________________________________
{SFTH} *Walking the Walk* 8/13/01
________________________________
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
Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories
in our archives at:
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.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, 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
more autographed copies of our book you only pay $5 for
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.
__________________________________________________
Is there any job in the world more emotionally demanding
than being a nurse? How about a nurse who works with the
terminally ill on the night shift? SFTH favorite Irene Budzynski
shares another heart touching story with us today...
May this be the start to a wonderful week for all of you!
________________________________________________
Walking the Walk
By Irene Budzynski
The night shift had finally ended. It was one of the worst
nights I could remember in 10 years. No matter what I
had done, it didn't seem as if I had accomplished anything
of value. The hospital was unusually full, and the patients
especially needy. Eight hours weren't enough time to get
all my tasks completed, so I'd stayed an extra hour to
finish. I drove home crying in frustration, nerve fibers
stretched to maximum exhaustion.
Too tired to walk into the house, I sat on the front porch
well past the hour of dawn's coolness and rocked in the
wicker chair, oblivious to the weight-bearing heat on my
skin. Devoid of energy, there was nothing left for me to
do but to allow the sun's rays to warm me, wishing I was
one of those people who didn't get so emotionally involved
with my patients. I gripped the rounded curves of the
oversized arms and pushed myself back and forth,
chanting, "Why, why, why?" with the creaking rhythm.
My heart had been torn to shreds by a gentle giant
whose illness I couldn't stop, whose pain I couldn't
halt. Cancer had been invading his body cell by cell and
all the years of training and experience and all the magical
pills and potions couldn't stop it. Isaiah was dying. Nature
was taking its course, and man had no power to reverse it.
A look of wide-eyed surprise and stiffening of his body
were the only clues that he was suffering. He'd clutch
his stomach and call out, "Lord, take it away. Please,
Lord, take it away." The prescribed medication wasn't
touching the racking pain rolling in waves through his
system. Helplessly I gripped his hand and prayed aloud
with him until the bout of agony had ended. The night
crept along, second by second, as Isaiah waited for the
next attack to render him helpless, knowing that death
lurked in the shadows, ever vigilant.
When I turned him to his side to make him more
comfortable, swaddled with pillows, he squeezed my
fingers and repeated, "Oh, God is so good. God is so
good. Thank you, miss. Thank you."
When he had an episode of heavy bleeding from his
wounds, he was bathed, dressings were changed, and
his linens were replaced, but still he didn't complain.
When asked what could be done for him, he replied,
"I just want to sit and talk to my Master. I need to talk
to my Master right now." He lay back, eyes closed,
and murmured prayers of worship.
During brief interludes of respite we held hands, patient
and nurse, the words spilling over from my heart. My
tears fell on my lap as I leaned over Isaiah to fix yet
another bleeding wound, reminded of someone else who
had suffered over 2,000 years ago. Had the women of
Jerusalem felt this same anguish? Had they railed about
their own impotence as did I?
I was the silent witness to Isaiah's Calvary. Nursing care
could temporarily beat back the discomfort, but he alone
would walk the final walk with God. To be in communion
with his Creator in preparation for their meeting was a
sacred rite that couldn't be trespassed upon by mere
mortals.
Before I left him to the care of the day shift, I tiptoed into
his room and kissed both his cheeks. Words were
unnecessary, but I wanted to open my heart.
"You are one of the bravest people I know, Isaiah. You
have every right to whine to God about your situation,
but, you pray for Him to be with you and to hold you in
His arms while you suffer. You have opened a window
for me and through it I have seen a glimpse of what it
must have been like for Jesus. You are my hero."
A tear rolled down his face and he gripped my hands.
"I am looking forward to seeing you in heaven." Nodding
my head, I left his side.
Safe on my porch, I asked for forgiveness for all the times
I had complained about insignificant problems in my life,
for my doubting and questioning. Then I prayed for grace
to walk my walk with the same dignity and faith as did
Isaiah. Rising from the chair, I felt the peace that comes
when one has witnessed the work of God, and I gave praise.
Irene Budzynski
irene_budd@yahoo.com
Write Irene and let her know what you thought of her story!
__________________________________
Irene Budzynski (irene_budd@yahoo.com) is a
registered nurse on the East Coast who has written
for SFTH and Heartwarmers.
__________________________________________________
From the E-mail Box!
Dear Michael,
I just read your story of the birth of your son Caleb. What
a joy for me to remember the birth of my own daughter
some 27 years ago as I read your story. So few men
are willing to share the emotions they feel at these most
precious times in our lives so your story was doubly
refreshing to me. I have enjoyed every day, moment
really, of my daughter's life from the day of her birth to
this very day. I recall all the people she has been, first
the small newborn, the toddler, the little girl, the big
girl, the teenager, the high school student, the college
student, and now the fine young wife and mother she
has become. After delivering two still born babies she
has a young son (17 months) named Joshua, my very
first grandchild. He is a chance for my wife and I to
enjoy it all over again, to see our daughter on the receiving
end of the kind of joy she has always given us and for
us, also, to once again be on the receiving end of the
wonders that a child brings into your life. Just wanted to
thank you for your story and to give you one piece of
advice, albeit unsolicited. Enjoy each and every
moment of each and every day with your
children, redeeming the time. I know you will.
And finally, if you think being Daddy is fun, wait until
your Grandpa days get here! Wishing you and your
family well,
Fred
Marietta, Georgia
__________________________________________________
Thought For The Day:
"It is better to give than to lend, and it costs about the same"
--Phillip Gibbs
Verse for the Day:
"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to
them without expecting to get anything back. Then
your reward will be great." --Luke 6:35
Kid's Thought For The Day:
"It's more fun to ask questions than to answer them."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"If scientists can put a man on the moon, why can't
they figure out which kid hit the other first?"
--Bruce Lansky
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Keep your mind and options open. The lessons you
learn after you thought you knew everything may be
the most important of all."
Deep Thought For The Day:
"The meek shall inherit the earth, if that's OK with you."
_____________________________________________________
REQUESTS:
DEAR MICHAEL...
THIS IS MY SECOND PRAYER REQUEST. MY COUSIN WAS IN THE ICU THIS FEB. PAST, AND YOUR PRAYER GROUP HELPED HER GET THRU IT. SHE WAS READMITTED FOR A WEEK TWO WEEKS AGO. SHE HAS A BAD LIVER AND A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS. AFTER A WEEK IN ICU SHE WAS ONCE AGAIN LEFT TO COME HOME. SHE HAS BEEN HOME FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW, BUT SHE WON'T TALK TO ANYONE. NOT EVEN ME, AND SHE HAS STARTED DRINKING AGAIN, AND SHE WAS TOLD IF SHE DRANK, SHE WOULD BE DEAD BY CHRISTMAS! WE HAVE BEEN CLOSE SINCE WE WERE BORN. WE HAVE BEEN THRU SO MUCH TOGETHER, AND I WANT TO BE THERE FOR HER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR HER. SO I AM WRITING AGAIN FOR YOUR
PRAYERS. THEY WORKED LAST TIME, SO I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL ONCE AGAIN! WILL ALL OF YOUR READERS PLEASE PRAY FOR SHARON? SHE NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS VERY MUCH, AND SO DO I, FOR THE STRENGTH TO KEEP TRYING TO REACH HER, WHEN SHE KEEPS TURNING ME AWAY IN HER TIME OF NEED! I KNOW SHE NEEDS ME, LIKE I NEED HER IN MY LIFE. WE HAVE HELPED EACH OTHER THRU SO MANY HARD TIMES IN OUR LIVES. I
WANT TO BE BESIDE HER AS SHE GOES THRU WHAT MIGHT BE HER HARDEST TIME SHE HAS EVER FACED. I FEEL SHE HAS LOST THE WILL TO LIVE. I'M NOT IN VERY GOOD HEALTH MYSELF, AND IT IS SO FRUSTRATING, FEELING LIKE THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP HER. SO WILL YOU PLEASE PUT THIS ON YOUR PRAYER LIST? WE ARE BOTH BELIEVERS OF GOD AND HIS MIRACLES HE CAN DO. PLEASE ... WISH HER THE WILL TO FIGHT THIS AND GIVE HER BACK HER WILL TO LIVE!
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEND HER WORDS OF INSPIRATION, FAITH, AND TO LET HER KNOW SHE ISN'T ALONE...YOU CAN SEND THEM TO ME AND I WILL PRINT THEM OUT AND GIVE THEM TO HER OR HER MOM WHO IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO SHE WILL SEE AT THIS TIME. THE EMAIL ADDRESS IS:
Mothenature@webtv.net
THANK YOU FOR SUCH A PLACE TO GO IN OUR TIMES OF NEED FOR THAT EXTRA HELP WITH OUR LIVES, AND TO ASSURE EXTRA VOICES TO GOD!
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS MICHAEL.
SINCERELY,
LAURIE BARRETT
_____________________________________________________
_
/_/\/\ 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 below:
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
___________________________________________________
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
book. Plus you can download the EBook and begin reading
the stories in a few minutes! EBooks are read via Acrobat
Reader, which is software that most of you already have on
your computer. And if for some reason you don't, it can be
downloaded free of charge at the web site. So for those of
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
