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=========================================================== {Straight From the Heart} *My Last Christmas Gift to Mom* 12/18/00 =========================================================== If you enjoy this free daily email service, I encourage you to I appreciate any feedback or constructive criticism, so feel free to Just joined us and want to see all the past stories we've run? ================================================== I wanted to share a very special story with all of you by our teenage writer, Emily J. Foster. Emily has shared her writing with us here at SFTH for the past year and half, and sent me the following story for Christmas. I did not have any slots open before Christmas though, so decided to put it on the website and include the link so that you all may read it. I ask that you do so and then write to Emily and encourage her as she begins her writing career... ==================================================
by Wilma Just about four years ago this time of year, I was almost running from store to store looking for "that special gift" for my Mother. I just HAD to find it! I was desperately driven. The department stores were getting summer clothes out already and Christmas wasn't even here! If I didn't find it soon, I wasn't going to find it in time! What was I looking for? The story began a year or so earlier. My mother had called and asked my brother Dallas and I to meet with her and Dad. They were getting up in years, and Dad was beginning to have some serious health problems. (We didn't know how serious they would become at that time.) They had asked Dallas and I to be executors of their estate many years before, now was the time to get it finalized. I took my pad and pen and Dallas set the video camera up. Mom was the most organized person I have ever known. (She had to be, she was the mother of sixteen children.) We soon forgot that the tape was rolling as we listened intently to their wishes. (Dad always left things up to Mom, he said she had the business head in the family.) We tried to keep things light hearted and at the same time it was a serious matter. We wanted to carry out their wishes and yet knew it was a heavy responsibility. Jokingly I asked Mom if she knew what she wanted to wear when she was to be buried. "Yes, I would like to be buried in pink and white, and I want to be holding a bible." That was what I was looking for that Christmas season four years ago...a white suit. After looking in at least five or six stores I finally found it! I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to have found it..and oh what a relief! I looked and looked for a pink blouse, but could not find "the one." I finally gave up and thought I would look another day. That was not God's plan. Unbeknown to me, my youngest sister had found "the pink blouse" and she was giving it as her Christmas gift. (Wasn't God kind to her?) I'll never forget my last Christmas with Mom and Dad. All the gifts lay in front of their fireplace in the living room opened and displayed for all to see that came in. Mom and Dad sitting in their recliners and their blankets about them. I remember Mom trying to open the box that held her suit, she was so weak, I had to do it for her. She lifted the lid, took the suit out, touched the material. "Oh, this is so nice, I'll wear this at my funeral." (I knew in my heart, when I was shopping, it was to be the last dress she would wear, it was not only for Christmas...it was the dress she would be buried in.) One month and one day later on January 26, 1996, she was ushered into heaven by a host of Angels. (another story) It took four of my sisters to assist the care taker in fixing Moms hair. They were going to make sure it was fixed just the way she would want it. (It was their way of showing their love.) We were able to find a beautiful pink and white casket with pink roses on it. (Mom's favorite flower.) As we said our good-byes, Mom looked so rested and beautiful. She was truly at peace, she was with her Lord and other family members who had gone on before.
If you still have your parents...enjoy them, if there might be ill feelings...make things right. Family is so important, next to God it should be the most important thing in our lives. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him, would not perish but, have everlasting life. He was born to die for you and me.....have you accepted God's gift? Sharing His love, Wilma Send Wilma an email and let her know what you thought of her story! ================================================== Thought For The Day: "It is not a crime to be rich, nor a virtue to be poor. The sin lies in hoarding wealth and keeping it from circulating freely to all who need it." - Charles Fillmore Verse for the Day: "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion...your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11 Kid's Thought For The Day: "It's hard to sleep on a strange pillow."
"If men bore children, there would only be one born in each family."
"When you're playing against a stacked deck, compete even harder. Show the world how much you'll fight for the winner's circle. If you do, someday the cellophane will crackle off a fresh pack, one that belongs to you, and the cards will be stacked in your favor. -Pat Riley
"A good way to threaten somebody is to light a stick of dynamite. Then ==================================================== ==================================================== 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!" Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies! Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? Writer's Guidelines |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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