Story Time

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?
The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.
The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.
God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.
Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

IT'S PROM NIGHT..

After everything was over with... I was standing at her front door step... I stared at her ... She smiled at me... I wanted her to be mine... But she doesn't think of me like that... And I know it... Then she said "I had the best time... Thanks!"... And she gave me a kiss on the cheek... I wanted to tell her... I wanted her to know that I don't want to be "just friends"... I love her but I'm just too shy... And I don't know why...

IT'S GRADUATION DAY..

A day passed... And then a week... And then a month... Before I could blink... It was graduation day... I watched her... Perfect body... Floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma... I wanted her to be mine... But she doesn't think of me that way... And I know it... Before everyone went home... She came to me in her smock and hat... And cried as I hugged her... Then she lifted her head from my shoulders and said "you're my best friend"... "Thanks!"... And gave me a kiss on the cheek... I wanted to tell her.. I wanted to know that I wanted to be more than "just friends"... I love her but I'm too shy... And I don't know why...

IT'S A FEW YEARS LATER..

Now I sit in the pews of the church... A church that she is getting married in now... I watched her say "I do" an drive off to her new life... Married to another man... I wanted her to be mine... But she didn't see me like that... And I knew it... But before she drove away... She came to me and said "You came!... Thanks!"... And she kissed me on the cheek... I wanted to tell her... I wantd her to know that I didn't want to be "just friends"... I love her but I'm just too shy... And I don't know why...

YEARS PASSED..

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.This story teaches two lessons:1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

I had been widowed for 3 1/2 years when my dearest friend arrived for a visit with her latest husband of 6 years for she wanted so much for us to meet before her death as she was facing her last days here on this earth. Well he was a very nice looking man , a cowboy really and a long haul truck driver so we struck up a nice friendly relationship that made my dear friend very happy and said to me when my time comes please do not let him be alone , I made her this promise never realizing that he would after a period of grieving for her ask me to come and live with him.

The way he approached me was by telling me he had a big surprise for me as his late wife had planned this vacation of a sort for the two of us to be had after her dearth. Shocked beyond belief I accepted his invitation as this was one her last wishes. But he was not to tell me where we were to go just pack a bag for a week and trust him to do as she had requested. So with some skepticism I packed my bag and waited for him to pick me up and off we went taking over 5 hours to arrive at out final destination at the Horse Shoe Casino, well let me tell you I was like a child set loose in a candy store as I had never been in one before and all of the excitement made all of the adrenaline flow like magic and I became very at ease with the situation .

We spent a lovely week together and talked of many things one of which he said he was not going to be alone and had chosen me as his companion for the balance of our lives if I would but accept him . I told him I had to give this a lot of consideration as I had never planned on marrying again so he let me know what was ahead for me and would wait for my reply. We wrote back and forth and talked on the phone almost every night as he was out on his trips across the country and would relate to me all of the things he was seeing so I could feel as if I was there with him to enjoy them as well. Knowing I was so fascinated and intrigued by his stories he asked if I would like to take a trip on his next run out West with him so I accepted and much to my delight I found I loved the open road as he would take extra pains to see I could enjoy a new and exciting place each morning and night as we traveled together . He was so sweet and caring I could not help but fall madly in love with him and accepted his marriage proposal when he got down on one knee and asked to take his name and be his wife. Granted as he had said to me she will always hold a special place in my heart but I have found my long awaited soul mate .

We made a number of trips over the country and I had moved to his home where we shared so many wonderful dreams and plans of our future together. After we both felt that enough time had elapsed we set the date for our marriage and set about making all of the final little details of a glorious wedding , and on the night just 3 hours before his untimely death we had sat and said to one another " well nether of us will leave this world alone, unloved or unwanted as we have one another " so as he gently touched my face and said "I do love you with all of my heart now and forever more so never leave me " and I promised him I would always be here for him and he went in and tried to sleep. After two hours of fretful rest he arose and headed to the bathroom only to collapse in respiratory arrest where I administered CPR and was able to have him up and coherent when the medics arrived but he still was in need of oxygen so he was placed in the ambulance with me at his side and once he was in route to the hospital he said to me as his last words ever spoken alive was " I love you babe , everything is going to be alright so don't worry " but once said he went into cardiac arrest never to come out of again and with being placed on life support for 25 minutes he completely flat lined leaving me behind to ride the roads all alone once more .

As I was placing him in the ground I felt this flutter about me and glanced around to see this golden butterfly wing towards heaven letting me know he was on the road again but to God's highway this time. When he would awaken on the road he would always say to me " come on babe it's time to be on the road again " and off we would go so I know in my heart when he awakens from this trip he will once again call out to me in his usual manner " okay babe time to be on the road again" and I will meet him at the gate and we will forever ride the golden streets of heaven as we had planned . He had passed to the other side just 3 weeks before our scheduled date of earthly marriage but in my heart of hearts I was married to him in the eyes of God for we had made out vows on a mountain top to each other before God and even if we had never stood before man and made this vow for on the eve of his passing he had announced to all of his friends our date to be forever more together. So on this day that was to be the date of our proposed marriage I went to the cemetery where he is at rest and made my vows once more to him in prayer to God so I know our marriage is approved by God for as I said my prayer another butterfly joined with another and they both flew towards heaven side by side .

Thankful for a true love of a life time

Or at least in my heart it is so

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.


Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.



Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.