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{SFTH} Heaven's Babysitter* 5/25/01
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Kristi and I have the world's best babysitter in the form of Brittnia Brandl, so
today's story by Irene Budzynski touched our hearts in a special way...
Next e-mail headed your way on Monday night along with some news on
our book! Have a safe and wonderful weekend!
Michael
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Heaven's Babysitter
By Irene Budzynski
Dear Maureen:
It's been 15 years since we saw your smile, that
great, big, beautiful smile that buried the rest of
your face. It was your trademark, a peek into your
soul. When your eyes started crinkling around the
edges, I knew what was coming, and I, too, would start
to grin. With no words spoken, it didn't matter
that we didn't have a reason to laugh. Just being
with you made me smile like a fool.
You had that way about you that people noticed, a
special joie de vivre. In fact, you loved being alive
so much that I was slow to recognize the signs of
cerebral palsy. You were physically challenged in a
world which demanded perfection, but that was
secondary to you. Your reflections on daily life made
me sit up straight and pay attention. I wanted to be
like you.
Trying to keep up with your friends was a bit
difficult because of your hampered gait, but you sure
did handle that cane with lightning speed! You were
never late to class. In fact, you did so well that
you graduated with honors and were accepted to Yale.
Speaking three languages, your goal was to become a
U.N. interpreter. I can still see you sitting on your
Mom's sofa, holding your teddy bear with the blue
sweater which sported a huge "Y". The world was
your oyster.
By the way, did I ever tell you that you were the best
babysitter I ever had? I wouldn't leave my children
with just anyone, and it didn't matter that you
couldn't carry the newborn. You'd rock him to sleep
and hand him to his big brother to put into the crib,
then you'd pull yourself up the stairs and stay with
the boys until you were sure the Sandman had come for
the night.
Evenings with you were major events. You coaxed the
most beautiful music from our old piano, making me
wonder why it didn't sound the same when I played.
You invented games to play with the children, helped
them with their homework, and told stories which kept
them on the edge of their seats. The TV was never
turned on when you were here. Thank you for that.
Only once do I remember you becoming weepy. "I'll
never be able to dance or ride a bike. Sometimes it
bothers me that my legs won't work the way I want them
to, but, I guess it could be worse, so I have nothing
to complain about." You, the teenager, were my
teacher. I do hope I learned my lesson well.
You had a passion for speaking out against abortion. I
remember the time you set up a "Save the Babies" booth
at a Yale rally. Right next to a "Save the Whales"
table. You warded off the silent looks of derision,
and held your ground during the radio debate. Great
job, you brave girl.
You worried so much about the babies, writing Right to
Life messages on slips of paper and slipping them
under the salt and pepper shakers in the cafeteria.
You wrote letters to politicians begging them to
reconsider their stand on the issue. So grateful for
your own life, you couldn't imagine anyone not wanting
a baby, no matter how deformed or handicapped. All
that mattered was life itself.
Your academic record was so stellar, you could have
graduated in three years. You didn't consider that an
option, though. You felt that you had too much work
to do for the unborn. You wore yourself out rising
every morning in the pre-dawn hours to pray that maybe
that day a mother would opt to keep her baby.
Part of my heart was torn out when I got the news that
you had died. You had been taking semester exams, and
had come home with a cold. That's all... it was just a
cold.
The church was overflowing at your funeral. Standing
room only. The comments were traded among young, old,
black, white, handicapped. You had important work to
do here. How could a twenty-year-old die? With your
talents, why did it have to be you? Look at all the
evil people who destroy everything in their paths.
Why were they still here?
But, God needed a beautiful girl with a big, flashy
smile who could rock the babies and sing to them
until their own mamas would be with them. There was
only one person who could do the job of Heaven's
Babysitter.
Love,
Mrs. B.
Maureen's work did not end with her death. A home was
opened for unmarried mothers who want to keep their
babies. Carolyn's Place in Waterbury, CT, was
dedicated to the memory of Maureen Donohoe in 1992.
Irene Budzynski
Irene_Budd@yahoo.com
Send Irene an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Irene Budzynski is a Connecticut R.N.
(Irene_Budd@yahoo.com) who has written stories in the
past for Heartwarmers and Straight from the Heart.
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Thought For The Day:
"Money is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master." --P.T. Barnum
Verse for the Day:
"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6:17
Kid's Thought For The day:
"Wait for your little brother."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be."
--David Bly
Coach's Thought For The Day
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." --Hebrews 12:11
Deep Thought For The Day:
If I ever get another dog, I am going to name him "Stay." Come here, Stay.
Should be fun to watch his indecision.
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REQUESTS:
Michael,
ln response to the great article on family history, I thought you might
be interested in this site. Its a great help for finding your ancestors,
and writing family history and genealogy. Thanks for the article, I hope
a lot of people get interested in family history.
http://www.familysearch.org/
Sincerely,
Nancy Smith
ladysmithca@earthlink.net
**********
Please pray for my daughter and all the other loved
ones who are victims of addictions, whether it be
drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. My daughter started
taking phen phen 4 yrs ago to loose weight and as you would
guess is now addicted to drugs. She has 2 beautiful
sons and a good job, both of which she is in danger of
loosing very soon. She is such a wonderful person
when she isn't "under the influence". I live with her and
take care of my grandsons and although she gets
verbally and physically abusive to me I refuse to
leave the "little guys" who have no choice. The toll it has
taken on our lives is almost to the unbearable stage.
Please help!!
garnell3@yahoo.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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