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Straight From the Heart
http://www.storiesfrommyheart.com

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by Susan Stevens

 

I have a son, John, who is 35 years old, lives in a downtown Los Angeles
hotel, doesn't own a car and is not interested in material things.  When
he lived here in Washington he helped with an inner city ministry that fed
and clothed the homeless or low income. 

 

He moved to Los Angeles to get away from the cold weather as he is
diabetic and the cold was bothering him.  In California he is a street
entertainer.  He has been hired by studios, restaurants, and various
festivals in the area.  I used to think he really needed a regular job,
but eventually was given the peace that he is doing what he is supposed
to do. 

 

He has a tender heart and a burden for children.  He loves to make
them laugh.  He is a comic who does simple "magic" tricks, and makes
balloon animals, hats, bikes, etc.  These things he gives away to the
children that go by.  He has a jar and accepts donations, but never charges.
He gives them all the best, or lets the child tell him what they want. Sometimes
he receives a donation from a parent standing nearby, but this is not what
matters to him.  He gives to the children out of his love for them and
because, as he put it "I don't ever want a child to feel left out."

He gets busy and I don't hear from him as often as I would like.  Since he
has had some severe problems with his diabetes, I get concerned when too
much time goes by.  I last heard from him in February and he was having some
problems at that time.  He doesn't have a phone and the pay phone number at
the hotel had been disconnected.  As at least 5 months had gone by without
hearing from him, and I was going through my "worried mother" roll.

While driving home from work one night, I was listening to a radio program where
the DJ takes song requests from callers.  As I pulled into my driveway a
caller was requesting a song titled "He's My Son".  Her son was away from
home, had medical problems and she wanted to hear this particular song.  I
knew the song and, since my own son was on my heart that night, I wanted to
get inside my home before I started to cry.  Once inside my home I turned on
the radio and as the song got to the chorus that's exactly what I did....cry. 

The words echoed through my livingroom:

 

Can you hear me
am i getting through tonight
can you see him
can you make him feel alright
if you can hear me
let me take his place somehow
see he's not just anyone
he's my son

can you hear me
can you see him
please don't leave him
he's my son

 

As the tears flowed, my heart felt those words and my desire to hear from my
son increased.  As soon as the song was over, but still asking God to please
take care of my son,  I went to my home office and turned on my computer
to check email.  That's when the phone rang.  I heard a familiar voice and
began to cry again. It was my son!  I told him what has just happened, and in
my heart I kept thanking my loving Father for giving me the desire of my heart
that night.  God is so awesome!!

 

Copyright 2000

Susan Stevens
summr@msn.com

 

Send Susan an email and let her know what you thought of her story!

====================================================
Susan lives in the state of Washington where she is the mother of
seven and grandmother of 13.  She is in management for a human
resources company and enjoys writing in her spare time.

Check out this website to read more of Susan's writing!

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From: pkainemd@cros.net (Patricia Kaine)

    This poem was written several years ago by my cousin Edna, who lives in California.  I have been doing some cleaning of drawers, etc., in readiness of some renovations and moving in our house, and found this, in the process.  I think it is beautiful, so thought I would pass it on for your enjoyment.

    JUST FOR TODAY

    You can't live just for today while making yesterdays still last.
    Now look to the future when today has not yet passed.

    Each moment is so special if you catch it while it's here.
    Instead of chasing other days and keeping God from being near.

    Look just to the moment to find what's there.
    So you won't miss it's beauty or a task God has to share.

    For once this moment passes, you can never again find.
    The things you could have had that now are out of mind.

    So don't go running off and leave your moment there,
    but stay, and trust in God, and with Him that moment share.

          ............Edna M. Trulock
If anyone wants to contact the author, she can be reached
through this address. papa@ratedg.com

Edna is my 1st cousin.  She is the daughter of my now deceased Aunt Alvira,
and Uncle Jack.  She lives in Lancaster, CA, with her husband Leon, who is
blind.  They have lived there over 50 years.  She is a very devoted person who
reads every night to Leon.  She is a very faithful person and has a
very giving personality.  In case you don't know where Lancaster is, it
is on the hot Mojave Desert. 

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REQUESTS:

From: berniced@bellsouth.net (Bernice Baker)

Dear Michael and all the prayer warriors,
 A member of my family is in financial  bankruptcy and needs the prayers of those who pray. Please pray that God will make a way for him to pay his bills and manage his money.  His wife is ill and so much of his money goes toward medical bills even with insurance. God bless you.
berniced@bellsouth.net

*********

 From: bluesaturngirl@iwon.com (Diane Henne)
 
 Dear Friends,
 
 I need some more prayers!! I have to have a biopsy on my endometrium, which
 a layer in my uterus. I don't have the date or what they are looking for. My
 last Pap smear was normal.
 
 I didn't want to bring it up because it's a sensitive subject to me and some
 men are sensitive to a woman's menstrual cycle. They don't want to listen or
 hear about it. I have been having problems with my periods and since I have
 skipped a couple of periods and have taken the medicine to start them back
 up again and they didn't help. I am not too worried because of my Pap smear
 being normal. I know God will take care of me and will heal what needs to be
 healed. Or if not, He will help me get through whatever lies ahead.
 
 Thank you for being my wonderful friends!! Thank you for being there for me,
 when I need you the most!! I will always be there for any of you!!
 
 Thanks again!!
 Take care!!
 God Bless!!
 Friends In Christ!!
 You will always be in my prayers!!
 Diane

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Thought For The Day:

 

"By perseverance the snail reached the Ark"
(Charles Spurgeon)

 

Verse for the Day:

 

"He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement."
Proverbs 12:11

 

Kid's Thought For The Day:

 

"Everytime you swim out to the rock it gets a little closer."

 

Parent's Thought For The Day

 

"Stop trying to perfect your child, but keep trying to perfect your relationship with him."
(Dr. Hencker)

 

Coach's Thought For The Day

 

"A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"
(Robert Browning)

 

Deep Thought For The Day:

 

"I don't care how much you and your cat love each other. If
you were one inch smaller than the sweet little kitty, he'd
eat you in a heartbeat."

  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    THUNDER27@aol.com   http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/  \    "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 

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  (RKaGe@aol.com)    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!
 Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html

Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
 The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html

Writer's guidelines for Straight From the Heart can be found here:

Writer's Guidelines
http://storiesfrommyheart.com/writer_s_guidelines/

The copyrights to the stories that appear here are owned by the authors and are used with their permission.  This email 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. 
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