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*The Best Cure* 2/1/02 ____________________________ 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 the thousands of HeartTouchers.com readers around the world by sending an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ Are you down in the dumps, depressed, or feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Well, Betty King has the cure for all of us who are feeling this way... Have a wonderful weekend! Next e-mail heading your way on Sunday night! From my family to yours, Michael _________________________________________ The Best Cure By Betty King My husband and I chose to join others serving at a local soup kitchen sometime back. It was a holiday and we were feeling a bit dejected. We decided giving to others might be the best cure in healing what ailed us. I took my place in line with other volunteers. Most were seasoned, dedicated servants. I had my instructions, "Make everyone feel welcome." I sat on my three wheel motorized scooter at the beginning of the line. I was to keep the plates and silverware replenished and pass out special treats for the occasion. We were fairly new in town, only had made a few acquaintances. Two of our grown children and their families had preceded us to this large Metropolitan City by a few years, but they had their own friends. We were feeling a bit lonely, so far away from the home we had known for most of our lives. We had left other children and grandchildren, parents and friends behind. I was feeling a bit needy myself. Sometimes more than our stomachs need nourishment. The food smelled pretty good and everyone was preparing for the line that was expected. The volunteers had all introduced themselves and I was ready to do my small part to greet and to serve. First one and then another filed through the line. A tall, light headed, nice looking young man, a little bedraggled, found his way as I greeted him. A middle age man with his wife and children in tow seemed a little down on their luck. A woman with her homeless partner, more than a little unkempt, filled their plates and found a place at one of the tables set festively for the holiday meal. Some seemed embarrassed, some eager, some reluctant; all seemed thankful. Then he stepped up to the line. There I was on my three-wheel scooter and him with an outstretched hand. He stopped to chat, talking to me about my predicament and the scooter I sat on. As he began to talk I recognized him. "Yes, I know you, I said" I was as much surprised as was he. I hadn't expected to see anyone that I knew at this place for the needy. But I remembered him; I had seen him one day down at the mall. I was on my scooter, he was walking and stopped to chat; he asked about my problems and my motorized scooter. He was clean, nice and polite; I didn't know he was without. He didn't remember me and was surprised and pleased that I recalled having met him. I don't usually recall meeting strangers in such brief encounters, but he, I remembered. He tarried, hanging on to my every word. He was eager for conversation and pleased that of all the people who had come, someone actually remembered him. His smile of appreciation beamed from his face and swirled through the space between us landing comfortingly in the pit of my soul. He finally ventured on through the line and partook of his meal. Often though, I caught a glimpse of him as he looked over at me, smiling that smile that continued to make me thankful that I had come. I could sense from the look in his eyes how grateful he was that I knew him. My heart went out to him. The man, after eating his meal, wondered over again to my side and continued to share with me his words and his smile. He relayed how he had visited an elderly lady doing some odd jobs for her and how he had refused her money when she offered to pay. She only needed someone to talk to he commented, she was lonely. He was genuinely interested in my disabilities; it was clear as he spoke. I sensed his caring heart and sincere interest in those outside of himself. He may have come to partake of a meal and fill up his stomach, but he gave much more that day than he ate. I thought I had come to feed the needy, but it was he who nurtured my spirit and fed me. A Homeless man truly taught me, in giving to others; we best cure whatever it is that ails us. Betty King baking2@msn.com Write Betty and let her know your thoughts on her story! __________________________ My name is Betty King; I live in Phoenix, AZ with Bill my husband of 44 years. Life presents stories and from them one can learn much; I choose to write about them. I have been published in Heartwarmers, Petwarmers, HeartTouchers, Warm Fuzzy Stories, magazines, newspapers, newsletters and I have signed an agreement with Chicken Soup for The Christian Woman's Soul. I also have a story coming out in Red Rock Book of Faith. _________________________________________ A number of people have written to us asking what an EBook is, since our book is being offered in both print and EBook versions. An EBook is a book that can be downloaded and read right on your computer. The advantage of ordering the EBook is that is costs less, $8.95 (No other charges), as compared to $14.95 + shipping and handling for the print book. Plus you can download the EBook and begin reading the stories in a few minutes! EBooks are read via Acrobat Reader, which is software that most of you already have on your computer. And if for some reason you don't, it can be downloaded free of charge at the web site. So for those of you who don't want to wait for the print book to be delivered, check out this web site to order the EBook version of Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life." http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html AOL Users Click here _________________________________________ Reader Feedback: Way to go, Pamela. I've been through that. I still have a couple of grandsons that get into trouble. But somehow it isn't as bad for grandsons as it is with your own sons. I guess you mellow out with the years. Not that grandsons aren't just a mischievous and lively. I think you just get more tolerance with grandsons. Is that because you are older and things don't bother you as much or is it that grandsons are closer to Grandma's and Grandpa's heart? Maybe a little of both. Good story. God bless. Nell nell@stoutsville.net ___________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "A good laugh is sunshine in a house." --Thackeray Verse for the Day: "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones." -- Proverbs 15:30 Kid's Thought For The Day: "Never, ever, ever get too full before you're served dessert." Parent's Thought For The Day: Parents must get across the idea that "I love you always, but sometimes I do not love your behavior." -- Amy Vanderbilt Coach's Thought For The Day: "Success is measured in what the team accomplished, not how YOU look." Writer's Thought For The Day: "Success comes to a writer, as a rule, so gradually that it is always something of a shock to him to look back and realize the heights to which he has climbed." --P.G. Wodehouse Deep Thought For The Day: "Man is a peculiar creature. He spends a fortune making his home insect-proof and air-conditioned, and then eats in the yard." ___________________________________________ REQUESTS: Michael, Could you please have your readers pray for the adoption process that my parents are going through? Things have slowed down considerably and I know it's hard for them to just sit and wait for Estania to come home. My mom and sister are supposed to be going to visit her and that has even been delayed longer than we all thought. I am anxiously waiting for Estania to get here so that I can write Part Two of my story about the adoption. Thanks so much!! Trisha LaCoste ajlacoste@gulftel.com If you missed part one of Trisha's story, you can read it in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/103101 Michael and HeartTouchers readers... I want to request prayer for a friend of mine. She is pregnant with baby #2 and has been dealing with the normal morning sickness "stuff". However, her situation is complicated by gastritis and Ulcerative Colitis (an ulcer in the colon). It is hard for her to keep down the nutrients she needs not only for herself, but also for the baby growing inside of her. She is my prayer partner and a wonderful woman of God, but she is scared. Please pray for health and peace for her during the next 8 months of pregnancy. Thanks! denise dchrist084@juno.com _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@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 HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail 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. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us! __________________________________________ 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-- 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! Visit: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: Video Imagery ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in HeartTouchers.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a HeartTouchers.com Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Give it a day or two to be processed... __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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