{Straight From the Heart} *Entertaining an Angel* 2/29/00
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Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"
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Congratulations go out to the Lady Cougars of Clinton High School,
the state of Wisconsin's sixth ranked team, as they advanced to
sectional play this coming Friday at West Bend. And the same to
our niece, Jennifer Pozzani, the Big Eight's Leading scorer, who
is also advancing to sectional play, as her team, Beloit Memorial
takes on Janesville Parker at Craig HS.
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Entertaining An Angel
By: Brian G. Jett
This is a true story as told to me by my wife. She was the woman in this
story! She described to me what occurred many times over on this memorable
day. I have attempted to accurately give the reader a vivid imaginative
mental picture as to a reciprocal love, compassion, and mutual respect--all
of which transpired in just under an hour. Two strangers became friends,
sharing the true 'heartsbeats' of life, laughter, and soulful intervention.
Brian
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It was just another ordinary day as she performed her tasks at a large
university as an administrator working with Hall Monitors and residents. It
wasn't uncommon for students to pop in to say a welcomed "Hello" or the
like.
This particular day would bring something entirely new her way. As the
workday neared its end, she sat at her desk as she completed some paper
work. She heard a sheepish giggle and looked up startled by what she saw.
This was not one of the many students that would drop in routinely to ask
her a question about dorm life or complain about a given Hall Monitor.
Standing there at the door of her office was a very short black man who, by
most standards, would be considered unseemly to look at as he clearly had
been born with birth defects.
He was unusually small and his face was deformed as he stood holding a cane.
Obviously his eyesight was impaired as well. Trying to keep her composure
she asked, "Hello, can I help you with something?"
He smiled and replied, "No Ma'am, I just like to come to campus to make
friends but most people won't talk to me because I think they are scared of
me by the way I look."
Trying to be tactful, she replied, "Not at all! I am not scared of you. You
look just fine to me." He giggled again as he placed his backpack on the
floor. "Are you having a problem or is there something going on at your dorm
that I can help you with?," she asked.
"No Ma'am. You see, I am not a student. I carry this backpack around with me
so that the other students will talk with me and be my friend but I don't
think it's working very well because no one wants to talk with me very long.
I come to campus because there are alot of people here and I want to make
friends."
As she looked at him, her eyes began to tear up but she desperately tried to
hold her emotions back for fear that he would think she felt sorry for him.
The conversation went on as he told her about himself and she told him more
about her life and the things that had occurred while dealing with students.
His laugh was infectious and his childlike innocence was so delightful.
Before she knew it, she realized that she no longer saw him in the same
light as she first did. "Well, I think I've wasted enough of your time so I
better leave. You have better things to do than talk with me."
As he reached down to the floor to pick up his backpack, she began to tear
up again but this time the tears came not from her feeling sorry for him,
but from the respect she had for his being so incredibly brave. Holding back
the tears she stated, "You are one of the most kind and beautiful
individuals that I've ever met. Promise me that you will come back and visit
again as I enjoy talking with you. Do you promise?," she asked.
He smiled and callowly looked down for a moment. "Yes, I promise I will but
I have a hard time climbing the stairs. Can I ask you a question Ma'am?" She
stood up, as she wanted to shake his hand before he left and replied, "Of
course you can. What do you want to know?"
He stood very still as his eyes turned her direction. "Did you really mean
what you just said about me?," he asked. Without hesitation she quickly
replied, "I've never said anything more true in all my life and I mean
that!" He positioned his cane and began to walk out of the door but suddenly
stopped and looked her way again.
"I can't see you very good, but for the first time in my life, I believe
someone. Thanks for talking to me and being my friend. I'll be back, I
believe in someone now!" As he walked slowly out of her office he giggled,
smiled, and uttered very softly....."I believe."
"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have
entertained angels without knowing it."~Hebrews 13:2
1998 ©~Brian G. Jett
brianjett@hotmail.com
Send Brian an email and let him know what you thought of his writing!
Visit his web site at:
http://www.hangtough.com
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REQUEST:
From: Beals7ofus@aol.com (Donna Beals)
Yesterday we got news that something may not be quite right with Zachary's
liver.......his stools are getting progressively lighter which
prompted the Dr. to order some liver function tests. A couple of
his liver function tests yesterday came back high........the
elevation may have been caused by the IV fluids or maybe not,
his liver may not be producing enough bile or it may be that the
bile duct is compromised.......they will hopefully know more in the
next couple of days........We are heading up to Milwaukee to see
Zachary after church this morning.........I will keep you posted...
what a roller coaster ride this is............He looks super and now
weighs 10 lbs. 3 ozs. (the casts weight almost a pound) so he is
gaining!!!!!!!! We stand united in prayer for Zachary!! My prayer
is that God's will be done (and hopefully God's will is the same as
Donna's will and the will of many others!!!!!!! I am prayerful that
the Dr.s have or be given the knowledge and expertise to do whatever
needs to be done for little Zachary and get this little fellow HOME!!!) I am also praying for the strength to deal with whatever God's will is and that this strength be given to Jessica and Steve and all of their friends and families. Thanks for reading my ramblings!!! God Bless!
~donna
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Thought For The Day:
"Some people reach the top of the ladder of success only to find it
is leaning against the wrong wall."
Verse for the Day:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:33
Kid's Thought For The day:
"A band-aid always makes it feel better."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"The kind of marriage you make depends upon the kind of person you are.
If you are a happy, well-adjusted person, the chances are your
marriage will be a happy one. If you have made adjustments so far with
more satisfaction than distress, you are likely to make your marriage
and family adjustments satisfactorily. If you are discontented and
bitter about your lot in life, you will have to change before you can
expect to live happily ever after."
(Evelyn Duvall and Reuben Hill)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Work without vision is slavery. A vision without work is a dream.
But vision with work is a success story."
Deep Thought For The Day:
Yesterday's deep thought:
"Did you know the word gullible is not in the dictionary."
For those of you who looked it up and found that it was indeed there,
I hope you took the time to read the definition of gullible again!
Gotcha!
(Again my thanks to Becky for passing that idea along to me.)
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "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
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 suprised 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!
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Video Imagery
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