Heart Touchers

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{Straight From the Heart} *My Gentle Giant* 11/13/00
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Whew! What a week! We have added over 800 subscribers! Usually I try to welcome everyone personally to the list, but just couldn't keep up this week. So a huge warm welcome to those of you who have joined. May you find hope and inspiration in every email, and may it make a difference in your life.
Today's story is by a new author to Straight From the Heart. RoseMary Salzman shares with us about her "Gentle Giant." If you are touched by her story, send her a quick email and let her know. Feedback for a writer is a like a warm breeze on a spring day! Send her many warm breezes and have a great week everyone!
Michael
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My Gentle Giant

By RoseMary Salzman

While my son was studying at the University of Wisconsin for his degree
in Art Education, I would frequently visit him and watch as he worked on
the potters wheel at his studio. As I look back on those times, I
thank the Lord for that quiet time of sharing with one of my children as
he gently went from a boy to manhood.

I marvel at his massive gentle hands as he works with the raw clay. His
6 foot 4 frame is a sharp contrast to the careful touch and slight of
hand required for this delicate work. He knows I'm there, but his eyes are
on the clay, keeping close watch as it forms into his desired shape.
I sit quietly by, thinking about his child that is on the way. As he
puts the finishing touches to the newly created vessel, we begin to talk.

"It seems we just got married, and now there is a baby on the way," he
ponders. "Will I be a good Dad? I haven't been around babies very
much... they are so tiny!" He wonders about the wants and needs of a
child. How will he handle this? The responsibility gives him pause...

I have watched this young Father-to-be grow. I know his gentle side. I
have watched as he went from happy baby, to loud teenager, to studious
college student, newly wed, and now a Father. I know he will be OK.

My heart is warm as I say to him.....
"I have watched you work with this cold and hard piece of clay. You
kneaded it, warmed it, and molded it. Your hands have been gentle, but
firm, creative, but careful. You have been patient, quiet, still, but
still in charge. You have done this with a sense of humor and
creativity.

With these same hands, heart, and mind, give the same care to this new
gift of Fatherhood. Be kind, gentle, warm, firm, patient, still and
loving. Have a sense of humor, be creative, share yourself with this
new life the Lord has given to you and your wife. Have fun, let the
child within you remember how much fun life can be. Give your child
your artistic outlook on life. Share the wonder of your creative side
with her, and let her know how much you love her.

Now several years later, with three little daughters, I chuckle as I see
this young father play with his beautiful family. His little girls
bounce on him, using him for a human trampoline, a mountain to be
climbed, or the "giant" in one of their make believe adventures.

Does he remember that day in his studio? I think so. He has
transferred his imagination, creativity, and gentleness to his
family. He is a wonderful Father. He is a man his children can be
proud of. They feel safe and cared for with him. He is proud of his
"little ladies."

Someone once said to me, "Don't you wish you had a little girl? They
are so kind and gentle, sweet and tender. I feel sorry for you with all
those boys!"
Did I need a daughter to grant me a gentle and tender child? My sons
have hearts of gold, the minds of geniuses, and the souls of poets.
And....they love their Mother very much!

The Lord has blessed me. He has given me three beautiful sons and three
lovely granddaughters. The gift of these wonderful people, as an
extension of the love my husband and I have for one other, is the most
wonderful miracle of the Lord's love. I thank him from the bottom of my
heart and soul every day for the blessings he has bestowed on me.

RoseMary Salzman
prsalz@vbe.com

Email RoseMary and let her know what you thought of her story.

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RoseMary and her husband live in Central Wisconsin, in an old 116 year
old refurbished one roomed school house that they have made into a
loving and comfortable home. She loves to work in her century old oak
filled yard planting flowers, shrubs, and more trees. She enjoys the
woods behind the schoolhouse with the beautiful walking trails and quiet
places to read, write, dream and pray. She enjoys reading, writing,
arts and crafts, volunteer work, hiking, golf and her computer. She and
her husband continue to enjoy their loving family, and marvel at the
wonder of being Grandparents!
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Just wanted to share the following email I received about my Iwo Jima story. Many of the hundreds of email responses have been heart touching, but this one caught my attention. I just wanted to pass it on to all of you....
Michael
P.S. Veteran's Day is once a year. Remembering our Veterans should be an everyday occurrence....

From: gramfam@chollian.net (Keith & MaryAnn Gramig)

Dear Mr. Powers,
Your email about the D.C. field trip and the Iwo Jima monument was forwarded to me by a friend as I am sure it has been the world over. You see, I am the wife of an Army officer in Korea. My husband lives and works 5 miles from the most tense border in the world between North and South Korea. This is our chosen lifestyle to serve our country as a family. At times, it is discouraging when we hear politicians arguing over giving soldiers a pittance pay raise while they continue to send them the world over as the global police. They leave families behind for months, even years at a time on a regular basis. Some of my husband's soldiers qualify for food stamps because their pay is so low. Instead of valuing their work and dedication by paying them a fair wage the WIC disbursement program was just modified to include more of those unable to make ends meet. And congress wonders why we are having the retention problem we are. The list of reasons are too numerous to count. These boys and men are just as dedicated as those of WW II. The morale is low and a concern to men, like my husband, who as the operations/planning officer for his air assault battalion, writes the mission plan that these soldiers may have to execute someday in combat on behalf of a nation where the average citizen does not even realize we are still over here. I say all this to simply say thank you to you for helping educate and instill respect and pride in these youngsters for the United States Armed Forces and the men and women who have devoted their lives and given their lives to her cause of freedom. Thank you for teaching them that "Freedom is not free."

A proud Army wife,
MaryAnn Gramig
Yongsan Army Garrison
Seoul, S. Korea

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Thought For The Day:

"Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears."
(Arthur Koestler)

Verse for the Day:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Don't run away from home in the middle of a storm."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Money isn't everything but it sure keeps the kids in touch."

Coach's Thought For The Day

"I always tried to make clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere..."
"It is most difficult, in my mind, to separate any success, whether it be in your profession, your family, or as in my case, in basketball, from religion."
(John Wooden, winningest coach in college basketball history)

Deep Thought For The Day:

"A handy telephone tip: Keep a small chalkboard near the phone. That
way, when a salesman calls, you can hold the receiver up to it and run your
fingernails across it until he hangs up."

_
/_/\/\    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

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

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The Four Spiritual Laws
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