The donut master. A Fable

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was
attending college where Brother Christianson taught
seminary.

One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay
after class so he could talk with him.

After class, Bro. Christianson pulledSteve aside
and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"

Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."

Then Brother Christianson asked, "How many push
ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Brother Christianson
said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300
at a time."

"Do you think you could?" again asked Brother
Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do
300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it?

I need you to tell me you can do it,"Brother
Christianson said.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can
do it."

Brother Christianson said, "Good! I need you to
do this on Friday."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and
sat in the front.

When class started, Brother Christianson pulled
out a big box of donuts.

Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts,
they were the extra fancy BIG kind with cream
centers and frosting swirls.

Everyone was pretty excited. It was Friday, the
last class of the day, and they were going to get
an early start on the weekend.

Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the
first row and asked,"Cynthia, do you want a
donut?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve
and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups
so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his
desk to do a quick ten.

Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson
put a donut onCynthia's desk.

Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next
person, and asked,"Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve
would you doten pushups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten pushups, Joe got a donut. And so it went,
down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every
person before they got their donuts and down
the second aisle, until Bro. Christianson came to
Scott.

Scott was captain of the football team and
center of the basketball team. He was very
popular and never lacking for female
companionship.

When Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you
want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own
pushups?" Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve
has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and
asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott
can have a donut he doesn't want?"

Steve started to do ten pushups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my
classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts.
Just leave it on the desk if you don'twant it."

And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down
a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets
because it took too much effort to be getting up
and down.

You could start to see a little perspiration coming
out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started
down the third row.

Now the students were beginning to get a little
angry. Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny,
do you want a donut?"Jenny said, "No."

Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would
you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that
she doesn't want?"Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, the students were beginning to say "No"
and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort
to get these pushups done for each donut.

There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor
beneath his face; his arms and brow were beginning
to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve
to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because
he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all
of those uneaten donuts.

So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson
started down the fourth row.

During his class, however, some students had
wandered in and sat along the heaters along the
sides of the room.

When Bro.Christianson realized this; he did a quick
count and saw 34 students in the room. He started
to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and
the next and the next. Near the end of that row,
Steve was really having a rough time. He was
taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my
nose touch on each one?" Bro. Christianson
thought for a moment,"Well, they're your pushups.
You can do them any way that you want."
And Bro. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason came to the room
and was about to come in when all the students
yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked
up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason
comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him."
Steve said, "Yes, let him come in." Bro. Christianson
said,"Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now.

Jason, do you want a donut?"

"Yes."

"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can
have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly
and with great effort.

Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on
those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now
shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself
against the force of gravity.

Sweat was dropping off of his face, and by this time,
there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders
and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda,
the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a
doughnut? Linda said, very sadly,"No, thank you."

Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten
pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't
want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow
pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the
last girl, Susan.

"Susan, do you want a donut?" Susan, with tears
flowing down her face, asked, Bro. Christianson,
"Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said,"No, Steve
has to do it alone. I have given him this task and he
is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity
for a donut whether they want it or not.

When I decided to have a party this last day of class,
I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student
with a perfect grade.

Everyone else failed a test, skipped class, or offered me
inferior work.

Steve told me that in football practice, when a
player messes up he must do push ups. I told
Steve that none of you could come to my party
unless he paid the price by doing your push ups.

He and I made a deal for your sakes.

Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have
a donut?" As Steve very slowly finished his last
pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished
all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups,
his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Brother Christianson turned to the room and said.

"And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to
the Father, 'Into your hands I commend my spirit.'

With the understanding that He had done everything
that was required of Him, He collapsed on the cross and
died.

And like some of those in this room, many of us leave
the gift on the desk,

...uneaten."

~Art Nelson~
A MountainWings Moment #3325

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Woman

By the time the Lord made woman, He was
into his sixth day of working overtime.

An angel appeared and said, "Why are
you spending so much time on this one?"
And the Lord answered, "Have you seen
my spec sheet on her? She has to be
completely washable, but not plastic,
have over 200 movable parts, all
replaceable and able to run on diet
coke and leftovers, have a lap that can
hold four children at one time, have
a kiss that can cure anything from a
scraped knee to a broken heart -and
she will do everything with only two
hands."

The angel was astounded at the
requirements. "Only two hands!?
No way! And that's just on the standard
model? That's too much work for one
day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."

But I won't," the Lord protested. "I am
so close to finishing this creation that
is so close to my own heart.

She already heals herself when she is
sick AND can work 18 hour days."

The angel moved closer and touched
the woman. "But you have made her so
soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I
have also made her tough. You have
no idea what she can endure or
accomplish."

"Will she be able to think?", asked
the angel.

The Lord replied, "Not only will she
be able to think, she will be able to
reason and negotiate."

The angel then noticed something, and
reaching out, touched the woman's
cheek. "Oops, it looks like you have a
leak in this model. I told you that you
were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak," the Lord corrected,
"that's a tear!"

"What's the tear for?" the angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way
of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her
pain, her disappointment, her love,
her loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The angel was impressed. "You are a
genius, Lord. You thought of everything!
Woman is truly amazing."

And she is! Women have strengths
that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry
burdens, but they hold happiness, love
and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry. They
cry when they are happy and laugh
when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice. They don't
take "no" for an answer when they
believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened
friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about a
birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family
member, yet they are strong when
they think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss can
heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and
colors. They'll drive, fly, walk, run or
e-mail you to show how much they care
about you. The heart of a woman is
what makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love. They
have compassion and ideals. They give
moral support to their family and
friends. Women have vital things to
say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE
FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT
THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

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20 bucks

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up
a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like
this $20 bill?" Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first,
let me do this. He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were
up in the air.

Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on
the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still
wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it
because it did not decrease in value.

It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and
ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the
circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what
has happened or what will happen, you will never lose
your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still
priceless to those who DO LOVE you. [Especially God!]

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who
we know [or what we own], but by WHO WE ARE.

You are special- Don't EVER forget it."


Count your blessings, not your problems.

And remember: amateurs built the ark ... professionals built the Titanic.

† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †

I just liked this one....
C~B~N

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The Duck and the devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said," Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help." She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter?

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt,fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)... whatever it is... You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing... He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.

He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.


The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets .. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.

Remember:

God is at the window




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My Attorney

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor."

He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.

He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind
and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me,
I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in
full-flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as
He moved across the room Icouldn't take my eyes off of Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and in the past when I cheated others.

Satan told of other horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all.

I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench.

The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward.

As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.

I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi,Dad," and then He turned to address the court.

"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.

My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me.

Satan still does not understand yet. This man is NOT to be given justice, but rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said,"There is nothing else that needs to be done."

"I've done it all."

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips.

"This man is free.

The penalty for him has already been paid in full.

Case dismissed."

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving,"I won't give up, I will win the next one."

I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, "Have you ever lost a case?

Christ lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you."

~Paid In Full~

"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"

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Just Checking In

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray.

Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while.
His shirt was kind a shabby and his coat was worn and frayed,
the man knelt, he bowed his head, Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap,
each time he knelt just for a moment, A lunch pail in his lap.

Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear,
He decided to stop the man and ask him, "What are you doing here?"

The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour.
Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power.
"I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away;
as I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kind a what I say:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY."


The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine.
He told the man he was welcome To come and pray just anytime.
Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks." He hurried to the door.

The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY."

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry some.
At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried, But he'd given them a thrill.
The week that Jim was with them, Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles, a joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, when no flowers,
calls or cards came, Not a visitor he had.
The minister stayed by his bed, He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn.

Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile;
"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that in here all the while everyday at noon
He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, Leans over and says to me:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, ! AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY."


† † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you. But for those of us who are already His, He not only holds us in the palm of His hand, but has engraved our names there, and we are continually in His sight (Isaiah 49:16)



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The Whipping

There was a school with a class of students that no teacher had been able to handle. Two or three teachers had been run off from this school in one year by the unruly students.

A young man, just out of college, heard about the class and applied to the school.

The principal asked the young man, "Do you know what you are asking for? No one else has been able to handle these students. You are just asking for a terrible beating."

After a few moments of silent prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said, "Sir, with your consent I accept the challenge. Just give me a trial basis."

The next morning the young man stood before the class. He said to the class, "Young people, I came here today to conduct school. But I realize I can't do it by myself. I must have your help."

One big boy, they called Big Tom, in the back of the room whispered to his buddies, "I won't need any help. I can lick that little bird all by myself."

The young teacher told the class that if they were to have school, there would have to be some rules to go by. But he also added that he would allow the students to make up the rules and that he would list them on the blackboard.

This was certainly different, the students thought!

One young man suggested "NO STEALING." Another one shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS." Pretty soon they had 10 rules listed on the board.

The teacher then asked the class what the punishment should be for breaking these rules? "The rules are no good unless they are enforced", he said. Someone in the class suggested that if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod across their back with their coat off. The teacher thought that this was pretty harsh, so he asked the class if they would stand by this punishment?

The class agreed. Everything went along pretty good for two or three days. Then Big Tom came in one day very upset. He declared that someone had stolen his lunch.

After talking with the students, they came to the conclusion that little Timmy had stolen Big Tom's lunch. Someone had seen little Timmy with Big Tom's lunch! The teacher called little Timmy up to the front of the classroom. Little Timmy admitted he had taken Big Tom's lunch. So the teacher asked him, "Do you know the punishment?" Little Timmy nodded that he did.

"You must remove your coat," the teacher instructed. The little fellow had come with a great big coat on. Little Timmy said to the teacher,"I am guilty and I am willing to take my punishment, but please don't make me take off my coat!"

The teacher reminded little Timmy of the rules and punishments and again told him he must remove his coat and take his punishment like a man. The little fellow started to unbutton that old coat. As he did so, the teacher saw he did not have a shirt on under the coat.

And even worse, he saw a frail and bony frame hidden beneath that coat. The teacher asked little Timmy why he had come to school without a shirt on? Little Timmy replied, "My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor. I don't have but one shirt, and my mother is washing it today. I wore my big brother's coat so that I could keep warm."

That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back with the spine
protruding against the skin, and his ribs sticking out. He wondered how
he could lay a rod on that little back, and without even a shirt on.

Still, he knew he must enforce the punishment or the children would not obey the rules. So he drew back to strike little Timmy. Just then Big Tom stood up and came down the aisle. He asked, "Is there anything that says that I can't take little Timmy's whipping for him?"

The teacher thought about it and agreed. With that, Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped, and stood over little Timmy at the desk. Hesitatingly the teacher began to lay the rod on that big back. But for some strange reason after only five licks that old rod just broke in half.

The young teacher buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up to find not even one dry eye in the classroom. Little Timmy had turned and grabbed Big Tom around the neck apologizing to him for stealing his lunch.

Little Timmy begged Big Tom to forgive him. He told Big Tom that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping for him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us? That He shed His precious blood on Calvary so that you and I can have eternal life in Paradise with Him.

We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren't you glad He loves us that much?

God bless you, and keep you safe.

Most people's troubles come from too much time on their hands - and not enough on their knees. For the Christian - Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.

"In prayer; expect setbacks, but refuse retreat."

Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

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Time is Too Short

Tommy

Father John Powell, a professor at Loyola University in Chicago, writes about a student in his Theology of Faith class named Tommy: Some twelve years ago, I stood watching my university students file into the classroom for our first session in the Theology of Faith.That was the day I first saw Tommy.

My eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped. I immediately filed Tommy under "S" for strange. . .very strange.

Tommy turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God.

We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.

When he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, "Do you think I'll ever find God?"

I decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I said very emphatically.

"Why not?" he responded, "I thought that was the product you were pushing."

I let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called out, Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!"

He shrugged a little and left my class and my life. I felt slightly disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line --- He will find you! At least I thought it was clever.

Later I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer.

Before I could search him out, he came to see me. When he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm,for the first time, I believe.

"Tommy, I've thought about you so often; I hear you are sick," I blurted out.

"Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of weeks."

"Can you talk about it, Tom?" I asked.

"Sure, what would you like to know?" he replied.

"What's it like to be only twenty-four and dying?"

"Well, it could be worse."

"Like what?"

"Well, like being fifty and having no values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the real biggies' in life."

I began to look through my mental file cabinet under 'S' where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.)

But what I really came to see you about," Tom said, "is something you said to me on the last day of class." (He remembered!) He continued, "I asked you if you thought I would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me. Then you said, 'But He will find you.' I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly intense at that time.

(My clever line. He thought about that a lot!)

"But when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God. And when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven. But God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened.

Did you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you quit.

"Well, one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I decided that I didn't really care about God, about an after life, or anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable.

I thought about you and your class and I remembered something else you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved them.'"

"So, I began with the hardest one, my Dad. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him.

"Dad."
"Yes, what?" he asked without lowering the newspaper.

"Dad, I would like to talk with you."

"Well, talk."

"I mean . It's really important."

The newspaper came down three slow inches. "What is it?"

"Dad, I love you I just wanted you to know that."

Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him.

"The newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved me "

"It was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years.

"I was only sorry about one thing --- that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually been close to.

"Then, one day I turned around and God was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give You three days, three weeks."

"Apparently God does things in His own way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for Him."

"Tommy," I practically gasped, "I think you are saying something very important and much more universal than you realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant consolation in time of need,but rather by opening to love. You know, the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.'

Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if you were to tell it."

"Ooh . I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your class."

"Tom, think about it. If and when you are ready, give me a call."

In a few days Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date. However, he never made it.

He had another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed.

He made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.

Before he died, we talked one last time."I'm not going to make it to your class," he said.

"I know, Tom."

"Will you tell them for me? Will you tell the whole world for me?"

"I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best"

So, to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven --- I told them, Tommy as best I could.

If this story means anything to you, please pass it on to a friend or two. It is a true story and is not enhanced for publicity purposes.

With thanks,
Rev. John Powell, Professor Loyola University in Chicago


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The Date

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you."

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

"What's wrong, are you well," she asked?

My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

"I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded, "Just the two of us."

She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.

When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's.

"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting."

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy.

My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.

After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said.

"Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor,"I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation---nothing extra- ordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life.

We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed.

"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home.

"Very nice; much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined.

An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife.

You will never know what that night meant for me.

I love you, son."

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time:

"I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.

Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

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Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom - I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.

And before I was a Grandma, I didn't know that all those "Mom" feelings more than doubled when you see that little bundle being held by "your baby"...

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The Puppy

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups. And set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy. "Mister," he said, "I want to buy "one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money." The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?"

"Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a some what awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....

"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.

"With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.

Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.

"With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.

Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy. "How much?" asked the little boy. "No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."

The world is full of people who need someone who understands and loves so unconditionally!

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Ok, if you haven't wiped away at least one tear, your heart is too hard!

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