Thursday, October 29, 2009
THE ROSE
THE ROSE
Author Unknown
October 29, 2009
Red roses were her favorites,
Her name was also Rose,
And every year her husband sent them,
tied with pretty bows.
The year he died,
the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine,"
like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.
He always liked things early,
way before the time.
Then if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.
She trimmed the stems,
and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase
beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours,
in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.
A year went by,
and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.
Then that very hour,
as on Valentine's before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses,
sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in,
and just looked at them in shock.
Then, she went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her,
causing her such pain?
"I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call,
and you would want to know.
The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance,
your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance.
There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
as he has paid, well in advance,
you'll get them every year.
There is also another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago,
Then should I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone,
her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly
reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he
had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know
it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard
for you to overcome.
I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.
Or if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life,
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife.
You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year,
but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses
will be sent to you for years.
When you get these roses,
think of all the happiness,
that we had together,
and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you,
and you know I always will.
But my love, you must go on,
you have some living still.
Please... try to find happiness,
while living out your days.
I know it is not easy,
but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered,
when the florist stops to knock.
He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt.
To take the roses to the place,
where I've instructed him.
And place them where we are,
together once again.
Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you that there really is
an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.
This is forever friendship.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Author Unknown
October 29, 2009
Red roses were her favorites,
Her name was also Rose,
And every year her husband sent them,
tied with pretty bows.
The year he died,
the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine,"
like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.
He always liked things early,
way before the time.
Then if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.
She trimmed the stems,
and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase
beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours,
in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.
A year went by,
and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.
Then that very hour,
as on Valentine's before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses,
sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in,
and just looked at them in shock.
Then, she went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her,
causing her such pain?
"I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call,
and you would want to know.
The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance,
your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance.
There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
as he has paid, well in advance,
you'll get them every year.
There is also another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago,
Then should I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone,
her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly
reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he
had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know
it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard
for you to overcome.
I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.
Or if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life,
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife.
You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year,
but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses
will be sent to you for years.
When you get these roses,
think of all the happiness,
that we had together,
and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you,
and you know I always will.
But my love, you must go on,
you have some living still.
Please... try to find happiness,
while living out your days.
I know it is not easy,
but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered,
when the florist stops to knock.
He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt.
To take the roses to the place,
where I've instructed him.
And place them where we are,
together once again.
Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you that there really is
an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.
This is forever friendship.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
THE ROSE
THE ROSE
Author Unknown
October 29, 2009
Red roses were her favorites,
Her name was also Rose,
And every year her husband sent them,
tied with pretty bows.
The year he died,
the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine,"
like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.
He always liked things early,
way before the time.
Then if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.
She trimmed the stems,
and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase
beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours,
in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.
A year went by,
and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.
Then that very hour,
as on Valentine's before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses,
sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in,
and just looked at them in shock.
Then, she went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her,
causing her such pain?
"I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call,
and you would want to know.
The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance,
your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance.
There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
as he has paid, well in advance,
you'll get them every year.
There is also another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago,
Then should I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone,
her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly
reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he
had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know
it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard
for you to overcome.
I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.
Or if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life,
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife.
You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year,
but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses
will be sent to you for years.
When you get these roses,
think of all the happiness,
that we had together,
and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you,
and you know I always will.
But my love, you must go on,
you have some living still.
Please... try to find happiness,
while living out your days.
I know it is not easy,
but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered,
when the florist stops to knock.
He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt.
To take the roses to the place,
where I've instructed him.
And place them where we are,
together once again.
Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you that there really is
an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.
This is forever friendship.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Author Unknown
October 29, 2009
Red roses were her favorites,
Her name was also Rose,
And every year her husband sent them,
tied with pretty bows.
The year he died,
the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine,"
like all the years before.
Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time
that the roses would appear.
She thought, he ordered roses
in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know,
that he would pass away.
He always liked things early,
way before the time.
Then if he got too busy,
everything would work out fine.
She trimmed the stems,
and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase
beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours,
in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture,
and the roses sitting there.
A year went by,
and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude,
that had become her fate.
Then that very hour,
as on Valentine's before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses,
sitting by her door.
She brought the roses in,
and just looked at them in shock.
Then, she went to get the telephone,
to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him,
if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her,
causing her such pain?
"I know your husband passed away,
more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call,
and you would want to know.
The flowers you received today,
were paid for in advance,
your husband always planned ahead,
he left nothing to chance.
There is a standing order,
that I have on file down here,
as he has paid, well in advance,
you'll get them every year.
There is also another thing,
that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago,
Then should I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone,
her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly
reached to get the card.
Inside the card, she saw that he
had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence,
this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know
it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard
for you to overcome.
I know it must be lonely,
and the pain is very real.
Or if it was the other way,
I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything
so beautiful in life,
I loved you more than words can say,
you were the perfect wife.
You were my friend and lover,
you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year,
but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy,
even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses
will be sent to you for years.
When you get these roses,
think of all the happiness,
that we had together,
and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you,
and you know I always will.
But my love, you must go on,
you have some living still.
Please... try to find happiness,
while living out your days.
I know it is not easy,
but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year,
and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered,
when the florist stops to knock.
He will come five times that day,
in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit,
he will know without a doubt.
To take the roses to the place,
where I've instructed him.
And place them where we are,
together once again.
Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you that there really is
an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it.
This is forever friendship.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Sunday, October 11, 2009
DON'T FORGET TO SMILE
DON'T FORGET TO SMILE
Author Unknown
October 11, 2009
A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that
morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily
trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds
whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little
girl felt
concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home
from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might
harm her child.
Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would
cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her
car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so,
she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning,
the child would
stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly
and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and
smile.
When the mother's car drove up beside the child she lowered the window
and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?"
The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty, God keeps taking my
picture.
May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.
And don't forget to SMILE!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Author Unknown
October 11, 2009
A little girl walked to and from school daily. Though the weather that
morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily
trek to the elementary school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds
whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little
girl felt
concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home
from school and she herself feared that the electrical storm might
harm her child.
Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would
cut through the sky. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her
car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so,
she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning,
the child would
stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly
and with each the little girl would look at the streak of light and
smile.
When the mother's car drove up beside the child she lowered the window
and called to her, "What are you doing? Why do you keep stopping?"
The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty, God keeps taking my
picture.
May God bless you today as you face the storms that come your way.
And don't forget to SMILE!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Thursday, October 08, 2009
TIME TO THINK
TIME TO THINK
Author Unknown
October 8, 2009
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and
lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.
"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the
tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and
trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical
figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we
went to New York, at
least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a
special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion." He took the
slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were
taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a
moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever
save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a
special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that
followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores
that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane
returning 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 like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can
shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm
not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware
stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my
party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing
their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing,
I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she known that she
wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she
would have called family members and a few close friends. She might
have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past
squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese
dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing - I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I
knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good
friends whom I was going to get in touch with - "someday". Angry
because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write -
one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and
daughter often enough how much I truly love them.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that
would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I
open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is... a gift from God.
If you've received this it is because someone cares for you. If you're
too busy to take the few minutes that it would take right now to
forward this to ten people, would it be the first time you didn't do
that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?
I can tell you it certainly won't be the last. Take a few minutes to
send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know that
you're thinking of them.
May God litter your life with blessings!
"You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and love like it's never
going to hurt."
"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends
don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always
be there."
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
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The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
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� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Author Unknown
October 8, 2009
My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and
lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.
"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie." He discarded the
tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite; silk, handmade and
trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical
figure on it was still attached. "Jan bought this the first time we
went to New York, at
least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a
special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion." He took the
slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were
taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a
moment, then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me. "Don't ever
save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a
special occasion."
I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that
followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores
that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane
returning 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 like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can
shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries without wincing. I'm
not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware
stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my
party-going friends. "Someday" and "one of these days" are losing
their grip on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing,
I want to see and hear and do it now.
I'm not sure what my sister would've done had she known that she
wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she
would have called family members and a few close friends. She might
have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past
squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese
dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing - I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I
knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good
friends whom I was going to get in touch with - "someday". Angry
because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write -
one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and
daughter often enough how much I truly love them.
I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that
would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I
open my eyes, I tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is... a gift from God.
If you've received this it is because someone cares for you. If you're
too busy to take the few minutes that it would take right now to
forward this to ten people, would it be the first time you didn't do
that little thing that would make a difference in your relationships?
I can tell you it certainly won't be the last. Take a few minutes to
send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know that
you're thinking of them.
May God litter your life with blessings!
"You've got to dance like nobody's watching, and love like it's never
going to hurt."
"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends
don't need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always
be there."
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Thursday, October 01, 2009
THE SMELL OF RAIN
THE SMELL OF RAIN
Author Unknown
September 30, 2009
A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the
doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. Still
groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand as they braced
themselves for the latest news.
That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only
24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency cesarean to deliver the
couple's new daughter, Danae Lu Blessing.
At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they
already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft
words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it," he
said, as kindly as he could. "There's only a 10-percent chance she
will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she
does make it, her future could be a very cruel one."
Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described
the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. She
would never walk; she would never talk; she would probably be blind;
she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from
cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation; and on and on.
"No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David with their 5-year-old
son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to
become afamily of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was
slipping away.
Through the dark hours of morning as Danae held onto life by the
thinnest thread. Diana slipped in and out of drugged sleep, growing
more and more determined that their tiny daughter would live and live
to be a healthy, happy young girl. But David, fully awake and
listening to additional dire
details of their daughter's chances of ever leaving the hospital
alive, much less healthy, knew he must confront his wife with the
inevitable.
"David walked in and said that we needed to talk about making funeral
arrangements, " Diana remembers, "I felt so bad for him because he was
doing everything, trying to include me in what was going on, but I
just wouldn't listen, I couldn't listen.
I said, "No, that is not going to happen, no way! I don't care what
the doctors say. Danae is not going to die! One day she will be just
fine, and she will be coming home with us!"
As if willed to live by Diana's determination, Danae clung to life
hour after hour, with the help of every medical machine and marvel her
miniature body could endure but as those first days passed, a new
agony set in for David and Diana. Because Danae's underdeveloped
nervous system was essentially "raw", the lightest kiss or caress only
intensified her discomfort - so they couldn't even cradle their tiny
baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love.
All they could do, as Danae struggled alone beneath the ultra-violet
light in the tangle of tubes and
wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little
girl. There was never a moment when Danae suddenly grew stronger. But
as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and
an ounce of strength there.
At last, when Danae turned two months old, her parents were able to
hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later
though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of
surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to
zero.
Danae went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.
Today, five years later, Danae is a petite but feisty young girl with
glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She shows no
signs, whatsoever, of any mental or physical impairments. Simply, she
is
everything a little girl can be and more but that happy ending is far
from the end of her story.
One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in
Irving, Texas, Danae was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers
of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was
practicing. As always, Danae was chattering non-stop with her mother
and several other
adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent.
Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae asked, "Do you smell that?"
Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana
replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."
Danae closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?"
Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet,
it smells like rain."
Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin
shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells
like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."
Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play
with the other children.
Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and
all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in
their hearts, all along.
During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life,
when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was
holding Danae on His chest and it is His loving scent that she
remembers so well.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
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Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
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DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
Author Unknown
September 30, 2009
A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the
doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. Still
groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand as they braced
themselves for the latest news.
That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only
24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency cesarean to deliver the
couple's new daughter, Danae Lu Blessing.
At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they
already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft
words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it," he
said, as kindly as he could. "There's only a 10-percent chance she
will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she
does make it, her future could be a very cruel one."
Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described
the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. She
would never walk; she would never talk; she would probably be blind;
she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from
cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation; and on and on.
"No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David with their 5-year-old
son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to
become afamily of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was
slipping away.
Through the dark hours of morning as Danae held onto life by the
thinnest thread. Diana slipped in and out of drugged sleep, growing
more and more determined that their tiny daughter would live and live
to be a healthy, happy young girl. But David, fully awake and
listening to additional dire
details of their daughter's chances of ever leaving the hospital
alive, much less healthy, knew he must confront his wife with the
inevitable.
"David walked in and said that we needed to talk about making funeral
arrangements, " Diana remembers, "I felt so bad for him because he was
doing everything, trying to include me in what was going on, but I
just wouldn't listen, I couldn't listen.
I said, "No, that is not going to happen, no way! I don't care what
the doctors say. Danae is not going to die! One day she will be just
fine, and she will be coming home with us!"
As if willed to live by Diana's determination, Danae clung to life
hour after hour, with the help of every medical machine and marvel her
miniature body could endure but as those first days passed, a new
agony set in for David and Diana. Because Danae's underdeveloped
nervous system was essentially "raw", the lightest kiss or caress only
intensified her discomfort - so they couldn't even cradle their tiny
baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love.
All they could do, as Danae struggled alone beneath the ultra-violet
light in the tangle of tubes and
wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little
girl. There was never a moment when Danae suddenly grew stronger. But
as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and
an ounce of strength there.
At last, when Danae turned two months old, her parents were able to
hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later
though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of
surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to
zero.
Danae went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.
Today, five years later, Danae is a petite but feisty young girl with
glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She shows no
signs, whatsoever, of any mental or physical impairments. Simply, she
is
everything a little girl can be and more but that happy ending is far
from the end of her story.
One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in
Irving, Texas, Danae was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers
of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was
practicing. As always, Danae was chattering non-stop with her mother
and several other
adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent.
Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae asked, "Do you smell that?"
Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana
replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."
Danae closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?"
Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet,
it smells like rain."
Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin
shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells
like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."
Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play
with the other children.
Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and
all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in
their hearts, all along.
During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life,
when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was
holding Danae on His chest and it is His loving scent that she
remembers so well.
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
CONTAGIOUS
CONTAGIOUS
Marion Smith
September 30, 2009
Gal. 5:22,23 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control and gentleness.
Many things in life are contagious, and the first I think of are
childhood diseases . Measles, mumps and chicken pox are illnesses
which usually run through a family, affecting one child after
another. Head lice are very transmittable, and when they enter a
classroom, great pains must be taken to eliminate their rampant
spread. Emotions are also catching - fear can spread easily, along
with joy, laughter and even anger.
A while ago, when I attended the Outrageous Joy Conference, here in
Atlanta Ga., I witnessed a most beautiful contagious epidemic! Babbie
Mason was the singer/ speaker of the moment, and her voice
reverberated from the depths of her being with love and honor for the
Lord. During a portion of the song when the entire audience joined
in, I noticed one section of ladies waving white hankies above their
head. This delightful and spontaneous gesture traveled from the small
nucleus to the entire auditorium . The white luncheon napkins were
torn apart and shared all around- and with each tear came the
contagious, exuberant joy and love for the Lord. It reminded me of
the time Jesus fed the 5,000 with just a loaf of bread and a fish.
There was plenty for all, with some left over.
By the last stanza of the song I believe every hand was raised with
their little white napkin piece, giving glory to God and allowing the
power of the Holy Spirit to really move in this body of women
believers. It was a very special moment, and I praise God that I was
able to participate in it. Our love for the Lord can be contagious,
also. If we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, others will want to know
how we can do this, and we will have an opportunity to share The Good
News!
Marion Smith, noles65@aol.com
comments and feedback welcome
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
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DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Marion Smith
September 30, 2009
Gal. 5:22,23 The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, self control and gentleness.
Many things in life are contagious, and the first I think of are
childhood diseases . Measles, mumps and chicken pox are illnesses
which usually run through a family, affecting one child after
another. Head lice are very transmittable, and when they enter a
classroom, great pains must be taken to eliminate their rampant
spread. Emotions are also catching - fear can spread easily, along
with joy, laughter and even anger.
A while ago, when I attended the Outrageous Joy Conference, here in
Atlanta Ga., I witnessed a most beautiful contagious epidemic! Babbie
Mason was the singer/ speaker of the moment, and her voice
reverberated from the depths of her being with love and honor for the
Lord. During a portion of the song when the entire audience joined
in, I noticed one section of ladies waving white hankies above their
head. This delightful and spontaneous gesture traveled from the small
nucleus to the entire auditorium . The white luncheon napkins were
torn apart and shared all around- and with each tear came the
contagious, exuberant joy and love for the Lord. It reminded me of
the time Jesus fed the 5,000 with just a loaf of bread and a fish.
There was plenty for all, with some left over.
By the last stanza of the song I believe every hand was raised with
their little white napkin piece, giving glory to God and allowing the
power of the Holy Spirit to really move in this body of women
believers. It was a very special moment, and I praise God that I was
able to participate in it. Our love for the Lord can be contagious,
also. If we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, others will want to know
how we can do this, and we will have an opportunity to share The Good
News!
Marion Smith, noles65@aol.com
comments and feedback welcome
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
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To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
BROWNIE CRUMBS
BROWNIE CRUMBS
Author Unknown
September 29, 2009
Mrs. Baughman was my 6th grade Sunday School teacher. One morning, she
brought a pan of brownies to our class. As the goodies sat over by her
chair, she gave each child a slip of paper marked with a household
expense:
house payment, utility bill, phone bill, entertainment, etc.
My slip had a car payment. Before long, Mrs. Baughman picked up the
tray of brownies and began naming the expenses written on the papers.
As we gave her our expenses, she redeemed each one for a brownie.
"Car payment" she announced. I jumped up to get my brownie from the
pan. Finally the last brownie had disappeared.
But one boy named Donald still held his unredeemed slip. "God!" called
Mrs. Baughman. Donald came forward hoping the teacher had one more
brownie hidden some where.
With a knife Mrs. Baughman scraped the crumbs from the bottom of the
pan into Donald's napkin. He got a pretty raw deal, I thought -just
crumbs.
"The brownies represent your money", the teacher explained to us. "If
you don't give God his share right away, He probably won't get
anything except maybe the crumbs."
I never forgot that illustration. The day my friend Donald got only
the brownie crumbs, even as a child I learned that God should have the
first right to everything I have.
In the years since Mrs. Baughman class I have struggled with giving
and priorities, But whenever I recall the "Crummy Sunday School
Lesson", I know who should and must always come first in my life!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
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DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Author Unknown
September 29, 2009
Mrs. Baughman was my 6th grade Sunday School teacher. One morning, she
brought a pan of brownies to our class. As the goodies sat over by her
chair, she gave each child a slip of paper marked with a household
expense:
house payment, utility bill, phone bill, entertainment, etc.
My slip had a car payment. Before long, Mrs. Baughman picked up the
tray of brownies and began naming the expenses written on the papers.
As we gave her our expenses, she redeemed each one for a brownie.
"Car payment" she announced. I jumped up to get my brownie from the
pan. Finally the last brownie had disappeared.
But one boy named Donald still held his unredeemed slip. "God!" called
Mrs. Baughman. Donald came forward hoping the teacher had one more
brownie hidden some where.
With a knife Mrs. Baughman scraped the crumbs from the bottom of the
pan into Donald's napkin. He got a pretty raw deal, I thought -just
crumbs.
"The brownies represent your money", the teacher explained to us. "If
you don't give God his share right away, He probably won't get
anything except maybe the crumbs."
I never forgot that illustration. The day my friend Donald got only
the brownie crumbs, even as a child I learned that God should have the
first right to everything I have.
In the years since Mrs. Baughman class I have struggled with giving
and priorities, But whenever I recall the "Crummy Sunday School
Lesson", I know who should and must always come first in my life!
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
Monday, September 28, 2009
TRAPPED
TRAPPED
By Sally I. Kennedy
September 29, 2009
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John
4:4) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5) To him who overcomes, I will
give the right to eat from the tree of life. (Revelation 2:7)
It was irresistable. Too warm and sunny, too lovely an afternoon to
not take a few minutes to sit outside on the back porch where we were
staying. I moved the rocker over to get a better view of the moss-
covered towering oaks.
A cat crawled into a space under the house. Bees busied themselves
around a clematis vine. I heard a faint buzzing. Another mosquito?
Thought I'd cleared out the corner of the porch of those pesky
critters.
The hum persisted. Turning around, I spied a glint of green. Near the
sliding door was a glass bottle. It looked antique-y. The glass
stopper had a green bee, or fly perched on top.
I picked it up, an saw that there were legs about � inch high to keep
the bottle barely off the ground. It also had a fake bottom - a large
hole with a lip around the inside of it. Inside were a couple dead
flies, and another flying frantically around the top trying to get
out.
Apparently the insects entered from underneath. They could leave the
same way they came in, but it looked as if for some reason they didn't
do that. They would continue towards the stopper, which was a dead
end.
Sometimes we feeled trapped. We try and escape pressures of the world,
panic or just give up from the stress, yet sometimes the way out is
available. Jesus overcame the world and all its trappings (John 16:33)
and He has told us that we can too.
We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37). Our Saviour rose
from the dead and transcended circumstances; we can too b/c our lives
are hidden IN Him (Colossians 3:1-3).
Let's start living out the truth, above our circumstances. We are not
trapped. We are more than conquerors in Him who gave His life for us
and saved us.
This is good news!
Sally Ireland Kennedy is the author of Irish Thursdays: More Little
Parables, Words from the Heart, and 52 Little Parables from Ireland.
She is a songwriter and the creator of Poppy the Penguin� preschool
music video series. She lives in south Florida, with her husband Ben.
Her email is sallyikennedy@ bellsouth. net and you can visit her
website at http://www.sallyike nnedy.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
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DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
By Sally I. Kennedy
September 29, 2009
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John
4:4) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5) To him who overcomes, I will
give the right to eat from the tree of life. (Revelation 2:7)
It was irresistable. Too warm and sunny, too lovely an afternoon to
not take a few minutes to sit outside on the back porch where we were
staying. I moved the rocker over to get a better view of the moss-
covered towering oaks.
A cat crawled into a space under the house. Bees busied themselves
around a clematis vine. I heard a faint buzzing. Another mosquito?
Thought I'd cleared out the corner of the porch of those pesky
critters.
The hum persisted. Turning around, I spied a glint of green. Near the
sliding door was a glass bottle. It looked antique-y. The glass
stopper had a green bee, or fly perched on top.
I picked it up, an saw that there were legs about � inch high to keep
the bottle barely off the ground. It also had a fake bottom - a large
hole with a lip around the inside of it. Inside were a couple dead
flies, and another flying frantically around the top trying to get
out.
Apparently the insects entered from underneath. They could leave the
same way they came in, but it looked as if for some reason they didn't
do that. They would continue towards the stopper, which was a dead
end.
Sometimes we feeled trapped. We try and escape pressures of the world,
panic or just give up from the stress, yet sometimes the way out is
available. Jesus overcame the world and all its trappings (John 16:33)
and He has told us that we can too.
We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37). Our Saviour rose
from the dead and transcended circumstances; we can too b/c our lives
are hidden IN Him (Colossians 3:1-3).
Let's start living out the truth, above our circumstances. We are not
trapped. We are more than conquerors in Him who gave His life for us
and saved us.
This is good news!
Sally Ireland Kennedy is the author of Irish Thursdays: More Little
Parables, Words from the Heart, and 52 Little Parables from Ireland.
She is a songwriter and the creator of Poppy the Penguin� preschool
music video series. She lives in south Florida, with her husband Ben.
Her email is sallyikennedy@ bellsouth. net and you can visit her
website at http://www.sallyike nnedy.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
TRAPPED
TRAPPED
By Sally I. Kennedy
September 29, 2009
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John
4:4) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5) To him who overcomes, I will
give the right to eat from the tree of life. (Revelation 2:7)
It was irresistable. Too warm and sunny, too lovely an afternoon to
not take a few minutes to sit outside on the back porch where we were
staying. I moved the rocker over to get a better view of the moss-
covered towering oaks.
A cat crawled into a space under the house. Bees busied themselves
around a clematis vine. I heard a faint buzzing. Another mosquito?
Thought I'd cleared out the corner of the porch of those pesky
critters.
The hum persisted. Turning around, I spied a glint of green. Near the
sliding door was a glass bottle. It looked antique-y. The glass
stopper had a green bee, or fly perched on top.
I picked it up, an saw that there were legs about � inch high to keep
the bottle barely off the ground. It also had a fake bottom - a large
hole with a lip around the inside of it. Inside were a couple dead
flies, and another flying frantically around the top trying to get
out.
Apparently the insects entered from underneath. They could leave the
same way they came in, but it looked as if for some reason they didn't
do that. They would continue towards the stopper, which was a dead
end.
Sometimes we feeled trapped. We try and escape pressures of the world,
panic or just give up from the stress, yet sometimes the way out is
available. Jesus overcame the world and all its trappings (John 16:33)
and He has told us that we can too.
We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37). Our Saviour rose
from the dead and transcended circumstances; we can too b/c our lives
are hidden IN Him (Colossians 3:1-3).
Let's start living out the truth, above our circumstances. We are not
trapped. We are more than conquerors in Him who gave His life for us
and saved us.
This is good news!
Sally Ireland Kennedy is the author of Irish Thursdays: More Little
Parables, Words from the Heart, and 52 Little Parables from Ireland.
She is a songwriter and the creator of Poppy the Penguin� preschool
music video series. She lives in south Florida, with her husband Ben.
Her email is sallyikennedy@ bellsouth. net and you can visit her
website at http://www.sallyike nnedy.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
By Sally I. Kennedy
September 29, 2009
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John
4:4) Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5) To him who overcomes, I will
give the right to eat from the tree of life. (Revelation 2:7)
It was irresistable. Too warm and sunny, too lovely an afternoon to
not take a few minutes to sit outside on the back porch where we were
staying. I moved the rocker over to get a better view of the moss-
covered towering oaks.
A cat crawled into a space under the house. Bees busied themselves
around a clematis vine. I heard a faint buzzing. Another mosquito?
Thought I'd cleared out the corner of the porch of those pesky
critters.
The hum persisted. Turning around, I spied a glint of green. Near the
sliding door was a glass bottle. It looked antique-y. The glass
stopper had a green bee, or fly perched on top.
I picked it up, an saw that there were legs about � inch high to keep
the bottle barely off the ground. It also had a fake bottom - a large
hole with a lip around the inside of it. Inside were a couple dead
flies, and another flying frantically around the top trying to get
out.
Apparently the insects entered from underneath. They could leave the
same way they came in, but it looked as if for some reason they didn't
do that. They would continue towards the stopper, which was a dead
end.
Sometimes we feeled trapped. We try and escape pressures of the world,
panic or just give up from the stress, yet sometimes the way out is
available. Jesus overcame the world and all its trappings (John 16:33)
and He has told us that we can too.
We are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37). Our Saviour rose
from the dead and transcended circumstances; we can too b/c our lives
are hidden IN Him (Colossians 3:1-3).
Let's start living out the truth, above our circumstances. We are not
trapped. We are more than conquerors in Him who gave His life for us
and saved us.
This is good news!
Sally Ireland Kennedy is the author of Irish Thursdays: More Little
Parables, Words from the Heart, and 52 Little Parables from Ireland.
She is a songwriter and the creator of Poppy the Penguin� preschool
music video series. She lives in south Florida, with her husband Ben.
Her email is sallyikennedy@ bellsouth. net and you can visit her
website at http://www.sallyike nnedy.com
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join our group on Facebook and post your comments on the reflection: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=142903436398
Webpage: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org/
Group Address: http://groups.google.com/group/dailyfoodforthought
GROUP CONTACT:
To subscribe from this group, share a reflection or feedback
on the reflection of the day, send email to: foodforthought2@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe : dailyfoodforthought-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality.
� 2009 FoodForThought
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
