Heart Touchers

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{SFTH} *The Most Beautiful Flower* 8/10/01

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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/

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Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life

To order your autographed copy at no extra charge, send
a check or money order for $18 ($14.95 for the book and
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Michael T. Powers, and then send 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
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shipping and handling.

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.
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Few poets can touch our hearts like Cheryl L. Costello-Forshey
can, and today's poem is no exception. Thank you Cheryl for
sharing your gift with us!
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The Most Beautiful Flower

By Cheryl L. Costello-Forshey

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn--not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with
overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
"That's why I picked it; here, it's for you."

The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it midair without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every
second that's mine.

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in
his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

Write Cheryl and let her know what you thought of her poem!
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Cheryl is a poet whose work has been published in several of
the Chicken Soup for the Soul books--A 4th Course, A
5th Portion, Teenage Soul II, Teenage Soul III, College
Soul, Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul, Chicken Soup
for the Teenage Soul Letters, and Chicken Soup for the
Teenage Soul Tough Stuff, as well as the books, Stories
for a Teen's Heart, Stories for a Faithful Heart, A Pleasant
Place, and, Stories for a Teen's Heart II. Cheryl also writes
personalized poetry and memorials on a commissioned
basis. She is currently seeking a publisher for her
first book of poetry/stories, Heart Impressions. Anyone
interested in contacting her can do so at:
costello-forshey@1st.net

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Thought For The Day:

"A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion."
(Washington Irving)"

Verse for the Day:

"Anyone who is among the living has hope--even a live dog
is better off than a dead lion." Ecclesiastes 9:4

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"While red is Caleb's favorite color, he changed to blue when
he picked up his first red ant this summer. "

Parent's Thought For The Day

"The dough we spent on Disney World we could have saved
instead; the ride the kids remember the most was jumping
on the bed at the hotel."

Coach's Thought For The Day

"I don't seek perfection, I seek improvement."

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Had it been invented any place other than Green Bay
Packer country, it would be called a teethbrush."
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REQUESTS:

I always enjoy reading your stories and they are so uplifting. I also have
asked you to put my husband on the prayer list before, but this is really
getting serious as it has been over a month since he was laid off of his job
as a computer programmer and our savings is now depleted and with only $375
a week unemployment coming in I just don't know what we are going to do. If
anyone out there is reading this and is in a position to hire programmers
you can reach him by email to khmann1@carolina.rr.com.
Thank you for taking time to read and pray for this request. Also, I would
like to ask you to pray for me as I have pneumonia and am not feeling well
at all, but I know that God can heal me and that he will.
Thanks,
Cheryl Mann
cmann@carolina.rr.com

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First, I'd like to thank all of you who prayed for my mother-in-law, Jennie.
You may recall that she is 76 and had her right leg amputated this past spring. We visited her surgeon today and received some better than expected news. He will remove only half of her left foot. Yes, that's better than the leg just below the knee. Her daughter took her today and made her case for this and with the help of God, it will succeed. It is not brain surgery, but does require skill and the doctor isn't sure that the wound created by the surgery will heal.
Thus, my second request is for prayers that God guide the surgeons hands and mind, and he performs his best so He can perform His best.
It appears the surgery will take place August 16, please pray for her.
Thank you
TomSully10@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

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
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a sneak preview, visit:

http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com/order_our_book_

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Straight From the Heart: A Celebration of Life
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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm

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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
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Reader, which is software that most of you already have on
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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