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| << February22, 2007 - "Love and the joy of hurting" |
March01, 2007 - "One day in April" >> |
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"I Believe in you!"
A message of Hope...stories from the
road.
By Bob Perks
************************************************
Hello, my Friend!
It is a grand and glorious day! I hope you
are, too.
I began spacing out email addresses I use in my
messages
because the "spiders" have been stealing them from my
messages
and sending me tons of unwanted mail. If you need to
use one, just
copy it and remove the spaces in your "to"
line.
Make a great week, my friend!
Bob and Marianne
Please remember to add "response @zinester .com " to your email
address book or
whitelist so that
our emails can reach you.
************************************************
Perks Pearl of Wisdom
"The elements of a great day...you, breathing.
You are alive! All the rest is
secondary."
Bob Perks
************************************************
Would you help us,
please?
It is a mission of the heart completely supported by my
"friends I've never met"...You!
We have a great collection of cards, posters, mugs,
shirts, and gifts for your dog, too.
Or...Make a d o n a t i o n to help support
our efforts
to "Touch the world one person at a time."
This link will take you to my web page for more
information,
shopping, and ways you can help.
I humbly thank you in advance...
Love always and all ways,
Bob and Marianne Perks
********************************************
All stories copyright 2007 Bob Perks
Today's message:
"Sometimes rain..."
By Bob Perks
I've done it. It's so easy to do. Other
writer's have done it, too.
Rain is always such a dreary thing. "Don't rain on
my parade!"
"Rain, rain, go away!"
"It was a dark and stormy night!"
"Tears ran down her face like rain..."
Rain always gets a bad rap.
So, I've often times used rain as a setting for sad
stories.
But, I can also say I've used rain in a positive
way. Cleansing,
washing, soaking, nourishing rain.
"They ran through the rain believing..." was a story
I wrote early on about a
mother and daughter who were caught in the rain waiting
outside Wal-Mart.
Yes, that was my story. Edited, changed and posted a
million times as "Rain" or
"The Wal-Mart Story." Someone even changed the
characters. It was a true story.
My true story. I was there. I wrote about
it.
But, I wasn't looking for a rain story today. It
found me. And I didn't even write it.
One of my long time "friends I've never met," Kim, wrote
to tell me her rain story.
It wasn't sad at all. It wasn't dark and
dreary. It was hope-filled, touching and
full of love.
Rain...a sign from heaven. But, who would ask for
rain on her wedding day?
Kim... and she got it:
My husband asked my father for my hand in marriage
many months before he
actually got around to asking me. In the desire to find the perfect time, perfect setting, perfect moment, the proposal just kept getting pushed back. The last plan was for him to ask at a 4th of July party, down on one knee under the blazing fireworks in the sky. It would have been very romantic, if it had happened that way. Instead we spent the days surrounding the 4th (July 1st thru July 5th) at the hospital, losing my father. The proposal came in a rush, we knew Pa wouldn't stay long, and my husband thought it would be important for me to tell Pa the good news. Pa slipped away less than 24 hours after my husband promised him he would always take care of me, his 'Baby Girl'. Pa squeezed his hand and winked at him, it was the last time he was conscious. Alone in the room with my Pa, after he passed, I held his hand and asked him to send me just a few "sprinkles" as I walked down the aisle so that I would know he was there. As our wedding date neared, I began to get nervous:
what if it didn't rain.
Checking the weather, nothing but blue skies in the
forecast. But I knew with
his photo in a locket around my neck, his wedding band on
my finger and a small
canister of his ashes in my hand that my Pa would be there
in my heart.
September 30th, 2006, 1:53PM
the ceremony was just about to start, my sisters best friend came in the bride's room with the news that two rain drops hit her windshield as she pulled up at the church. Everyone in the room began to cry... then our photographer came in, sent by my husband to also relay the news..."Pa was here". The photographer took my sister and I outside to have our picture taken with Pa. It wasn't a few sprinkles, it was pouring (Pa never did anything small), we were all bawling by that time. Two photos and we went back inside to walk up the aisle I had a single rain drop on my left shoulder as I walked up. I later found out that my sister did also. The pastor's assistant was running the camcorder for us
and told us that when
we were pronounced man and wife, the rain quit. By
the time we got outside the
only damp spots were under the cars where the sun couldn't
dry them. The rest
of the day was bright and sunny. Even from Heaven Pa
still walked me down the aisle.
I have attached the two rain photos. In one you can
see the white fuzzy spots of
rain and in the other more up close one, you can see the rain falling across my sisters dress. Thank you for allowing me to share this story with you. Kimberley Krueger You can see the two photos in my Gallery
Click on each individual picture to enlarge it enough to
see Pa, the "rain."
"Rain sometimes"... brings joy.
"I believe in you!"
Bob
I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask
that you keep my name and
contact information with my work.
*********************************************
Comments:
Have a comment about today's story?
please write to "2 believe @ comcast .com"
(spaces were placed between words in email
address for security)
RE: "Love and the joy of hurting"
Bob, I just wanted to say thank you. I needed to hear that. I
made it through my "year of firsts"
and am well into the second year. I thought there was
something wrong with me, that it wasn't
getting any easier. I was actually mad at him at times for
dying and leaving me all alone before
we even had much of a chance to be together. Sounds silly,
doesn't it. Being mad at someone
for dying, as if it was their choice to be ill.
It's easy to focus on the negative when you're feeling
sorry for yourself. I miss him so much. I was having a
particularly bad week this week- what my
children call my "Jekyll and Hyde" moments - and your message
showed up. Remembering is
still painful- but you're right, we loved deeply, and it was a
privilege to have him in my life at all.
I wasn't going to say this much, I usually keep it to myself
mostly - but I wanted you to know
that your messages truly are a blessing, and I am very
thankful for how you touch the lives
of the "friends you've never met".
sincerely,
Kate
Thanks Bob, you are right and so is my husband -
it is not like a diet that you can just do the
plan and get the result - healing from sorrow just takes time
- to remember and seal that person in your heart.
Good night my friend - see you in my prayers
Fran
Dear Bob,
Yes, you made me cry. Lately I have had my Mom and Dad on my mind a lot. They have been gone for many years. Recently, by chance, I met
someone who worked at the same place
that my father did many years ago. This man is 83 now
and worked where my Father did when
he was a young man. He told me what a wonderful person
my Father was and how many people
he touched at work. He told me that he has never forgotten
Dad.
My Dad is buried in my heart and I talk to him quite often. Thanks again for making me cry. "I'll see you in my prayers" Corinne Bob, beautiful and timely message, as I have friends who
recently lost a n elderly parent who had
been home-cared for a long time. I shall share it with
them.
Thank you for allowing yourself to feel the emotions and pain
of your own memories so that you can
share their lesson with others. You truly fulfill the
Scripture that (paraphrased) says we are made able
"to comfort with the comfort with which we have been
comforted." May God especially bless you for
that use of your gifts :-)
Also, thank you for getting through to an AOL person
again.....I have so missed seeing your name in
my email each week! Don't know how you did it, but pray it
continues :-)
Love and prayers to you and Marianne,
Sharon in RI
Bob,
What a beautiful message, Bob and how true. I think you
would only stop hurting if you stopped loving.
It is almost 32 years since I lost my kids. It still
hurts, I still love. Love ya both very much.
Betty
Bob, I was so afraid you had stopped emailing your profound
messages that so touched my heart and did my
husband's before God chose to take him Home to be with Him,
after a long battle with prostate cancer.
That was just a little over a year ago, and yet, I still suffer MORE than I did the first year.......last year. I went to Church last night for Ash Wednesday and prayed for God
to help me.............then, I wake up to
this message from you. You have no idea how it has touched my
heart!
One can heal only a "layer at a time." We cannot fast forward through any part of it. My "free" grief cancer therapist told me the other day that if we rush the grieving,
we shall not heal. The hospital here in Denver
has this service for the spouses of their cancer patients, and
my lady has been doing this for forty years.
I cannot wait to share your message today with
her.
Thanks for "reaching out" a day early. MY HEART certainly needed it......and God must have known. Dee in Littleton, CO I pray your wife is doing great!!!!!!
Dear Bob:
I realized long ago that God who gave us forgiveness and joy
also gave us memory.....that when least
expected those memories surface to encourage our hearts.
Not always are memories of times past and
lost loved ones filled with pain, but with joy, a tear, a
smile, and often a chuckle!! We recall some of the
craziest times and laugh aloud when we feel our pain is its
deepest!!
This gift God gave us fills in the deepest crevices of our
hearts and brings healing when we least expect it....
Our memories take only a moment to recall, a lifetime of never
forgetting!!
Pat
Hi,Bob
I just read your e-mail. I had lost my mother in 1993. I have very fond memories of her and I still miss her. She was one of a kind. I lost my dad in 2001. I have fond memories of him too. I was blessed to have the parents I had. Your e-mail made me cry not because I am sad but because I will someday see my mom and dad again. Thank you. Melissa Dear Bob,
This story is for me today! Thank you! I lost my mom 7 ?
years ago. Recently, my Dad had open heart surgery
(Jan. 12th). The plan was to have knee replacement on both knees
until they found a valve in heart wasn’t working right.
Then while entering the Physical Therapy room at the hospital (Feb. 14th)
– he had a heart attack – his heart stopped. They
had to “jump start” his heart. So – they sent him back to Mayo in
He was able to leave the hospital this past Sunday. Still having
some problems with meds – but hopefully they’ll get the
straightened out. Okay- to get to where I’m going with this – I’m
feeling very selfish right now – I think anyway! I’m not
ready to lose my Dad – not yet – not ever. It was really, really
hard losing mom. With all of what has happened to my
Dad this past month – it really scares me!! Too – the doctors said
he will never ever be able to drive Semi ever again.
He LOVED his job. He’s only 62 years old – and is not ready to retire. Thank you Bob – for
your stories – they seem
to hit the right spot every time!! PS – I keep forgetting to tell
you – the kids loved the bracelets and angels!! Thanks
again!!
Lynn from Missouri
Bob,
One of your all-time best...thank you!! Be safe and God bless, Bree "I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye." |
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| << February22, 2007 - "Love and the joy of hurting" |
March01, 2007 - "One day in April" >> |
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