The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose.
I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.
If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.
At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be .
When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!
These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.
REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Pass this message to 7 people except you and me. You will receive a miracle tomorrow
If you choose not, then you refuse to bless someone else.
"Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there."
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Cerita Dari Afrika
Suatu malam Saya bekerja keras untuk menolong seorang ibu di sebuah bangsal rumah sakit, tapi apapun yang kami lakukan, dia meninggal dan meninggalkan bayi premature yang sangat mungil serta seorang anak perempuan usia 2 tahun yang menangis.
Kami mengalami kesulitan untuk menjaga agar si bayi tetap hidup, Karena kami tidak punya incubator (kami tidak punya listrik untuk Menyalakan incubator),Kami juga tidak punya makanan khusus bayi. Meskipun kami tinggal di daerah khatulistiwa, di malam hari seringkali udara sangat dingin dan anginya kencang. Salah seorang muridku menaruh bayi itu dalam box dan membungkus bayi dengankain wol. Yang lain menyalakan api dan mengisi botol air panas.
Kemudian muridku yang mengisi botol air panas segera kembali dengan kebingungan sambil bercerita bahwa saat mengisi botol itu dan ternyata meledak (Karet mudah rusak dalam kondisi cuaca tropis)" Dan ini adalah botol air panas terakhir kita," dia berseru."Oke," kataku, "taruh bayi itu didekat api dalam jarak yang cukup aman, dan tidurlah diantara bayi itu dan pintu untuk menjaga nya dari angin. Tugasmu adalah menjaga bayi tetap hangat."
Siang hari berikutnya, seperti hari sebelumnya, Aku pergi berdoa dengan beberapa anak yatim piatu yang berkumpul denganku. Aku berikan mereka bermacam-macam saran untuk mendoakan dan bercerita pada mereka tentang bayi mungil itu. Aku menceritakan masalah kami soal menjaga bayi supaya cukup hangat, menyebutkan tentang botol air panas, dan bagaimana bayi itu bisa dengan mudah meninggal bila kedinginan.S aya juga bercerita pada mereka tentang saudara perempuannya yang berumur 2 tahun, yang menangis karena ibunya meninggal.
Selama berdoa, seorang gadis usia 10 tahun, Ruth, berdoa dengan doa singkat seperti anak Afrika kami. "Tolong, Tuhan" dia berdoa, "kirim kan botol air. Tidak baik besok, Tuhan, karena bayinya bisa mati, jadi tolong kirim sore ini." Saat aku menarik napas dalam hati karena keberaniannya dalam berdoa, dia menambahkan, "Dan saat Engkau mengirimkan botol air itu, maukah Engkau mengirimkan juga boneka untuk gadis kecil itu, supaya dia tahu bhw Engkau sungguh mengasihinya? "Seringkali dalam doa anak-anak, aku merasa ditempatkan pada pusatnya. Dengan sungguh-sungguh kukatakan, "Amin".
Oya aku tahu bahwa Tuhan dapat melakukan segalanya, Alkitab mengatakan demikian. Tapi pasti ada batasnya, kan ? (pikiran manusia selalu ingin membatasi kuasaTuhan) Dan menurutku satu-satunya jalan Tuhan dapat menjawab doa-doa kami yaitu jika keluargaku di Amerika mengirimi bingkisan. Namun aku sudah tinggal selama hampir 4 tahun, dan tidak pernah, samasekali menerima bingkisan dari rumah. Tapi, bila sesorang mengirimiku bingkisan, siapa yang akan memberi botolair panas. Sebab aku tinggal di daerah Tropis!
Menjelang sore, ketika aku sedang mengajar di sekolah pelatihan perawat,sebuah parcel dikirimkan dengan mobil didepan pintu rumahku. Saat aku sampai di rumah, mobilnya sudah pergi, tapi disana, di beranda, ada dua puluh dua pon parcel yang sangat besar. Aku merasa pedih dimataku. Aku tidak dapat membuka parsel itu sendirian, jadi aku meminta keanak-anak yatim piatu untuk membantuku.
Bersama-sama kami menarik talinya, dengan hati-hati membuka simpulnya. Kami melipat kertasnya, supaya tidak menyobeknya. Kegembiraan meningkat. Sebanyak 30 atau 40 pasang mata melihat ke dalam kardus tersebut. Dari atas, kami aku mengeluarkan baju rajutan berwarna cerah. Mata kami langsung silau melihatnya. Ada perban rajutan untuk pasien kusta, dan anak-anak mulai terlihat sedikit bosan. Lalu ada sekotak kismis, ini bisa dipakai untuk membuat setumpuk kue kismis di akhir pekan.
Lalu, aku memasukkan tanganku lagi, aku merasa .... benarkah ini?? Aku menariknya keluar.... yaa.. ini baru, botol air panas karet. Aku menangis terharu. Aku tidak meminta Tuhan untuk mengirimkannya. Aku tidak percaya bahwa Dia benar-benar melakukannya. Ruth ada di barisan depan dari anak2. Ia cepat2 maju, sambil menangis, "Jika Tuhan mengirimkan botolnya, Dia harus mengirim bonekanya juga!" Sambil mengobrak-abrik bagian bawah kotak, dia menarik sesuatu yang mungil, boneka bergaun indah. Matanya berkilau! Dia tidak pernah sangsi! Sambil melihatku, dia berkata : "Dapatkah aku pergi bersamamu & memberikan boneka ini kepada gadis kecil itu, supaya dia tahu, Yesus sangatmencintainya??
Ternyata parcel ini telah dipersiapkan dan dikirim 5 bulan lalu. Di bungkus oleh Siswa Kelas Hari Mingguku, yang mana saat mempersiapkan parcel itu, Tuhan telah memerintahkannya juga untuk mengirimi botol air panas walaupun di daerah Tropis. Lalu salah satu dari siswaku juga telah memberikan boneka untuk dikirimkan ke anak Afrika - Dan itu semua terjadi 5 bulan sebelumnya, sebagai jawaban dari doa seorang anak gadis 10 tahun untuk membawanya "sore itu"(Yesaya 65:24) "Maka sebelum mereka memanggil, Aku sudah menjawabnya; ketika mereka sedang berbicara, Aku sudah mendengarkannya. "
(Doa 1 menit) Doa yang mengagumkan ini kurang dari 1 menit. Ketika kamu menerima ini, ucapkan doamu, dan segalanya dapat kau lakukan. Tidak perlu basa basi. Hanya cukup kirimkan kepada semua orang yang kamu inginkan-tapi lakukan itu.D oa adalah hadiah terbaik yang kita terima. Tidak perlu biaya tapi banyak untungnya.
Teruskan doamu ini kepada orang lain.
Bapa, aku memintamu untuk memberkati teman-temanku yang membaca tulisan ini.
Aku memintaMu untuk memberi semangat kepada para Pelayan Tuhan setiap saat.
Dimana ada kesesakan Kau berikan damai dan kemurahanMu.
Dimana ada keraguan, Kau perbaharui keyakinan untuk bekerja diantara mereka.
Disaat lelah serta letih, aku mohon supaya Engkau memberikan mereka pengertian, bimbingan & kekuatan supaya mereka selalu belajar untuk taat kepada PimpinanMu.
Dimana mereka merasa hanya diam di tempat, aku memohon kepadaMu untukmenyatakan keberadaanMu & menggambarkan pada mereka betapa indahnya bergaul akrab denganMu.
Dimana ada ketakutan & kekhawatiran, Nyatakan kasihMu dan tunjukkan kebesaranMu kepada mereka.
Saat dosa menutupi mereka, nyatakan itu, dan patahkan belenggu yang melingkupi kehidupan teman2ku.
Berkati keuangan mereka, berikan mereka visi yang besar, dan angkat para pemimpin serta teman2 untuk mendukung & mendorong mereka.
Berikan setiap mereka penglihatan untuk menunjukkan adanya kekuatan jahat yang ada disekitar mereka & nyatakan kekuatan di dalamMu untuk mengalahkannya.
Aku berdoa padaMu di dalam Nama Yesus. Amin! Blessing In Christ
Kami mengalami kesulitan untuk menjaga agar si bayi tetap hidup, Karena kami tidak punya incubator (kami tidak punya listrik untuk Menyalakan incubator),Kami juga tidak punya makanan khusus bayi. Meskipun kami tinggal di daerah khatulistiwa, di malam hari seringkali udara sangat dingin dan anginya kencang. Salah seorang muridku menaruh bayi itu dalam box dan membungkus bayi dengankain wol. Yang lain menyalakan api dan mengisi botol air panas.
Kemudian muridku yang mengisi botol air panas segera kembali dengan kebingungan sambil bercerita bahwa saat mengisi botol itu dan ternyata meledak (Karet mudah rusak dalam kondisi cuaca tropis)" Dan ini adalah botol air panas terakhir kita," dia berseru."Oke," kataku, "taruh bayi itu didekat api dalam jarak yang cukup aman, dan tidurlah diantara bayi itu dan pintu untuk menjaga nya dari angin. Tugasmu adalah menjaga bayi tetap hangat."
Siang hari berikutnya, seperti hari sebelumnya, Aku pergi berdoa dengan beberapa anak yatim piatu yang berkumpul denganku. Aku berikan mereka bermacam-macam saran untuk mendoakan dan bercerita pada mereka tentang bayi mungil itu. Aku menceritakan masalah kami soal menjaga bayi supaya cukup hangat, menyebutkan tentang botol air panas, dan bagaimana bayi itu bisa dengan mudah meninggal bila kedinginan.S aya juga bercerita pada mereka tentang saudara perempuannya yang berumur 2 tahun, yang menangis karena ibunya meninggal.
Selama berdoa, seorang gadis usia 10 tahun, Ruth, berdoa dengan doa singkat seperti anak Afrika kami. "Tolong, Tuhan" dia berdoa, "kirim kan botol air. Tidak baik besok, Tuhan, karena bayinya bisa mati, jadi tolong kirim sore ini." Saat aku menarik napas dalam hati karena keberaniannya dalam berdoa, dia menambahkan, "Dan saat Engkau mengirimkan botol air itu, maukah Engkau mengirimkan juga boneka untuk gadis kecil itu, supaya dia tahu bhw Engkau sungguh mengasihinya? "Seringkali dalam doa anak-anak, aku merasa ditempatkan pada pusatnya. Dengan sungguh-sungguh kukatakan, "Amin".
Oya aku tahu bahwa Tuhan dapat melakukan segalanya, Alkitab mengatakan demikian. Tapi pasti ada batasnya, kan ? (pikiran manusia selalu ingin membatasi kuasaTuhan) Dan menurutku satu-satunya jalan Tuhan dapat menjawab doa-doa kami yaitu jika keluargaku di Amerika mengirimi bingkisan. Namun aku sudah tinggal selama hampir 4 tahun, dan tidak pernah, samasekali menerima bingkisan dari rumah. Tapi, bila sesorang mengirimiku bingkisan, siapa yang akan memberi botolair panas. Sebab aku tinggal di daerah Tropis!
Menjelang sore, ketika aku sedang mengajar di sekolah pelatihan perawat,sebuah parcel dikirimkan dengan mobil didepan pintu rumahku. Saat aku sampai di rumah, mobilnya sudah pergi, tapi disana, di beranda, ada dua puluh dua pon parcel yang sangat besar. Aku merasa pedih dimataku. Aku tidak dapat membuka parsel itu sendirian, jadi aku meminta keanak-anak yatim piatu untuk membantuku.
Bersama-sama kami menarik talinya, dengan hati-hati membuka simpulnya. Kami melipat kertasnya, supaya tidak menyobeknya. Kegembiraan meningkat. Sebanyak 30 atau 40 pasang mata melihat ke dalam kardus tersebut. Dari atas, kami aku mengeluarkan baju rajutan berwarna cerah. Mata kami langsung silau melihatnya. Ada perban rajutan untuk pasien kusta, dan anak-anak mulai terlihat sedikit bosan. Lalu ada sekotak kismis, ini bisa dipakai untuk membuat setumpuk kue kismis di akhir pekan.
Lalu, aku memasukkan tanganku lagi, aku merasa .... benarkah ini?? Aku menariknya keluar.... yaa.. ini baru, botol air panas karet. Aku menangis terharu. Aku tidak meminta Tuhan untuk mengirimkannya. Aku tidak percaya bahwa Dia benar-benar melakukannya. Ruth ada di barisan depan dari anak2. Ia cepat2 maju, sambil menangis, "Jika Tuhan mengirimkan botolnya, Dia harus mengirim bonekanya juga!" Sambil mengobrak-abrik bagian bawah kotak, dia menarik sesuatu yang mungil, boneka bergaun indah. Matanya berkilau! Dia tidak pernah sangsi! Sambil melihatku, dia berkata : "Dapatkah aku pergi bersamamu & memberikan boneka ini kepada gadis kecil itu, supaya dia tahu, Yesus sangatmencintainya??
Ternyata parcel ini telah dipersiapkan dan dikirim 5 bulan lalu. Di bungkus oleh Siswa Kelas Hari Mingguku, yang mana saat mempersiapkan parcel itu, Tuhan telah memerintahkannya juga untuk mengirimi botol air panas walaupun di daerah Tropis. Lalu salah satu dari siswaku juga telah memberikan boneka untuk dikirimkan ke anak Afrika - Dan itu semua terjadi 5 bulan sebelumnya, sebagai jawaban dari doa seorang anak gadis 10 tahun untuk membawanya "sore itu"(Yesaya 65:24) "Maka sebelum mereka memanggil, Aku sudah menjawabnya; ketika mereka sedang berbicara, Aku sudah mendengarkannya. "
(Doa 1 menit) Doa yang mengagumkan ini kurang dari 1 menit. Ketika kamu menerima ini, ucapkan doamu, dan segalanya dapat kau lakukan. Tidak perlu basa basi. Hanya cukup kirimkan kepada semua orang yang kamu inginkan-tapi lakukan itu.D oa adalah hadiah terbaik yang kita terima. Tidak perlu biaya tapi banyak untungnya.
Teruskan doamu ini kepada orang lain.
Bapa, aku memintamu untuk memberkati teman-temanku yang membaca tulisan ini.
Aku memintaMu untuk memberi semangat kepada para Pelayan Tuhan setiap saat.
Dimana ada kesesakan Kau berikan damai dan kemurahanMu.
Dimana ada keraguan, Kau perbaharui keyakinan untuk bekerja diantara mereka.
Disaat lelah serta letih, aku mohon supaya Engkau memberikan mereka pengertian, bimbingan & kekuatan supaya mereka selalu belajar untuk taat kepada PimpinanMu.
Dimana mereka merasa hanya diam di tempat, aku memohon kepadaMu untukmenyatakan keberadaanMu & menggambarkan pada mereka betapa indahnya bergaul akrab denganMu.
Dimana ada ketakutan & kekhawatiran, Nyatakan kasihMu dan tunjukkan kebesaranMu kepada mereka.
Saat dosa menutupi mereka, nyatakan itu, dan patahkan belenggu yang melingkupi kehidupan teman2ku.
Berkati keuangan mereka, berikan mereka visi yang besar, dan angkat para pemimpin serta teman2 untuk mendukung & mendorong mereka.
Berikan setiap mereka penglihatan untuk menunjukkan adanya kekuatan jahat yang ada disekitar mereka & nyatakan kekuatan di dalamMu untuk mengalahkannya.
Aku berdoa padaMu di dalam Nama Yesus. Amin! Blessing In Christ
Sunday, May 27, 2007
I will watch over you
A Poem That Gives You Goosebumps.. .
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile. They said had run the light. That caused the six-car pileup. On 109 that night.
When broken bodies lay about And blood was everywhere, The sirens screamed out eulogies, For death was in the air.
A mother, trapped inside her car, Was heard above the noise; Her plaintive plea near split the air: "Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
She fought to loose her pinned hands; she struggled to get free, But mangled metal held her fast In grim captivity. Her frightened eyes then focused On where the back seat once had been, But all she saw was broken glass and Two children's seats crushed in.
Her twins were nowhere to be seen; She did not hear them cry, And then she prayed they'd been thrown free, "Oh, God, don't let them die!"
Then firemen came and cut her loose, but when they searched the back, They found therein no little boys, But the seat belts were intact. They thought the woman had gone mad And was traveling alone, But when they turned to question her, They discovered she was gone.
Policemen saw her running wild And screaming above the noise In beseeching supplication,
"Please help me find my boys! They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
Their jeans are blue to match."
One cop spoke up, "They're in my car, And they don't have a scratch. They said their daddy put them there And gave them each a cone, Then told them both to wait for Mom To come and take them home. I've searched the area high and low, But I can't find their dad. He must have fled the scene, I guess, and that is very bad."
The mother hugged the twins and said, "While wiping at a tear, He could not flee the scene, you see, For he's been dead a year."
The cop just looked confused and asked, "Now, how can that be true?"
The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came And left a kiss for you. He told us not to worry And that you would be all right, And then he put us in this car with The pretty, flashing light. We wanted him to stay with us, Because we miss him so, But Mommy, he just hugged us tight And said he had to go. He said someday we'd understand And told us not to fuss, And he said to tell you, Mommy, He's watching over us."
The mother knew without a doubt That what they spoke was true, For she recalled their dad's last words, " I will watch over you."
The firemen's notes could not explain The twisted, mangled car, And how the three of them escaped Without a single scar. But on the cop's report was scribed, In print so very fine, "An angel walked the beat tonight on Highway 109."
The 7 Second Prayer, Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves.
"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless my family, my home, my friends, and me. Amen."
Pass this message to 7 people {EXCEPT YOU AND ME}.
You will receive a miracle tomorrow. He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare.
This morning when the Lord opened a window to Heaven, He saw me, and He asked: "My child, what is your greatest wish for today?" I responded: "Lord please, take care of the person
who is reading this message, their family and their special friends. They deserve it and I love them very much." The love of God is like the ocean, you can see its beginning, but not its end.
This message works on the day you receive it. Let us see if it is true.
ANGELS EXIST but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS.
Pass this on to your true friends. Something good will happen to you at 11:11 in the evening; something that you have been waiting to hear.
A drunk man in an Oldsmobile. They said had run the light. That caused the six-car pileup. On 109 that night.
When broken bodies lay about And blood was everywhere, The sirens screamed out eulogies, For death was in the air.
A mother, trapped inside her car, Was heard above the noise; Her plaintive plea near split the air: "Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
She fought to loose her pinned hands; she struggled to get free, But mangled metal held her fast In grim captivity. Her frightened eyes then focused On where the back seat once had been, But all she saw was broken glass and Two children's seats crushed in.
Her twins were nowhere to be seen; She did not hear them cry, And then she prayed they'd been thrown free, "Oh, God, don't let them die!"
Then firemen came and cut her loose, but when they searched the back, They found therein no little boys, But the seat belts were intact. They thought the woman had gone mad And was traveling alone, But when they turned to question her, They discovered she was gone.
Policemen saw her running wild And screaming above the noise In beseeching supplication,
"Please help me find my boys! They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
Their jeans are blue to match."
One cop spoke up, "They're in my car, And they don't have a scratch. They said their daddy put them there And gave them each a cone, Then told them both to wait for Mom To come and take them home. I've searched the area high and low, But I can't find their dad. He must have fled the scene, I guess, and that is very bad."
The mother hugged the twins and said, "While wiping at a tear, He could not flee the scene, you see, For he's been dead a year."
The cop just looked confused and asked, "Now, how can that be true?"
The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came And left a kiss for you. He told us not to worry And that you would be all right, And then he put us in this car with The pretty, flashing light. We wanted him to stay with us, Because we miss him so, But Mommy, he just hugged us tight And said he had to go. He said someday we'd understand And told us not to fuss, And he said to tell you, Mommy, He's watching over us."
The mother knew without a doubt That what they spoke was true, For she recalled their dad's last words, " I will watch over you."
The firemen's notes could not explain The twisted, mangled car, And how the three of them escaped Without a single scar. But on the cop's report was scribed, In print so very fine, "An angel walked the beat tonight on Highway 109."
The 7 Second Prayer, Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves.
"Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless my family, my home, my friends, and me. Amen."
Pass this message to 7 people {EXCEPT YOU AND ME}.
You will receive a miracle tomorrow. He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare.
This morning when the Lord opened a window to Heaven, He saw me, and He asked: "My child, what is your greatest wish for today?" I responded: "Lord please, take care of the person
who is reading this message, their family and their special friends. They deserve it and I love them very much." The love of God is like the ocean, you can see its beginning, but not its end.
This message works on the day you receive it. Let us see if it is true.
ANGELS EXIST but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS.
Pass this on to your true friends. Something good will happen to you at 11:11 in the evening; something that you have been waiting to hear.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The Best Letter Ever Written
Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room.
She said: "How is mylittle boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?"
The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."
Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?"
The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alonewith your son? One of the nurses will be out in afew minutes, before he's transported to theuniversity." Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair.
"Would you like a lock of his hair?" the nurseasked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of theboy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else. " I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after Idie. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else.. Always wanting to help others if he could."
Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital forthe last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter.
The letter said:
"Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU.. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.
Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything.
The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important.. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed.
Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children..
Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm, sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?
Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me.
She said: "How is mylittle boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?"
The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."
Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?"
The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alonewith your son? One of the nurses will be out in afew minutes, before he's transported to theuniversity." Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair.
"Would you like a lock of his hair?" the nurseasked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of theboy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help somebody else. " I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after Idie. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else.. Always wanting to help others if he could."
Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital forthe last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter.
The letter said:
"Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say I LOVE YOU.. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.
Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything.
The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important.. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed.
Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him?' "God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children..
Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm, sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?
Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Tablecloth
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.
On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 5 feet by 4 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.
On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type of sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center.
It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.
By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.
She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there.
They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband was well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the Pastor keep it for the church.The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit was great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.
The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid. Who says God does not work in mysterious ways. So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best. When there is nothing! left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this.
Father, God, bless all my friends and family in what ever it is that You know they may be needing this day! May their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.
On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 5 feet by 4 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.
On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type of sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center.
It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.
By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.
She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.. "Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were crocheted into it there.
They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband was well-to-do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the Pastor keep it for the church.The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit was great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.
The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid. Who says God does not work in mysterious ways. So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best. When there is nothing! left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this.
Father, God, bless all my friends and family in what ever it is that You know they may be needing this day! May their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Ice Cream - Saying Grace in a Restaurant
Last week, I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! ! A men!" Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, ! I bough t my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already." The End
Sometimes, we all need some ice cream too
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied. Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, ! I bough t my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already." The End
Sometimes, we all need some ice cream too
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