{Straight From the Heart} *Significant Moments* 11/10/99
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I wanted to thank everyone for the feedback I have been getting on yesterday's
story: The Day Lisa Lost. Give me a few days to respond to you. I started
coaching basketball this week, and my time will be even more limited now.
If the story touched you in some way, and you wanted to let Lisa know about it,
email me with it and I will pass it along to her. (Thunder27@aol.com) Lisa
downplays everything she does, and I would like to let her know just how special she is.
Thanks!
Now on to today's mail!
Today we have another story from Terri McPherson! She shared a story entitled
"Ever Wonder," a few weeks ago. Remember to let her know if her story touches you
in some way.
Thank you Terri for sharing your wonderful writing with us!
Significant Moments
Grammy lives four hours away, and I don't see her nearly as often as I
should. But I write her long letters and she sends me sweet cards in between
visits. She understands the busy-ness of every day living, Grammy always
understands. Short in stature and elf-like in appearance, her presence looms
large in my life despite the distance.
The kind wrinkles on her face belie the strength of her convictions. Draw
her into a discussion and she will debate politics, religion and baseball in
one sitting. She's a wizened old pixie and I am grateful for the defining
moments she's brought to my life.
While standing at the side of my Grampy's deathbed, I held her tight when
the nurses urged her to speak to her unconscious husband. As she bent close
to his ear, I held my breath, afraid the poignant moment would send me off
in a wail of sobs. But before a tear was shed, she straightened up and
uttered a feisty retort, "He can't hear me. He's not wearing his hearing
aid." That spark in her broken spirit taught me to go through the grieving
process without allowing sorrow to completely swallow me up.
A few short years later, we stood side by side once again. This time, in
front of my brother's casket. In the face of my endless tears, she told me
she had cried all her tears out when Grampy died, and apologized for not
crying with me. The pain of her apology showed me I would need my tears in
years to come and I didn't let my well run dry.
Grammy was at my side when I woke from surgery last year. In the midst of a
post-operative haze, a handful of her soft spoken words parted the fog in my
head. "I want you to know how very much I love you." When I turned toward
her voice, I saw a glistening in her eyes. Was my medicated mind playing a
trick? To this day, I don't know. The anesthetic pulled me back from
consciousness before I could ask. However, I drifted off to sleep with the
knowledge that nothing is carved in stone, and you're never too old to grow
new feelings.
I catch slivers of Grammy's personality sneaking their way into mine. They
are traits that enhance my character and fit comfortably inside my skin.
Copyright © 1999
Terri McPherson
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
tmcphers@mnsi.net
(Email Terri and let her know what you thought of her story!)
Terri lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has two wonderful children, a
five-year-old grandangel and a terrific husband. She works as a Writer / Web
Designer / Production Assistant for a local production company and teaches
advanced clogging classes for the Border City Cloggers. Her writing has
appeared in numerous online publications.
Check out her website:
WiseHearts... Weaving Small Wisdoms Through The Fabric Of Life
Wise Hearts! Weaving Small Wisdoms Through Th...
http://www.mnsi.net/~tmcphers/index.htm
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REQUEST:
From: Charlotte CBea15@aol.com
Dear Michael,
I have a prayer request. One of my friends at school was placed in a children's
home. Not because of something that she did. Her mom's live in boyfriend was sexually
abusing her at home and it had been happening for three years before she was able to
come forward. She has been in Marie Detty for almost a week now and she barely eats
anything and she hasn't been sleeping at all. Her mother has pretty much disowned her,
except for the court hearings, she has only seen her Mom twice. Melissa is not even
allowed to see her baby sister. She only has a few of her own clothes, the rest she
has to borrow from people there. She will not get her phone privileges until this Wed.
They send her to school and for that I am thankful or else I would not get to talk to
her. When she left to go to M.D. (as she calls it), she waited to say to say good-bye
and I'm glad because I have been really worried. Since Friday I have been having
dreams, involving someone shooting Melissa and I've been freaking out. She has to
stay on M.D. for at least a month.
I have another prayer request. Myself. I have what is called
"chondro malasia" which means bad cartilage in both of my knees. I have
been through three weeks of physical therapy and it has not helped. I go
back to my doctor this Wed. and he will determine whether I have to have
surgery. I think that he will suggest it especially since my knees are hurting
worse now than before.
I hope that you will pass this on. I ask that everyone pray for my friend and me.
Thanx,
Charlotte
CBea15@aol.com
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What's the world coming to! Michael has his own weekly column on being a daddy!!
This week: Michael takes Caleb to his first swimming lessons!
Click on this link to go to ChildFun.com!
Daddy's View | Michael's Weekly Column
or type in the following in your browser:
http://www.childfun.com/dads/michael.shtml
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Thought For The Day:
"A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down."
(Arnold H. Glasgow)
Verse for the Day:
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."
Proverbs 17:17
Kid's Thought for the day:
"Don't save time. Use it up."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"Children are not so different from Kites. Children were created to fly. But
they need wind -- the undergirding and strength that comes from unconditional
love, encouragement, and prayer."
(Gigi Graham Tchividjian)
Coach's Thought For The Day
"Use what talents you possess -- the woods would be very silent if no birds
sang there except those who sang the very best."
(Unknown)
Deep Thought For The Day:
"If I plagiarize, it's only because I like someone else's idea better than
mine and I want credit for it."
_
/_/\/\ 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