_________________________________
{SFTH} *The Gift of Beauty* 7/9/01
_________________________________
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
___________________________________________________________
Michael's long awaited book Straight From the Heart: "A Celebration
of Life," is finally here! Close to 200 pages of true short stories filled
with love and laughter await you! Visit our web site to order the
EBook, or to order by credit card! You can also read some sample
stories from the book here!
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/michael_t__powers/
To order your autographed copy at no extra charge, send a check
or money order for $18 ($14.95 for the book and $3.05 for shipping
and handling) made out to Michael T. Powers, to:
Michael T. Powers
1918 Liberty Lane
Janesville, WI 53545
For two books add $4 for shipping and handling and for three books
add $5 for shipping and handling. If you want four or more
autographed copies of our book you only pay $5 for shipping
and handling. We'll pay the extra shipping costs!
Be sure to let us know who you would like it autographed for and
then allow about two weeks for us to sign it and send it on its
way to you.
___________________________________________________________
Just a quick reminder!
We just wanted to let everyone know that we will be going
tent camping up in Northern Wisconsin for the rest of the week
and will not have access to a computer. (Not to mention,
running water, indoor plumbing, air conditioning, a bed, etc.)
This means that you won't receive any stories from us until
Sunday night, July 15. My apologies especially to the hundreds
of subscribers who joined us this past week. But have no fear!
To tide you over until we get back, you can check out the hundreds
of stories in our archives at our web site:
http://www.StraightFromTheHeartList.com
For those of you who haven't taken the virtual camping trip with the Powers
Family on our web site, take a moment to visit with us now. There
are photos, short stories, and even sound files, that will give you a
taste of camping in Northern Wisconsin with us. The direct page is at
this link:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/recent_photos/
We hope all of you are enjoying your stay with us so far and we
look forward to resuming the wonderful stories by the Straight
From the Heart authors next week!
If you write to us this week, please be patient with us as we
will be coming back to an overflowing e-mail box...
May all of you have a wonderful week ahead of you!
Michael, Kristi, Caleb, and Connor
__________________________________________________
The Gift of Beauty
By Sandy Cates
Have you ever heard this one? Pretty is as pretty does, or beauty
is only skin deep, but ugly goes to the bone? Well, we all have,
and it used to make me want to scream! When you are a young
girl, and all the world is judging you by the way you look, you tend
to hide a bit from the scrutiny.
I thought that was grossly unfair, for all this talk of beauty within, I
just wanted it without.
Looking in the mirror, I would judge every flaw and try to cover all the
imperfections. The day I found makeup, was a pivotal day for me.
And so became my obsession with the canvas of my face. I did
have an artistic bent, and this was my way of expressing myself.
On to the day with Cover Girl! The irony of that name fully noticed
by me.
Never would I leave the house without my "face" on. I envied
Jane Jetson for her space age, go through the machine, daily
routine. So quickly was she ready to make an appearance. I
would agonize for an hour or so. Checking mirrors and downtown
plate glass windows, to make sure I was presentable. Nothing
out of place to make me stand out and reap a rejection. What
was going on in my head that made me so acutely aware of me?
Conscious of myself, self consciousness, shyness. All terms that
speak of the outward residing so completely on the inside. How
many years did it take for you to be comfortable in your own skin?
The freedom I imagined it to bring was heady.
In my 20's I met an older woman who became a "mother" to me.
She was such a beauty! Even with all the lines of life and the
crinkles around her eyes. I loved that dear woman. She had this
youthful giggle and always a smile playing at the edge of her lips.
She had lived and suffered and loved and now became my mentor.
When I confided my obsession with having to look perfect all the
time, including the hating of my picture taken, or a glance of my
reflection, which always made me think, is that really me? She
responded with this.
"Sandy, when you look in the mirror, from now on, I want you to
say out loud to yourself, 'Thank you God, for the gift of beauty'".
Oooookay I said, thinking to myself, where did she come up with
this stuff? But, wonder of wonders I listened to her. She always
gave such good advice, and she had a good track record with me,
so why not? Even though I felt so foolish talking to myself in
the mirror!
Over the course of time, a transformation occurred. It was so slight,
it was not noticed till the work was done. One day while getting
ready, I just looked at myself and thought, you know, I accept
you! I cannot pick you apart anymore! My skin became my
home, not just a house. It was the nicest feeling I have ever
had. To be comfortable with me.
A wonderful freedom came to me that day, one I have had to
keep up with, since I am a "home" owner now. The within
became the without and it was good! As I became less aware
of my imperfections, less conscious of myself, I became more
fully me. Now those phrases I always heard and hated
became the truth. I believe I was lit from within during this
transformation time. People even came up to me and said,
"There's something different about you". Now there was the
proof of the pudding!
I like the me I am now, granted, I have my days. But I accept
who God made me to be. In loving myself, I can truly and
openly love others in my life better. This was no selfish act,
it was the most loving thing I could do. God doesn't make junk.
Thank you "mom" for helping me to look like my Father!
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His
name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12,13
Sandy Cates
cato@jcn.net
E-mail Sandy and let her know what you thought of her story!
----------------------------------------------
Sandy lives in MO with her husband and son. Loves anything crafty and artsy, and still loves to turn sow's ears into silk purses.
__________________________________________________
Thought For The Day:
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
--Will Rogers
Verse for the Day:
"So you see, it isn't good enough just to have faith. You must also
do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by
good works is no faith at all--dead and useless." --James 2:17
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"Usually you learn your lesson, but you don't always remember it."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"As a child, my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it."
--Buddy Hackett
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Never tell a young person that something can't be done. God may
have been waiting for centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the
impossible to do that thing." --J. Holmes
Deep Thought For The Day:
Maybe it's just me, but sometimes I tend to question the safety lessons
from our four fingered wood-shop teacher.
_____________________________________________________
_
/_/\/\ 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. 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!
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html
AOL Users click here: Video Imagery
_________________________________________________________
Would you like to see your story in Straight From the Heart?
Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here:
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/
AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines
_________________________________________________________
Purchase your copy of Michael T. Powers' new book! For a sneak
preview, visit:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/order_our_book_
AOL Users Click Here: Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life
_________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIBE:
"I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!"
To become a Straight From the Heart Member send an e-mail with
"Subscribe" in the subject line to:
Thunder27@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 "Unsubscribe" in the
subject line to: Thunder27@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
_________________________________________________________
