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{Straight From the Heart} *Always Like Rain* 7/31/00
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Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"

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Always Like Rain

By: Shery Ma Belle Arrieta

"Someday when my cryin's done, I'm gonna wear a
smile and walk in the sun..." -- The Everly Brothers

Just last week, I tried to let go of something special. I
couldn't do it. I did not have the will power to completely
let go.

I did not know how deep the roots of my attachment to a
very special friendship was but that day I finally found
out -- when I asked to be let go. So many times in the past
I have tried to break free, not because the friendship was
suffocating me. It was because of my insecurities, my
constant blunderings and my immature way of handling
something as special as the friendship I have in my hands.

The friendship has always been too special and I couldn't
handle it. It was like holding a piece of delicate figurine
in my hands, or weaving a fragile yarn, that I was always
mostly unsure and feared I would break the figurine or
cut the yarn. I kept making my way blindly towards long
days of being upset; of endlessly pounding and putting the
friendship on trial.

He constantly builds me up, while I do nothing but bring
us down every chance I get. He looks forward to learning
from mistakes, while I get stuck over self-recriminations
and self-blame. He grabs and faces each day with a
positive outlook, while I get left behind still worrying
about the mistakes I did the day before. He knows his
self-worth and points to me my worth, while I hold on
to a self-esteem that is close to nonexistent. He is
everything I need to build me up, and I am everything
he doesn't need to bring him down. I believed that letting
go was the best solution, and this I asked of him that day.
But he doesn't run away from pain.

My happiness is anchored on the friendship, this I know,
but in the last several months, I have made enough
mistakes to dim out our happiness. In spite of this he
continues to be there -- like the sun, like the air, like
the rain. Always there.

I waited for the bus that afternoon under dark and
heavy clouds. What started as a slight drizzle became
a heavy downpour. While the other commuters scurried
and ran to the nearest shelter, I stayed under the
rain. I felt the big drops pound on my little gray
umbrella, and I let the rain hitting the pavement bounce
and soak my shoes and my stockinged legs.

In that instant, I knew I will not be able to let go, nor
ask again to be let go. And in spite of the absence of the
sun, I smiled at the knowledge that he will always be
like rain. He'll bring with him the rain that cleanses my
being.

© 2000 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
mailto:iamshery@msc.net.ph

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

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Shery Ma Belle Arrieta is a writer based in the Philippines.
She publishes the daily inspirational e-zine, Positive Quotes, where the above story previously appeared. On July 24, she will be coming out with the first volume of The Best of Positive Quotes, a free e-book compilation of over 100 Positive Quotes stories, poetry and essays written by her and several PQ writers and contributors. Email Shery at mailto:iamshery@msc.net.ph if you wish to know about how you can download this free e-book. Visit her website at http://positivequotes.homepage.com
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REQUESTS and Thanks:

From: Beals7OfUs@aol.com (Donna Beals)


To all of you at Children's Hospital..........thank you and bless you for your part in our lives and in Zachary's life................Also a special thanks for all the food that was lovingly prepared and delivered to our home............and for those of you who took the time to write, send a card, send flowers, call, visit or think of us, each of you have played a part in our healing........may God Bless you in a very personal and special way....to all our friends and family who have been there for us..................
Perhaps you sent a lovely card,
Or sat quietly in a chair,
Perhaps you sent a funeral spray,
If so we saw it there.
Perhaps you spoke the kindest words,
As any friend could say;
Perhaps you were not there at all,
Just thought of us that day,
Whatever you did to console our hearts,
We thank you so much whatever the part.

Friends,
I can only speak for myself and for what I see in my family........I see and feel a sense of peace among our family. Peace in knowing that Zachary was well loved and cared for while he was here with us. Peace that he brought so much to our lives and touched so many others in so many ways. I know in my heart that the peace I feel is a direct result of the prayers, love and concern offered up for our family.
God Bless you all and thank you so much for all you have done for us.......
Donna and Mark, Jessica and Steve

***********

From: Songboy1@aolcom


I just found out about an hour ago that a friend of mine (Tabatha Slaymaker) from Blanchard Oklahoma was killed in a car accident earlier today. Tabatha was just 16 and going to be a junior in high school. Please be in prayer for her family and friends, that God almighty just comfort them and hold them in the palm of His hand. Thanks for all the prayers.
In Christ,
Erik

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Thought For The Day:

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
(Will Rogers)

Verse for the Day:

"So you see, it isn't good enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn't show itself by good works is no faith at all--dead and useless."
James 2:17

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Usually you learn your lesson, but you don't always remember it."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"As a child, my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it."
(Buddy Hackett)

Coach's Thought For The Day

"Never tell a young person that something can't be done. God may have been waiting for centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that thing."
(J. Holmes)

Deep Thought For The Day:

“Maybe it's just me, but sometimes I tend to question the safety lessons from our four fingered wood-shop teacher.”

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!
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Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html



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