Wednesday, July 27, 2005
CIRCLE OF LOVE
CIRCLE OF LOVE
By Bob Perks
Jul 27, 2005
"If ever you should find yourself falling I would pray that God would
always have someone there to catch you," he said.
"Or at least pick you up afterwards," I added.
"God is always there," he said.
"But sometimes He doesn't send the fastest people. The real lesson
might be in the getting up, not the landing safely each time," I
replied.
"At least He will send you angels to protect while you recover," he
said.
We both smiled in agreement.
Six hundred and ninety angels. That's how many God has sent to us. Then
there are those thousands upon thousands who have responded in prayer
to requests posted on internet sites, prayer pages, and in places of
worship all around the world.
Among the six hundred and ninety pieces of mail that have arrived,
there are cards, notes, postcards, letters, notebooks, books, Cd's,
DVD's, crocheted "Angels of Hope," "Chemo Angels," personal gifts,
religious relics, health products, and one round hand woven rug about a
foot in a half in diameter.
The thought of Marianne's cancer washes over us periodically and we
weep openly.
The overwhelming response from people on this list and others who read
about her, brings tears of pure joy to us.
Like the day she received the rug.
I had been working in the yard and needing a break, I walked in the
door and Marianne was standing in the kitchen. She turned to me with
tears washing over her cheeks and into her half forced smile. Lifting
the gift into the air she walked toward me, arms open wide and said,
"She made it for me so I could keep my feet warm in the bathroom this
winter!"
We laughed and hugged. It was still another _expression of love from
someone we don't even know, but someone God has placed so generously
into our lives.
That same day brought matching paper plates and napkins for a
Thanksgiving celebration, a picture that a child had drawn, and a
simple handwritten note on a card so small I can't imagine how it got
to her in the mail.
The heaviness of this battle is lifted every time someone responds in
kindness, concern and compassion. We have sighed 690 times in relief
and I have worn out the keys T H A N K Y O U on my keyboard in response
to more than one thousand emails.
Then today God summed it all up as I looked once more at that
handcrafted rug. I see life differently than most. I don't read stories
into moments, I see moments that are worthy of stories. I see tiny
details that are worlds within worlds.
I sat here in my office and held that rug in my hand. Suddenly I saw
each of you within the weave and my wife gently wrapped in the center.
Each thread, each strip of cloth was connected one to another like
people holding hands in a circle. It is perfectly imperfect like life
itself. Every note, every email is represented there. Every smile,
every tear you have shed with us binds it all together.
It is a circle that surrounds her created by you because you care,
because you are my friends and I humbly, with all my heart and deep
from within my soul say, "t h a n k y o u !"
To see the "Circle of Love" created by Allison Yost visit
http://www.bobperks.com/CircleofLove2.htm
We are framing it and hanging it as a reminder of God's Love in the
world and in honor of you.
"I believe in you!"
Bob Perks
Bob@BobPerks.com
copyright 2004 Bob Perks I encourage you to share my stories with your
friends but, when copying I ask that you keep my name and contact
information attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use
of this story for commercial use is prohibited without direct
permission from the author.
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus Christ, your love is better than life itself. May your love
consume and transform my life that I may desire you above all else.
Help me to love what you love, to desire what you desire, and to reject
what you reject".
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© 2005 FoodForThought
Dear Bob and Marianne;
I just received your wonderful article, "Circle of Love." Thank you!
Bob. Marianne has received 691 angels. You forgot to count yourself! You
are not only an angel, but also Jesus Christ alive. HE lives in You! How
else can Marianne meet Jesus Himself, heart to heart, eyeball to eyeball,
face to face, experience His compassion, His overwhelming love? When she
sees and feels your love for her, your gentle touch, your warm embrace,
she - and you - experience His great and wondrous love.
Here is a prayer for both of you.
Dearest Father, Dearest Jesus, Dearest Holy Spirit;
Thank you Dear God for Your great Mercy and for the other blessings that You
have showered on Marianne and Bob. I deeply appreciate that You have drawn
them to have such deep Faith and love for You, and one another!
I humbly ask You, Dearest Father, Dearest Jesus, and Dearest Holy Spirit, to
lay Your precious hands on Marianne and Bob and may You pour the
overwhelming power of Your Grace on them. May You, Dearest Jesus wash
Marianne in Your Precious Blood and destroy anything in her that is not of
You. You are the great physician. Even the wind and the seas obey You. I
ask You in Your mercy and compassion to heal her. May You give her and Bob
strength in soul, spirit, will, mind, heart, and body. May they feel Your
personal Presence in their lives. May You fill them with the great peace,
joy, and happiness that only comes from knowing, loving, and serving You and
Your children. May You remain with them always and never permit them to be
separated from You. May Marianne know that You have called her to be a
saint through her suffering. May she recall Your suffering during Your
Passion, Death, and Resurrection, and unite her suffering with Yours.
I humbly ask this in Your name, Dearest Jesus, who lives with You, Dearest
Father, and You, Dearest Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning and as it
shall be forever and ever.
Once again, Dearest Father, Dearest Jesus, Dearest Holy
Spirit, I thank You, I praise You, I glorify You, I worship You, and I love
You with my entire being.
Prayerfully yours,
A very little and fragile child of God,
john
Sincerely, Ann
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