My Aging Guardian Angel

Since I have grown older,
Things have changed a lot for me.
I have learned to make adjustments,
And do things differently.

For instance, now when I climb stairs,
I hold on to the rails.
I don’t indulge in rich desserts,
And I do not drink cocktails.

I don’t tote groceries in one bag,
Now, I ask for two.
I don’t clean the whole house at one time,
A room or two will do.

It isn’t just things physical,
My thinking’s changed as well.
I don’t read romance novels now,
I think biographies are swell.

I’m more selective with my movies,
My music choice has changed a lot.
Now I pick the slow and dreamy,
And skip what others say is “hot.”

But, new thoughts now occur to me,
Perhaps of another nature.
From time to time I think about
My guardian angel’s stature.

I thought that guardian angels
Should match one’s age in years.
So they could truly understand
One’s joys and one’s tears.

Now, if that statement’s really true,
My angel’s hair should be snow white.
Her wings, most likely stiff from age,
So she can’t do angel flights.

She probably wears bifocals, too,
She may even use a cane.
I suspect that her arthritis,
May have made her sore and lame.

But I guess she still can care for me,
Since I don’t go anywhere.
I can not be too hard on her,
So, no more wear and tear.

For many years she’s worked real hard,
Watching me was quite a chore.
And, while now I live so differently,
I just might need her more.

She’ll be with me now I’m alone,
She’ll soothe my tired brow.
She knows my pains and heartaches,
And how much I need God now.

Her line to God is still in place,
And, though she’s slow and fragile.
She still communicates with Him,
There’s no need to be so agile.

I think my guardian angel
Has grown old, along with me.
And when my earthly ties are loosened,
She will help to set me free.

She’ll take my hand; we’ll both go Home,
Our trip will be first rate.
Neither one of us will falter,
We’ll help each other find the Gate.

by Virginia (Ginny) Ellis
copyright2000

From Your Father

Good Morning:

I am the Lord your God. Today I will be handling
all of your problems. Please remember that I do
not need your help. If the devil happens to deliver
a situation to you that you cannot handle, DO
NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the
SFJTD (something for Jesus to do) box. It
will be addressed in MY time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not
hold on to it or attempt to remove it. Holding on
or removal will delay the resolution of your
problem. If it is a situation that you think you
are capable of handling, please consult me in
prayer to be sure that it is the proper resolution.
Because I do not sleep nor do I slumber, there is
no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest my child.
If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.

Love Eternally,

The Lord your God

P.S. Please pass this on to all my other kids.

Animals Are Parents Too

I want to let you know about an event that changed my
life many years ago. It is a memory that periodically comes and
goes, but it is one of the most precious memories that me and my wife
share. I am thankful that we can remember it together. It’s a
reminder that things are not what they seem and that angels come in
many packages.

We live in College Station, Texas and we were on our way home from
Houston, Texas around the Weston Lakes area one Saturday or Sunday
morning. And when I say morning, I’m talking 1:00 to 2:00 in the
morning. We were on our way home and decided to stop at a local gas
station to get coffee and something to snack on since it was a good
hour and a half before we got home.

When we were done, we got back into our car and before I started it,
we noticed a man standing outside in front of the building. You
could tell that he was a homeless man. His clothes were tattered and
worn and it looked like he had gone in and gotten him some coffee or
something warm to drink since it was cold this time of the year. He
must have not had enough money to get something to eat. That is not
something I remember too well, because that is not what “moved” me.

The next thing I remember is a dog that walked up to the front of
the building. Being a dog lover, I noticed that she was part wolf
and probably part German shepherd. I could tell she was a she,
because you could tell that she had been feeding puppies. She was
terribly in need of something to eat and I felt so bad for her. I
knew if she didn’t eat soon, she and her puppies would not make it.

Me and my wife sat there and looked at her. We noticed that people
walked by and didn’t even pet her, like most people do when they
walk by an animal in front of a store. She might not have been as
pretty and clean as most, but she still deserved better. But we
still did not do anything. But someone did. The homeless man, who I
thought did not buy himself anything to eat, went back into the
store. And what he did brought tears to me and my wife. He had gone
into the store and with what money he may have had, bought a can of
dog food and fed that dog.

I know that this story isn’t as inspirational as most stories, but
it plays a great part in our lives. You see, that was Mother’s Day
weekend. And a lot of people forget that some animals are parents
too. And animals as well as us are God’s creations too.

It would be a better story if I could remember all the details, but
even without the details, I believe it still gets the message
across. It took a homeless man, to show me what I should have done.
He made me a better man that day.

Making Judgments

It was a cold winter’s day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was
filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church
members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the church. As
I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church.

He was almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat
that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you
could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small
for his feet with holes all over them; his toes stuck out. I assumed this
man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the
church.

We all fellowshipped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man
laying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask
him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began.

We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the word,
when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man walking down
the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces.
He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit he took off his hat
and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher … He was the “homeless
man.” No one said a word.

The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand. “Folks, I don’t think
I have to tell you what I am preaching about today.”Then he started singing
the words to this song.

“If I can help somebody as I pass along.
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song.
If I can show somebody that he’s traveling wrong.
Then my living shall not be in vain.”

Contributed by: Mike
Found at: Teaching What I Most Need to Know

Good Corn

James Bender, in his book How to Talk Well (New York: McGraw-Hill Book
Company, Inc., 1994) relates the story of a farmer who grew
award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair
where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed
him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.

The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his
neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your
neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each
year?” the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen
from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my
neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade
the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my
neighbors grow good corn.”

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot
improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help
their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help
others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it
touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find
happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must
help our neighbors grow good corn.

Author Unknown

Mr. Washington

One day in 11th grade, I went into a classroom to wait for a friend of mine. When I went into the room, the teacher, Mr. Washington, suddenly appeared and asked me to go to the board to write something, to work something out. I told him that I couldn’t do it. And he said, “Why not?”

I said, “Because I’m not one of your students.”

He said, “It doesn’t matter. Go to the board anyhow.”

I said, “I can’t do that.”

He said, “Why not?”

And I paused because I was somewhat embarrassed. I said, “Because I’m Educable Mentally Retarded.”

He came from behind his desk and he looked at me and he said, “Don’t ever say that again. Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.”

It was a very liberating moment for me. On one hand, I was humiliated because the other students laughed at me. They knew that I was in Special Education. But on the other hand, I was liberated because he began to bring to my attention that I did have to live within the context of what another person’s view of me was.

And so Mr. Washington became my mentor. Prior to this experience, I had failed twice in school. I was identified as Educable Mentally Retarded in the fifth grade, was put back from the fifth grade into the fourth grade, and failed again, when I was in the eighth grade. So this person made a dramatic difference in my life.

I always say that he operates in the consciousness of Goethe, who said, “Look at a man the way that he is, he only becomes worse. But look at him as if he were what he could be, and then he becomes what he should be.” Like Calvin Lloyd, Mr. Washington believed that “Nobody rises to low expectations.” This man always gave students the feeling that he had high expectations for them and we strove, all of the students strove, to live up to what those expectations were.

One day, when I was still a junior, I heard him giving a speech to some graduating seniors. He said to them, “You have greatness within you. You have something special. If just one of you can get a glimpse of a larger vision of yourself, of who you really are, of what it is you bring to the planet, of your specialness, then in a historical context, the world will never be the same again. You can make your parents proud. You can make your school proud. You can make your community proud. You can touch millions of people’s lives.” He was talking to the seniors, but it seemed like that speech was for me.

I remember when they gave him a standing ovation. Afterwards, I caught up to him in the parking lot and I said, “Mr. Washington, do you remember me? I was in the auditorium when you were talking to the seniors.”

He said, “What were you doing there? You are a junior.”

I said, “I know. But that speech you were giving, I heard your voice coming through the auditorium doors. That speech was for me, Sir. You said they had greatness within them. I was in that auditorium. Is there greatness within me, Sir?”

He said, “Yes, Mr. Brown.”

“But what about the fact that I failed English and math and history, and I’m going to have to go to summer school. What about that, Sir? I’m slower than most kids. I’m not as smart as my brother or my sister who’s going to the University of Miami.”

“It doesn’t matter. It just means that you have to work harder. Your grades don’t determine who you are or what you can produce in your life.”

“I want to buy my mother a home.”

“It’s possible, Mr. Brown. You can do that.” And he turned to walk away again.

“Mr. Washington?”

“What do you want now?”

“Uh, I’m the one, Sir. You remember me, remember my name. One day you’re gonna hear it. I’m gonna make you proud. I’m the one, Sir.”

School was a real struggle for me. I was passed from one grade to another because I was not a bad kid. I was a nice kid; I was a fun kid. I made people laugh. I was polite. I was respectful. So teachers would pass me on, which was not helpful to me. But Mr. Washington made demands on me. He made me accountable. But he enabled me to believe that I could handle it, that I could do it.

He became my instructor my senior year, even though I was Special Education. Normally, Special Ed students don’t take

Speech and Drama, but they made special provisions for me to be with him. The principal realized the kind of bonding that had taken place and the impact that he’d made on me because I had begun to do well academically. For the first time in my life I the honor roll. I wanted to travel on a trip with the drama and you had to be on the honor roll in order to make the trip out of town. That was a miracle for me!

Mr. Washington restructured my own picture of who I am. He gave me a larger vision of myself, beyond my mental conditioning my circumstances.

Years later, I produced five specials that appeared on public television. I had some friends call him when my program, ‘You Deserve,’ was on the educational television channel in Miami. I was sitting by the phone waiting when he called me in Detroit. He said, “May I speak to Mr. Brown, please?”

“Who’s calling?”

“You know who’s calling.”

“Oh, Mr. Washington, it’s you.”

“You were the one, weren’t you?”

“Yes, Sir, I was.”

Les Brown “A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul” Editor: Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

WWJD?

- author unknown
Lord, throughout this
day,
As I try to follow
You,
Let this be my rule to
live by:
What Would Jesus Do?

When a friend or loved
one
Asks me for a moment or
two,
May I think of one thing
only:
What Would Jesus Do?

In all my dealings, help
me
To be honest, fair and
true,
To measure each decision
by:
What Would Jesus Do?

When I’m feeling
troubled
And I turn in prayer to
You,
Give me wisdom to decide:
What Would Jesus Do?

And let me promise each new
day
To live my whole life
through,
In love and peace,
remembering:
What Would Jesus Do?

Then when the day is
ended,
May I resolve anew
To guide tomorrow by the
motto:
What Would Jesus Do?

Healing Garden

This is my healing garden
where loving care resides,
everyone’s always welcome here
so please do come inside.
.
Know that you have friends here
that really truly care,
and will listen to your troubles
with sympathetic ears.
.
We are here to comfort you
our feelings most sincere,
with loving care within our hearts
we’ll put away your fears.
.
We’ll teach you how to understand
to let hate and anger go,
and let the sadness and the pain
away….so gently flow.
.
When you let the sadness slide
and let your heart forgive,
and accept the life God gave to you
then you have learned to live.
.
Welcome to my garden friend
where healing hearts reside,
it doesn’t matter who you are
you’re welcome here inside.

verse by shari©1998

Angel Ball

You are cordially invited
to attend the Angel Ball,
Where all the Angels gather
the most angelic of them all.
.
Dressed up in their fine white gowns
with their halo’s to behold,
starlight glistening in their hair
wings twinkling with gold.
.
They gather round in circles
in the softly glowing light,
dancing on their tip toes
spreading love throughout the night.
.
They cast their loving wishes
throughout this planet earth,
for happiness, hope and joy
and prayers for good health.
.
You are cordially invited
to attend the Angel Ball,
’cause,my friend,you are…
the most angelic of them all.

by shari©1999

Atria’s Amazing Miracle

Atria’s Amazing Miracle
Athor unknown

Atira was watching the TV show 20/20 in her living room in Seattle. The show was about a Nun, in Egypt, that was dedicating her retirement years to the garbage-dump-city in CAIRO.

Atira has an Egyptian import business. When she saw the show of the Nun and her works for the poor and homeless at the garbage dump city, Atira knew she had to help. Atira ordered the transcript from the TV show and set out to see what she could do to help.

Atira asked everyone coming to a baby shower, at her home, to bring a wash cloth and soap. They thought she was nuts, until she told them why.

She called her Dentist and Doctor’s offices and asked what kind of medicines would be needed to help out in a poverty area.

She collected toothbrushes, bandages, etc….until she had suitcases full of things to take to Cairo with her. Her goal was to do her part to help.

Atira was going with a group on her next trip to Egypt so she asked some of the other members in the tour group to help by bringing used children’s clothing , pencils, and children’s books with them to be given to this caring Nun Sister E.

Eight other people were kind enough to collect and bring pens, coloring books, clothes, and various toys, to help.

On their arrival in Cairo, not knowing what to do with the mountain of supplies for the Nun. She asked the hotel manager if he could try and locate this healer of the poor, and within days, he had located the Nun. But the Nun was out of the country and would not be back until Atira had returned to Seattle.

The Hotel Manager said he would store the goods and present them to the Sister E for Atira.

But, that is not the miracle part. The miracle is how one person can effect the lives of others, how our intentions lead us to miracles.

The hotel manager shared the story of Atira’s kind gesture,with other members of the tour.

As it turned out there were two people, who worked with World Wide Health Care Project for the Poor. They had never heard of Sister E. and her plight to help the poor.

These men stayed in Cairo longer than Atira could, and were there when the goods from Atira were collected by Sister E.

These men ended up talking to Sister E. They were able to get her funding for a Health Care Clinic.

When the hotel manager saw Sister E he realized that she often had come into the hotel to use the phone, and he just did not know who she was.

And now, she has FREE phone privileges in his hotel.

Atira wanted to help in a small way….this story makes my heart smile and I hope it does yours too. Helping in whatever way you can help makes miracles unfold for others.

P.S. Atira still travels to Egypt regularity. She always tries to take something to help Sister E. It was three years before Atira was able to meet Sister E. In person. It was a wonderful meeting with heart felt thanks and a new found friendship. The last time she was there the 66 children needed only $75 extra for vaccinations, and Atira paid for these children. This is one of the finest woman I know. She did get to help in a greater way than she could have ever imagined.

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