A Dad's Poem Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say. What to tell
her classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school,
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called,
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
for a man who wasn't there. "Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day." The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on. And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone. "Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart" With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right. And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far
You see he was a fireman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear. But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day. And to her mother's amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side. "I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far. They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
An hour to appreciate them, a day to love them,
but then an entire life to forget them. Send this poem
to the people you'll never forget and remember to send
it also to the person that sent it to you. It's a
short message to let them know that you'll never
forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means
you're in a hurry and that you've forgot your friends. Take the time... to live and love.
Until eternity. God bless.
A Run Through the Rain She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories were a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said. "What?" Mom asked. Let's run through the rain!" She repeated. No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain." We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. "This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet? "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!" The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A Poem for Samantha It's been 7 years
Still, I shed tears.
I remember very well
I strongly believe that its a story I must tell. Little Angel from above
Bursting full of love.
Thank you for showing me truth
Through your birth. I'm so sorry your first years were not playing in the yard
But, you still played and fought quite hard.
Instead of seeing you as a dancer
Our eyes couldn't look past the cancer. You're eyes stayed a sparkling blue
Were you trying to give everyone a clue??
You were so resiliant
And the doctors were quite brillant. Through it all you stayed so strong
However, the nights still seemed so long.
Our prayers were answered, the cancer died
Finally, I knew that all of my nightmares had lied. The glorious Angels from above
Had given me another chance to show her love.
She's growing so fast
And deep down I hate to say but I wonder, How long will it last?? Now...it's been 10 years Still I shed tears.
A Beautiful Flower in a Broken Pot Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my eight-year-old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shrivelled body. But the appalling thing was his face, lopsided from swelling, red and raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning." He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face... I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments..." For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me: "I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning." I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch. I went inside and finished getting supper. When we were ready, I asked the old man if he would join us. "No thank you. I have plenty." And he held up a brown paper bag. When I had finished the dishes, I went out on the porch to talk with him a few minutes. It didn't take a long time to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body. He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from a back injury. He didn't tell it by way of complaint; in fact, every other sentence was preface with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease , which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going. At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children's room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking a great favour, he said, Could I please come back and stay the next time I have a treatment? I won't put you out a bit. I can sleep fine in a chair." He paused a moment and then added, "Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don't seem to mind." I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so that they'd be nice and fresh. I knew his bus left at 4:00 a.m. and I wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this for us. In the years he came to stay overnight with us there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden. Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and knowing how little money he had made the gifts doubly precious. When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next-door neighbour made after he left that first morning. "Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away! You can lose roomers by putting up such people!" Maybe we did lose roomers once or twice. But oh! If only they could have known him, perhaps their illness' would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God. Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse, As she showed me her flowers, we came to the most beautiful one of all, a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise, it was growing in an old dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, "If this were my plant, I'd put it in the loveliest container I had!" My friend changed my mind. "I ran short of pots," she explained, and knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn't mind starting out in this old pail. It's just for a little while, till I can put it out in the garden." She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. "Here's an especially beautiful one," God might have said when he came to the soul of the sweet old fisherman. "He won't mind starting in this small body." All this happened long ago -- and now, in God's garden, how tall this lovely soul must stand. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b) Friends are very special. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear and they share a word of praise. Show your friends how much you care.... Pass this on, and brighten someone's day.
The Teacher's Pet As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around.." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.." A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you." (For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
Heaven's Child Poem It's just a part of life to die
I know you miss me and you're sad
But dying isn't something bad.
I'm only just beyond your sight
I've gone with Angels to the light
I send to all of you my love
From Heaven's gardens up above.
I like it here, I'm having fun
And I am with The Holy One
I am sitting on His knee
With Jesus watching over me.
So many souls I knew before
Were waiting here at Heaven's Door
To welcome me with open arms
And keep me safe and make me warm.
So when you think of me please smile
For I will see you in a while
Trust the Lord, don't ask Him why
He wants me here to paint the sky
With rainbows, clouds and shining lights
To brighten days and warm your nights
Remember what I said before
Please don't cry for me any more.
I am Heaven's Child, you see
I play with Angels surrounding me
I can fly with the speed of thought
To be with you when you think I'm not
So please remember I love you
And I know you love me too
And even now, while we're apart
I'm still right here ... I'm in your heart
Why God Take's Children When God calls little children
To dwell with Him above, We mortals sometimes question
The wisdom of His love, For no heartache compares with,
The death of one small child, Who does so much to make our world,
Seem so wonderful and mild. Perhaps God tires of calling
The aged to His fold, So He picks a rosebud
Before it can grow old. God knows how much we need them
And so He takes but few, To make the land of heaven
More beautiful to view. Believing this is difficult
But somehow we must try, The saddest word mankind knows
Will always be good-bye. So when a little child departs,
We who are left behind Must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.
The Chosen Mother By Erma Bombeck Most women become a mother by accident,
some by choice, and a few by habit.
Did you ever wonder how mothers of children with life threatening illnesses are chosen?
Somehow, I visualize God hovering over earth selecting His instruments for progagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in giant ledger..... "Armstrong, Beth, Son, patron saint Matthew" "Forrest, Marjorie, daughter, patron saint Cecilia" "Rutledge, Carrie, twins, patron saint Greard." Finally, He passes a name to an angel and says,"Give her a child with cancer." The angel is curious."why this one, God? She is so happy." "Exactly," smiles God," Could I give a child with cancer a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But, does she have patience?" asks the angel,"I dont want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, She will handle it." "I watched her today,"said God. "she has that feeling of self independence that is so rare and necessary in a mother. You see, the child I am going to give her has its own world. She has to make it live in her world and thats not going to be easy." "But Lord, I don't think she believes in you," said the angel. "No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect, She has just enough selfishness." The angel gasps,"selfishness? Is that a virtue?" God nods."If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never survive. Yes, here is the women I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take anything her child does for granted. She will never consider a single step ordinary. I will permit her to see clearly the things I see.....Ignorance, cruelty, predudice...and allow her to rise above them." "And what about her patron saint" asks the angel, his pen poised in mid air. God smiles and says.... "A mirror will suffice."
The Heavenly Store Author: Unknown As I was walking down life's
highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read
Heavens Grocery Store. When I got a little closer
the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside. I saw a host of angels.
They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said
"My child shop with care." Everything a human needed
was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
you could come back for more. First I got some Patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding,
you need that everywhere you go. I got a box or two of Wisdom
and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity of course
I would need some of that too. I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some Strength and Courage
to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full but
I remembered I needed Grace, And then I chose Salvation for
Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that
to do for you and me. Then I started to the counter
to pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything
to do the Masters will. As I went up the aisle I saw
Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into sin. Peace and Joy were plentiful,
the last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near
so I just helped myself. Then I said to the angel "Now how much
do I owe?"
He smiled and said "Just take them everywhere you go."
Again I asked "Really now, How much do I owe?"
"My child" he said, "God paid your bill
a long long time ago." p>
Dear God (Letters from Kids) Dear God,
In Sunday School they told us what you do. Who does it when you are on vacation?
Jane
Dear God,
Pappa and Nanny took tyler to church one day. Tyler looked up and asked me "what is this place"? I told him that it was Gods' house and that God lives here. Tyler said "yes Nanny, thats the man that stayed with me at the hospital and made me feel better.
Darlene
Dear God,
How did you know you were God?
Charlene
Dear God,
I read the Bible, What does begat mean? Nobody will tell me. Love,
Alison
Dear God,
Are you really invisible or is that just a trick?
Lucy
Dear God,
Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?
Norma
Dear God,
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones why don't you just keep the ones you got now?
Jane
Dear God,
Who draws those lines around the countries?
Nan
Dear God,
I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that okay?
Neil
Dear God,
I like the Lord’s Prayer best of all. Did you have to write it a lot or did you get it right the first time? I have to write everything I ever write over again.
Lois
Dear God,
I would like to know why all the things you said are in red.
Joanne
Dear God,
What does it mean you are a jealous God. I thought you had everything.
Jane
Dear God,
Is Pastor Coe a friend of yours, or do you just know him through business?
Donny
Dear God,
Do you really mean do unto others as they do unto you? Because if you did, then I'm going to fix my brother.
Darla
Dear God,
When you made the first man did he work as good as we do now?
Tom
Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.
Joyce
Dear God,
Please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Ginny
Dear God,
Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Bruce
Dear God,
I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I had to have 3 stitches and a shot.
Janet
Dear God,
If we come back as something please don't let me be Jennifer Horton because I hate her.
Denise
Dear God,
My brother is a rat. You should give him a tail. Ha ha.
Danny
Dear God,
Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this year.
Peter
Dear God,
Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with me and my brother.
Larry
Dear God,
I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big but without so much hair all over.
Sam
Dear God,
I keep waiting for spring but it hasn't come yet. Did you forget?
Mark
Dear God,
You don't have to worry about me. I always look both ways.
Dean
Dear God,
I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions.
Dear God,
I bet it is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nan
Dear God,
If you watch in church Sunday, I will show you my new shoes.
Mickey
Dear God,
I love you. Are you fine? I am fine too. My mother has five girls and one boy, I am one of them.
Nancy
Dear God,
I would like to live for 900 years like the guy in the Bible. Love,
Chris
Dear God,
I don't ever feel alone since I found out about you.
Nora
Dear God,
We read that Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday School they said you did it. So I bet he stole your idea. Sincerely,
Donna
Dear God,
It’s great the way you always get the stars in the right places.
Jeff
Dear God,
The bad people laughed at Noah - They said, “You make an ark on dry land, you fool.” But he was smart, he stuck with you. That’s what I would do.
Eddie
Dear God,
I do not think anybody could be a better God. Well I just wanted you to know... but I am not just saying that just because you are God.
Charles
Dear God,
I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool.
Johnathan. p>
Kids in Church Three-year-old, Reese prayed: "Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen."
A little boy was overheard praying: "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am."
A Sunday school class was studying the Ten Commandments. They were ready to discuss the last one. The teacher asked if anyone could tell her what it was. Susie raised her hand, stood tall, and quoted, "Thou shall not take the covers off the neighbor's wife."
After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys."
I had been teaching my three-year old daughter, Caitlin, the Lord's Prayer for several evenings at bedtime, she would repeat after me the lines from the prayer. Finally, she decided to go solo. I listened with pride as she carefully enunciated each word right up to the end of the prayer: "Lead us not into temptation," she prayed, "but deliver us some E-mail. Amen." and one particular four-year-old prayed, "And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."
A Sunday school teacher asked her children, as they were on the way to church service, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied, "Because people are sleeping."
Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the churchand said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, "Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait." Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"
A father was at the beach with his children when the four- year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. "Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked. "He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, "Did God throw him back down?"
A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?" "I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied. "Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, "Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"