it is my dear hubby who likes ...

... author posed about choosing one memory to relive has opened a flood gate of memories too many to choose from. If I had a choice, I think I'd rather opt for one more day to spend with my family in that house on 104th place in Roseland. To smell the Lillies of the Valley that grew wild and untouched in the front yard. To catch lightning bugs in the backyard and bike ride around the block, with my little brother teasing me and my friends because we couldn't leave the block. What I wouldn't give, as an adult, to sit on the old back porch and sip a milk shake my dad had made especially for me. To laugh with my grandma and to have a chat with my mom-if she could be as she was and I could be who I am now. (I'd have a lot of thanking to do) It's a gift to reclaim a sense of our summer's youth. While we ...

... My Next Husband Will Be Normal My friend gave me a plaque that read," My next husband will be normal" I didn't realize how fitting it was until the morning I announced to the husband," I'm taking a quick bike ride. I'll be back in half an hour" He nodded, heading toward the garage to tear apart a motorcycle. After pedaling a mile down a deserted dirt road, the strength began to drain from my body like air leaking from a balloon. I felt like the Energizer Bunny without batteries. My legs went limp like cooked linguini and my body folded up like a cheap lawn chair. Then everything went black. I awoke in the ditch with the heavy bike across my chest. Bits of gravel were embedded in my skinned palms. When I tried to sit up, the world began to spin; so I lay back down in the dirt. I had no choice but to wait for someone ...

... said." I've just come from the supply room. We're making valentine envelopes this morning. It'll be a good way for her to get acquainted" This was my third year of teaching fourth-graders, but I was already aware how much they loved Valentine's Day (now just a week away ), and making these bright containers to tape to the fronts of their desks was a favorite activity. Mary would surely be caught up in the excitement and be chatting cheerfully with new friends before the project was finished. Humming to myself, I continued up the stairs. I didn't see her at first. She was sitting in the back of the room with her hands folded in her lap. Her head was down and long, light-brown hair fell forward, caressing the softly shadowed cheeks." Welcome, Mary ," I said." I'm so glad you'll be in our room. And this morning you can make an envelope to hold your valentines ...

... they were suppose to do be doing, other times they took turns sitting next to their mom on the small but comfortable couch. Her husband, Al, stood close by, just a few feet away from the shiny teal blue casket that now held his beloved wife of 52 years. The extra tight hugs, the occasional flow of tears, as visitors paid their last respects and extended their condolences to a bereaved husband, were a sobering reminder of why family, friends and neighbors were gathered there. Technically, Al and Mary Keffer were not really my husband Bill's aunt and uncle. Al was my mother-in-law's cousin. But that made no difference. For as long as I've known Bill they have been Aunt Mary and Uncle Al to us. Aunt Mary's passing took us all by surprise. Like most busy families we sometimes lost track of each other on a day to day basis. We'd enjoy each others company at weddings and other family get ...

... and fix the taps on the kitchen sink. Take care of the golf balls first, of the things that really matter. Choose your priorities, the rest is just sand" One of the students then raised a hand and asked what the coffee meant. The professor smiled and said:" It's good that you ask. I only added coffee to show that although your lives may seem full and busy, there is always room for a cup of coffee with a friend. Good day to all"~Author Unknown~[ Translation by: Carole Toucet-( carolemlt2 @yahoo.com)-submitted by: Carole Toucet] Inspirational Stories SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... " Just 300"*True story-Names have been changed. Last week at work, a dear friend of my boss dropped by and related this story … His company had been toiling and negotiating on an offer for months. It had become the obsession of his office. They finally had a realistic proposal and he was sitting across from his customer. “ Thanks, Dave ,” he said, “ but we ’ ll have to pass this year ” He was devastated. How could he face his employees? The loss of this million dollar deal would result in layoffs. His stomach initially tied in knots over presenting the bid, was now wrenched tighter. He simply could not understand how the client could afford to refuse their offer. He dreaded returning to the office. Pulling into a truck stop he ordered coffee before returning to the office. His waitress was friendly, although slightly distracted. As she poured the coffee and he nonchalantly ...

... . Junior was given to my son and we think he was about two years old. He had ruled the house alone and happily so for many months. I had told my son about seeing a story on the news regarding some" meth head" that had burned his dog alive because the poor thing wouldn't quit barking, and it had no water or food. This must have made a huge impression on him. He had attended an auction with several of his friends, which was to benefit Toys for Tots. A local woman had donated a registered Red Pomeranian puppy, not quite 6 weeks old. Two of the folks who were bidding were known to be drug users, and thinking he would purchase the puppy to save her, he continued bidding. This frustrated the drug addicts tremendously, and eventually my son won custody of little tiny Sammie and brought her home. Junior, whom we figured would consider her an intruder and possibly hurt ...

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

... Finally getting to all the grill work I had to do, I thought about what this day meant to me. Then, once again, the sun burst through. Not just a sneak peek but a sudden explosion of sunlight. I paused and thought" Why waste your time ?" Just write off this day and forget it. But my curiosity got the best of me. I ran out to my front porch, scanning the skies .I saw nothing. A neighbor friend, who has been known to come charging out to search for a rainbow under the same conditions drove around the corner. As he pulled into his driveway he yelled," Did you see it ?"" No, as things went today I was not meant to see one ," I said." See one? You were one !" he said laughing." What? What are you talking about ?"" I was coming down the highway and I saw this beautiful rainbow ...

... flow of life. This story happened in the days of Lao Tzu in China, and Lao Tzu loved it very much: There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Kings offered fabulous prizes for the horse, but the man would say," This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person. And how can you sell a person, a friend ?" The man was poor, but he never sold the horse. One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. The whole village gathered and said," You foolish old man! We knew that someday the horse would be stolen. It would have been better to sell it. What a misfortune !" The old man said," Don't go so far as to say that. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is ...

... has died. I believe it is not the memory of someone gone, but the love of someone that sustains us. Love is more than remembering. Love is first a decision of the mind and then a commitment of the heart. A few years ago, someone wrote to me asking" When will I stop hurting ?" At that time there seemed to be a number of people who were struggling with loss. I have recently become aware that some of my" friends I've never met ," are hurting. Permit me to share that story with you again: When will I stop hurting? By Bob Perks" I lost a loved one nearly a year ago. When will I stop hurting ?" The question was simple but difficult to answer. She was challenging me. I wanted to help her, but I knew that only she could answer that question. Whenever someone writes to tell me about a death, I always talk about the difficult ...

... Lucky The Dog Touching Story About Lucky The Dog. Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named" Lucky" Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box. It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease .in fact, she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with ...

... Mother's Day In Georgia The story of" Making Pancakes" reminds me of Mothers Day in Georgia in 1970. I had just retired from the Air Force and was in Milledgeville attending Georgia, College. That Mothers Day Sunday, my family and I were at Molesville Baptist Church waiting for the Preacher to begin when I looked around noticing our 12-year-old son was absent. My wife and I looked at each other with questioning eyes, thinking he was probably outside playing with his friends. Ten or fifteen minutes later the choir was singing and still no son. Thirty minutes later the preacher was well into his sermon and still no son. I knew in my heart of hearts the only thing wrong was his priorities, which as soon as we came face-to-face again, I would direct him into knowing what was important and what was not important. Since we only lived about a block from the church, all through the sermon I was thinking he had gone ...

... its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you,-remember-when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. ...

... 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 young and beautiful and certainly desirable, she was more interested in her girls and making sure our life was as comfortable as possible. We had a nice home, plenty of what we needed and all the love you could ask for, but we sure missed our father. Mom was lonely too, so just about every evening we would go to our grandparent's house for a visit. My grandmother, Nanny as we called her, had begun working part time at Kentucky Fried ...

... , as she walked around the sanctuary displaying my son to those gathered for the Christmas service. The room was empty of everyone but her and my family. Overtaken with emotion, I reached out and hugged Georgia and Vanessa to my side, and thought," This will be a Christmas to remember" In 2003, I pulled the ornaments out again. Justin and I were not going to be home for Christmas that year. We were going to spend Christmas with friends in Ohio, but I wanted Christmas to be the way it always was. I wanted Christmas to be the way Justin remembered. Georgia died two months earlier. Justin and I were alone in New Jersey. Vanessa was in Ohio. It had to be the way it was before-the perfect tree. The ornaments-the memories-had new meaning that Christmas. The memories of her death were raw, but the tree overcame them. A tear trickled from my ...

... love people so much, when I can't resolve a relationship, I see it as a fault of my own. My thinking goes to" maybe you aren't doing your job. Maybe you aren't trying hard enough" I question" me" I did until today. There he was again. Waiting at the corner. This time the voice said," Help him !" I pulled off, got out of my car, and rushed to his side." My friend, can I help you get across ?" He was slightly slumped forward. His hands were covered by gloves, but the finger tips had been cut off revealing his rough, calloused skin and longer than normal nails. He turned towards me and said," Now you made me miss the light !" Sure enough, the light had changed and the traffic started moving." I'm sorry !" I said and then went on to explain that I had seen him there before and ...

... its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat. So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, ...

... I'll just blend in" Then one day the stage lights go dim. A bright, beautiful spotlight streaks across the stage and centers on you. Without being prepared you are given a solo. You pause, only for a moment, confused and afraid you rise to your feet. The music of life continues as your moment to shine approaches. You are almost blinded by the light, but just beyond the edge of the stage you see familiar faces. Family and friends have gathered front row center. Through the years they have heard the music you have been writing. They, above all others, know you can play your part well. Fear and doubt, your greatest enemy, can silence you and steal away your debut. But look. There at center stage facing you, shadowed by the light, you see a look of confidence on the face of the Maestro. He knows very well that you can do this. His baton ...

... by name," Moon River ," Fly me to the Moon ,"" Shine on Harvest Moon ,"" It's only a Paper Moon ,"" Blue Moon ,"" Moonlight Sonata" and more. But what has always stuck with me is when they speak about," The man in the Moon" I just could never see it. Although the Moon and I go way back and even until this very day, I cannot go out at night without looking for my friend. I will not even begin to try to convince you that the moon got me through it all. No, like everything else in my life, it was the" Man behind the moon" The Creator of all things. When I stood on the shore, His waves danced at my feet washing away my cares. When I cried because young love was ripping my heart out He lifted my spirits by reminding me love will forever be a part of my life. ...

... infected and died. Everyone figured that old, stately elm would be next. There was no way the tree could last, between the encroaching fungus and its chain belt strangling its trunk. The farm's owners considered doing the safe thing: pulling it out and chopping it up into firewood before it died and blew over onto the barn in a windstorm. But they simply could not bring themselves to do it. It was as if the old tree had become a family friend. So they decided to let nature take its course. Amazingly, the tree did not die. Year after year it thrived. Nobody could understand why it was the only elm still standing in the county! Plant pathologists from Michigan State University came out to observe the tree. They observed the scar left by the iron chain, now almost completely covered by bark and badly corroded. The plant experts decided that it was the chain that saved the elm's life. They reasoned ...