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Welcome to Stories of Heart! ~ Happy
birthday to our handsome and incredibly bright nephew Sean Mathes who is
studying engineering in the tropical paradise of Hawaii! Happy birthday also to my big brudder, Joel Senger, who
won FIRST place outright in a national open chess tournament last month.
Joel hasn't played in a major tournament in years when he decided
to show up after a difficult week at work…and took it all by storm.
He was interviewed by the magazine "Chess Life" for a
local-son-does-good story. He
said the international grand masters were all speaking Russian.
His wife suggested he take up Russian to improve his game. We’re all proud of you, Joel! Folks,
an exciting announcement: one of my stories “A Joyful Noise” has just come out in
"Heartwarmers of Spirit: Triumphs
over Life's Challenges!" That
certainly added an air of celebration to Mother’s Day.
Thanks, Azriela Jaffe, for a beautiful book – once again!
Y’all can find it on www.amazon.com. Prerequisite: a
box of tissues! And
now on to our double feature by your favorite writers and mine:
Kristi Powers with an evocative story and humorist Betty King with
an inquiring mind! From their hearts to yours... "For
you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your
works are wonderful, I know that full well." -- Psalms 139:13,14 It
is that time of year again...the time for rainy spring days, the smell of
budding flowers, and the sound of chatter on the softball field. As
I watch the tear-stained eighteen-year-old, I want to hug out all of the
sadness and frustration she is feeling and tell her how much I love her.
Tonight may be the last softball game of her high school career.
A career cut short because a nagging knee injury needs surgery so
that she can be ready to fulfill her athletic scholarship at college.
As I gaze upon her face, I cannot help but think of how fortunate I
have been to know this beautiful young lady.
However, I know how easily her song could have been one that was
unsung... It
was almost nineteen years ago that a teenager trembled as she tearfully
said to her mother and father the words that every parent dreads...
"Mom, Dad, I'm pregnant." What
a frightening time for a nineteen-year-old as she is just starting her
adult life and already facing an uncertain future.
What devastation for the parents as this is the last thing they
would have chosen for their daughter.
Thoughts of "we have failed her" to "I am too young
to be a grandparent" fill their minds.
In a heartbeat the atmosphere in the house becomes strained, and
the following nights are long for the teen as she drenches her pillow with
tears. Tears that come only
when she thinks no one can see or hear her. Many
try to persuade her to keep her options open, but there is only one choice
for this determined teen. The
little life within her has now become her responsibility, and she will
sacrifice all she has to see that this precious being grows to be the
young man or woman God intended him/her to be.
She is at peace with herself, and the choice she has made. A
baby's first cries fill the air, and an exhausted but proud, teenage mom
holds her young daughter for the first time.
She is inexperienced, but is determined to provide for her
priceless daughter the best way that she can.
If the first few days are any indication, she has a tough hill to
climb. Because of no
insurance, she leaves the hospital early and takes her daughter home, but
the baby girl develops jaundice, and they are forced back to the hospital. Her pediatrician tells her to leave the baby in their care
and to go home and rest. "You
have got to be kidding me!" she exclaims, refusing to leave her baby
girl for even a moment. Something
inside her clicks, and, with a determination that surpasses anything she
has felt up to this point, she comes to grips with the situation. "You are a mom now.
Deal with it," she quietly tells herself. Life
is not easy and many hopes and plans for the future are set aside.
The early years are filled with tests and trials but it is a time
in her life that she wouldn't trade for anything.
During those rough days and nights, she need only look at this
tender creation God has given her to realize that the best things in life
are right before her in the smile, the coo, and the laugh of this darling
baby girl. Those
eighteen years have flown by, and I ponder all of these things as we
slowly walk away from the softball diamond today.
I think about all the joy this baby girl, who is now a young woman
herself, has brought into my life and to those around her.
I remember all the basketball and softball games that we as her
family have sat through, proudly cheering her on.
Not only is she the best all-around female athlete I have ever
seen, she is also one of the classiest and I am most proud of who she is
off the court. She conducts
herself with grace and humility and shows kindness to all who cross her
path. I cannot imagine life
without my Jen, my darling eighteen-year-old niece. Tonight
my heart is bursting with pride, love, and joy for this remarkable being
who came into our lives. I
shudder to think if she had not been born.
How different our family would have been, not to mention the lives
of an untold number of people whom she has touched in her everyday life. A
scared but determined teenage mom made a tough decision all those years
ago, and through it, gave us all the gift of Jen.
About
the author: Kristi
Powers and her husband Michael reside in Wisconsin where
they are involved in youth ministry.
The story above is from their book Straight From the Heart.
To read more stories from their book or to join the thousands of
subscribers on their inspirational email list and website visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT
IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU TODAY? R-i-n-g....R-i-n-g. "Hello." "Who
was that?" my husband asked me as I hung up the phone. "Who
do you think?" I answered. "It's
dinner time. That should give
you a pretty good clue!" I
suppose my lack of love for telemarketers doesn't come as any great
surprise to most people. I
venture to say that the general population feels as much as I do.
I don’t detest them; I just abhor their intrusion into my home,
uninvited as they are. You
would think businesses would catch on as they are doing more harm to
themselves than good by hiring these intruders.
Now, before I get unwanted letters, I realize that they provide
jobs for what must be ‘millions’ of people.
I also realize there must be ‘millions’ of people in jobs they
despise. We
moved to Arizona a year ago so my husband could help our son in his
business. I have volunteered
from time to time to help if needed. Having
MS and being on a three-wheel motorized scooter limits my capabilities, at
least in certain situations. I
had helped in answering the phones and in other areas, but most of the
time I could help best by staying
home out of the way. I
realized that fact, accepted it, and was fine with it. Our
daughter, herself married with a family, was doing some marketing for our
son. She stopped by the other
day with a stack of papers that looked like they represented the
population of the entire state of Arizona. “Mom,
I brought these by. Billy
said maybe you could do some calling for him as I have so many other
things to take care of.” “How
many?” “This
stack.” “All
of these?” Now
I don’t usually have a problem with words, but on the phone with people
I don’t know. I really
didn’t have this in mind when I offered to help!
But what is a mother supposed to do? “OK,
but it sounds too much like telemarketing to me!” “No,
Mom, it’s thanking them for their business and asking them if they want
to be placed on our mailing list and offering to send them some
coupons.” “OK,
but like I said it sounds too much like telemarketing to me!” I
was not looking forward to picking up the phone the next day when I began
my ‘motherly’ duties. It
was with great reluctances that I began my ‘thank you for your business’
speech. Not that I wasn’t
thankful for their business, but I was afraid they would see me as just
another intrusion into their lives. And
we all know how that feels! I
must say I was received quite well by those who were home, and I left
messages for those who weren’t. But
after each call I repeated to myself, “I don’t like this job!” “I’d
like for you to share with me the nicest thing that has happened to you
today.” I
had just heard those words from a machine.
A voice-mail machine! I
dislike talking to machines even more than telemarketers, but this machine
was different. It cared!
I couldn’t believe what I just heard.
How nice! I
proceeded to tell the machine, “How nice!
Your question is the nicest thing that has happened to me today!” That
machine actually put a smile on my face.
My heart felt a giggle run through it, my eyes lit up, and I
didn’t say, “I hate this job” when I hung up the phone! That
call gave me an idea. I
decided to send out an email message, “Tell me….what is the best thing
that has happened to you today?” I
sent it to everyone on my email list. There are several people on my list.
The names vary from publishers to editors to family and friends.
Many are people who have written me, who I don’t know personally.
I just sent the email out to them all. The
next day I went back to my ‘motherly’ calling with a new outlook.
I put a smile in my voice and added a friendly comment to the
customers. I looked forward
to people’s responses – I was secretly hoping for another voice mail
– one that cared! I know
longer said,” I hate this job” when I hung up the phone. A
few people have responded to my email question.
One of my sons sent me an email back with his response, “I awoke
this morning and realized I was loved by three amazing women: 1- my
Mother, 2- my fiancée, 3-my little girl.” He
is a son after my own heart. Having
been through a divorce a few years ago, I was glad he had a new love in
his life and the love of his daughter.
I also got all warm and fuzzy inside thinking that I was included
in the amazing women in his life. I
suppose some people thought my question was silly.
I wanted it to cause them to think.
I wanted them to think about the best things in their day instead
of the worst. I wanted them
to know that somebody cared. The
whole world would be better off if they looked for the good in their life.
The whole world would be better off if someone cared – even if it
was a machine! *
I might add that the Editor of Stories of Heart, Jennifer, was one who
responded to my email. Thanks,
Jennifer! Betty
King About the author: Betty King is a writer of humors and inspirational pieces. She has been married to Bill for 45 years and has lived with MS for 36 years. She is a 2TheHeart Hall of Fame Writer and a Heartwarmer Gem. She writes for a variety of Internet sites and other mediums. ________________________________________________________ "I
stinged you, Mommy," he said, grinning that impish grin. "Oh,
no! You stung me!" "Don't
worry, Mommy," he said, patting my knee. "I stinged you with
love." _________________________________________________________ FAMILY
LOVE MOMENT While
I was at the computer, Matthew plopped down on the floor and raised his
bare feet. “Tickle
my feet, Mommy.” While
I tickled his feet, twenty-month-old Madison toddled over, plopped down,
and raised her feet, too. _________________________________________________________ FROM
OUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER In
regards to “My Guardian Angel” by Carol Roach Sometimes
God just wants us to sit and listen...God is in charge and when we seek ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In
regards to “My Mother’s Eyebrows” by Jennifer Oliver Jen, your Mom sounds delightful. AND how wonderful to find such joy and happiness with the singing group of gals. I love the description of the lipstick color and no doubt frosted from that time period. AND wasn't it fun to see all the neat things that Jackie inspired others to wear? Such a sweet story and happy memories you all must have! Blessings for a great Mother's Day! – Diane Dear
Jennifer, How sweet you are to write about your dear old mom - you ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In
regards to “Weight-Lifting Thoughts” by Jennifer Oliver Hi
Jennifer, I liked your article. Please keep on writing. Take care. Bye. -
Luv, Mary If you own a small business, or you are in an intimate relationship with someone who does, sign up for the Entrepreneurial Couples Success (ECS) Newsletter by Azriela Jaffe! This FREE newsletter can help you achieve your business goals while sustaining a loving marriage. You'll find humor, advice, business and relationship tips, and plenty of sharing. Join over 3000 entrepreneurial couples all over the world who care about each other and their businesses. It's simple. Just e-mail Azriela at [email protected] to subscribe to her newsletter. Check out her cool website "Anchored Dreams" at http://www.isquare.com/crlink.htm. _________________________________________________________ LOVE, JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY [email protected] When you are born, you cry and everyone is happy. So live your life in such a way that when you die, everyone cries and you are happy. - Unknown The quote above is derived from "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles may be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June 24, 1873 _________________________________________________________ This E-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but first ask the writer for permission before forwarding. Thank you for doing the decent thing! Ü ________________________________________________________ SUBMIT STORY, QUOTE, OR FAMILY LOVE MOMENT: http://www.geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/submission.htm FEEDBACK: [email protected] ________________________________________________________
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