=========================================
{Straight From the Heart} *The Golden Fish* 1/24/01
=========================================
If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to
spread the word to family and friends that we may bring
inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list
and this has been passed along to you, join us by sending
a blank email to: Thunder27@aol.com
I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism, so feel free to
write me (Michael T. Powers) and let me know what you think!
Just joined us and want to see all the past stories we've run?
Visit our inspirational website at:
Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com
==================================================
The Golden Fish
By Wayne Rice
Children in Bosnia-Herzegovina all know the ancient story of the poor
woman who caught a golden fish, released it, and in return gained wealth and
happiness. According to a 1998 Associated Press story, this Balkan fairy
tale turned into reality for one poor family.
Before the start of the Bosnian war, the Malkoc family lived next to a
small lake in the northwestern village of Jezero. One day in 1990, Smajo
Malkoc returned from a trip to Austria with an unusual gift for his teenage
sons, Dzevad and Catib: an aquarium with two goldfish.
Two years passed before Bosnian Serb forces advanced on Jezero. The
women and children fled, and the men stayed back to resist the attacking
soldiers. Smajo Malkoc was killed. When his wife, Fehima, sneaked back
into the destroyed village to bury her husband and rescue what remained of
their belongings, she took pity on the fish in the aquarium. She let them out
into the nearby lake, saying to herself, "This way, they might be more
fortunate than us."
Fast-forward to 1995. Fehima Malkoc returned with her sons to Jezero.
Nothing but ruins remained of their home and their village. Through
misty eyes she looked toward the lake. Glimpsing something strange, she walked
over to the shore.
"The whole lake was shining from the thousands of golden fish in it," she said.
"It made me immediately think of my husband. This was something he left
me that I never hoped for."
During the years of killing all around the lake, life underwater had
flourished. After their return, Fehima Malkoc and her sons started caring for and
selling the goldfish.
By 1998, homes, stores, and coffee shops all over the region feature
aquariums containing fish from Jezero. The Malkoc house, rebuilt on its
original site, is one of the biggest in the village. Two new cars are parked in
front, and the family says it has enough money to quit worrying about
the future.
"It was a special kind of gift from our father," Dzevad Malkoc said.
One can never underestimate what a gift of love or an act of kindness
might produce. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38).
Whenever you give, no matter how small and insignificant your gift might be, God
blesses it and uses it to accomplish great things. Jesus took a young
boy's lunch and fed a multitude. Have no doubt that he can take whatever we
offer to him and turn it into something magnificent.
The Malkoc's story is also a parable of God's relentless grace at work
even in the midst of chaos and trouble. While the war in Bosnia was raging, life
below the surface of a small lake flourished. We can rest assured that God's
will is being done--that his kingdom is flourishing--even when life on the
surface is full of trouble and strife. That is the message of the gospel--the
ultimate fairy tale that comes true.
Wayne Rice
wayne@uyt.com
Send Wayne an email and let him know what you thought of his story!
***********
Edited from Still More Hot Illustrations for Youth Talks by Wayne Rice. (http://www.YouthSpecialties.com/mall/browse/#illus)
Copyright1999 by Youth Specialties, Inc. (http://www.gospelcom.net/ys/)
==================================================
Thought For The Day:
"The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal probably eats better than 30 percent of the people in the world."
Verse for the Day:
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have..." Hebrews 13:5
Kid's Thought For The Day:
An elderly woman noticed that her granddaughter felt
embarrassed by her freckles. "I love your freckles," she said,
kneeling beside the girl and admiring her face.
"Not me," the child replied.
"Well, when I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," the
grandmother said, tracing her finger across the child's cheek.
"Freckles are beautiful."
The girl looked up. "Really?"
"Of course," said her grandmother. "Why just name me one thing
that's prettier than freckles."
The little girl peered into the old woman's smiling face.
"Wrinkles," she answered softly.
She knew about beauty.
********
Parent's Thought For The Day:
"I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of love and duty but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world and one that demanded the best that I could bring it." -- Rose Kennedy
Coach's Thought For The Day:
"Its a little like wrestling a gorilla. You dont quit when you're tiredyou quit when the gorilla is tired." --Robert Strauss
Deep Thought For The Day:
"I'm in shape ... Round is a shape isn't it?"
====================================================
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
====================================================
The copyrights to the stories that appear in SFTH are owned by the
authors and are used with their permission. This email may be forwarded
in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used
elsewhere unless you have contacted, and been given permission,
by the individual writer. Thanks!
====================================================
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave
them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was
crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could
have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so
touched---they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the
video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
==================================================
Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html
==================================================
Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:
Writer's Guidelines
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/
==================================================
UNSUBSCRIBE:
What? You want to leave us?!
If you would like to be taken off the list please send a blank email
with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to:
Thunder27@aol.com
You will be taken off as soon as possible.
Try not to think of all the great stories you will be missing!
==================================================
SUBSCRIBE:
To become a Straight From the Heart Member send a blank email to:
Thunder27@AOL.COM
==================================================
