Heart Touchers

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{SFTH} *A Secret For Mom & If I Should Ever Lose You* 5/8/01

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We continue our tribute to mothers this week with two stories
by author Susan Spence. Be sure to e-mail her and let her know
how her stories affected you...
Michael

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A Secret For Mom

By Susan Spence

As I contemplate the arrival of the holidays, I think about all the warm
and wonderful Christmas's as a child and I feel a smile cross my face.
They were truly a time to remember. As I grew older, the Christmas
memories become less vivid and more of a sad and depressing time for
me...until last year. It was then that I believe I learned how to
re-capture that childhood wonder and joy I felt as a child.

Every year I flounder never knowing what to buy my mother for Christmas.
Another robe and slippers, perfume, sweaters? All nice gifts, but they
just don't say I love you like they should. I wanted something
different, something she would love for the rest of her life. Something
that would put that beautiful smile back on her face and the quickness
in her step. She lives alone and much as I may want to spend time with
her, I can only manage an occasional visit with the schedule I keep. So
I made the decision to become her Secret Santa. Little did I know that
this would be just what the doctor ordered.

I went out and bought all sorts of small gifts and then headed to the
more expensive areas of the mall. I picked up little nothings, things
that I knew only my mother would love. I took them home and wrapped each
one differently. Then I went to my computer and made a card for each
one. It went according to the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. Then I
began my adventure. The first day was so exciting, I dropped it off and
put it in the screen door. Then I hurried home and called her,
pretending to inquire about her health. She was bubbling over. Someone
had left a gift for her and signed it "Secret Santa".

The next day, the same scenario played out. After four or five days, I
went to her house and my heart just broke. She had laid out all the
gifts on her kitchen table and was showing them to everyone at the
apartment complex. Wrappings and all were spread out and each one had
the note attached. She never stopped talking about this secret admirer
the entire duration of my visit. Her eyes sparkled and her voice was
lilting. She was in seventh heaven. Every day, she would call me with
news of the new gift she found when she woke up. Then she decided to try
to catch the person responsible and slept on the couch with the door
cracked open. So I left it later that day
and she worried that the gifts weren't coming any more. She had me just
as excited as she was. On the last day, the note told her to be dressed
on that Saturday and she was to go to Applebee's for dinner and it was
there she would meet her Secret Santa. She went wild. The note also told
her to ask her daughter Susan to bring her (that's me). It said she
would know her Secret Santa by the red ribbon she would be wearing. So I
picked her up and off we went.

When we arrived the hostess seated us at a table and my Mom looked
around. She lost the smile and asked when was she going to meet her
Secret Santa. I slowly took off my coat and there was the red ribbon.
She began to cry and fuss over how much I spent and how did I do this.
She was happier than I have ever seen her.

When it was all said and done, I thought about how good I felt and just
as quickly, I remembered something very important. When I was a child,
it was my mother who taught me that it is better to give than to
receive. Reality slapped me hard. All these years I had been sad during
the holidays was most likely because I was looking at the 'getting'
instead of the 'giving'. I was humbled by this realization and now I am
certain, Mom does know best...

Susan Spence
ARPoet@aol.com

Send Susan an e-mail and let her know what you thought of her story!

Susan is happily married and resides in Arkansas where she is an animal nurse. She enjoys fishing, animals, bowling, and of course writing!

Bright Ideas- - http://www.brightideas.com/show_profile.asp?screen_name=arpoet
Southern States Rottweiler Rescue...http://www.ssrottweilerrescue.org

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If I Should Ever Lose You

by Susan Spence

March 5, 2001
This is an open letter to my mother, the light in my life.

Dear Mom,

I needed to write this letter to you so that you will always know just how much you mean to me. I wanted to tell you these things in person, but I never seem to have the time and there's always someone around. So now I will publicly tell everyone just how wonderful you really are.

I want you to think back to the many times you got down on the floor and played Jacks with me. We laughed and had so much fun just being together. I remember that one time as you knelt down, I told you that I thought you had beautiful legs. You did. I remember one year before school started, we did not have much money and you made my clothes for me. Do you remember the Purple People Eater dress you made? It was my most cherished piece of clothing for a long time. To this day, my favorite color is purple.

I remember all our Christmas Eves as if they were yesterday. We would go looking for Santa with Dad and you would get all the presents together under the tree. We were always so excited to get home and begin tearing through the packages. And it's funny, I always got just what I wanted. Remember the Easter they found out I was diabetic and I was so sad that I could not get an Easter basket? Then you told me to go look behind the couch and there was a basket for me with no sugar, but lots of gifts. You made me so happy then.

I remember when Dad had his heart attack and you were so frightened, I could feel your pain then and I grieved for you. You were such a good mother and have become such a cherished friend. I remember all the times you let me cry on your shoulder and gave me unconditional love and much comfort. We would talk for hours about me and my life, never yours. I never knew you were so unhappy and when you and Dad divorced, I could not comfort you. I wanted to. I missed you so very much when you moved to Arkansas, wanting to come and get you, wanting your comforting voice near me. But you held out and stayed here.

When I came here, I had nothing. You gave me hope, you taught me things and you loved me once again. In all my life, I could never ever tell you how much I love you. God did not make words that could describe how important you are to me. I keep you in my prayers in an effort to keep you close to me. I know we do not see each other often, but I think of you everyday. I want to hug your neck and kiss your cheek, so that you might know that I am the woman I am now, because you were such a good mother. I wanted you to know that, Mom, because I love you.

Note from Susan: On March 29th, Mama passed away and is now residing with our Lord Jesus.

Susan Spence
ARPoet@aol.com

Send Susan an e-mail and let her know what you thought of her story!

Susan is happily married and resides in Arkansas where she is an animal nurse. She enjoys fishing, animals, bowling, and of course writing!

Bright Ideas- - http://www.brightideas.com/show_profile.asp?screen_name=arpoet
Southern States Rottweiler Rescue...http://www.ssrottweilerrescue.org

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From the E-mail Box!

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Thought For The Day:

"Before you borrow money from a friend, decide which you need more."

Verse for the Day:

"The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender."
--Proverbs 22:7

Kid's Thought For The Day:

Confidence is a life-ingredient that is essential to success and
wholeness. It is perhaps the single most important trait that
enables "average" people to do and become all that they can.

Like the little boy sitting on the bench at his team's baseball
game. When asked by a concerned parent if he was discouraged that
his team was behind 14 to nothing, he responded, "Discouraged?
Why should I be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet!"

Parent's Thought For The Day:

"Work on your marriage and family life all the time. Why? Because the
enemy is."

Coach's Thought For The Day:

"Every athlete has more talent than they will ever develop."

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Sign seen in restaurant: We Reserve The Right To Serve Refuse To Anyone!"

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REQUESTS:

Fellow prayer warriors, My brother in law who had open heart surgery last Tuesday, is suffering very badly today. Please pray for his comfort. Please pray for my sister who is his wife. His recovery from the surgery has been ahead of all his doctor predicted. He came through the surgery great. He was home four days after the surgery. But today there is great discomfort. PLEASE HELP US PRAY.

Thanks for being there when you are needed.
Pat
Dimond8130@aol.com

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_
/_/\/\    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

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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

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