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Subject: "Struggle" - March16, 2007

"I Believe in you!"

A message of Hope...stories from the road.

By Bob Perks

************************************************

Hello, my Friend!

Okay, don't get me started...more snow!

It was the oddest thing. I heard this voice this morning. It was

like a signal. I know now how the geese make it back and forth

every year and how the Monarch Butterfly knows exactly where to

go.

When I woke up this morning and heard that we were getting up to

a foot of snow, I suddenly had this urge to rush to the store and buy

bread and milk.

Around here the shelves empty the day before a storm.

Someone I spoke with in line asked me how old I was.

"Almost 57."

"That explains it. As you get older you are required to stock up

on enough stuff to get you through months every time it snows."

We laughed. The truth is, this was my regular shopping day. I

wanted to wear a sign that said so.

In these parts no one would believe me.

I want to be a butterfly!

Love always and all ways

Bob and Marianne

************************************************

Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"How great is this? You and I are a part of God's plan.

You and I. Imagine, God has plans for us and we are

a part of His plan for others. Like pieces of a puzzle and

we're all connected. How great is that?"

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

http://www.BobPerks.com

********************************************

Today's message:

"Struggle"

By Bob Perks

"Struggle makes you stronger," I said.

He didn't want to hear it.

There are so many people needing, wanting things to be good in their life.

I find myself overwhelmed with all there is to do knowing I can't do it all.

Still, it is in doing one thing, no matter how you might measure the effort, that the

world begins to change for the good.

There are those things in life we need to stay clear of. Not to sound harsh or uncaring, but

sometimes people need to struggle in order to strengthen their grip on life.

Such is the case with my friend. He needs to struggle because the truth is, he's had it good

most of his life.

"There is a story of the butterfly," I began.

"A child began watching a caterpillar. Over the course of a few days, he observed it slowly

walking back and forth. It seemed like a long, hard journey that never ended. So, once in awhile,

he would pick it up and move it along to another branch.

His father saw him do it one day and asked, "Why are you moving that caterpillar?"

"It takes him so long to get to where he's going. I pick him up and move him to help him out," he replied.

"But how do you know where he's going?" his father asked.

"I don't. I just thought he'd be better off over there," he replied.

They sat quietly for a moment watching the creature.

Then his father spoke up.

"Maybe by doing this you make his journey even longer. Instead of helping him you might

create more struggle for him," he said.

The boy looked surprised.

"I was just trying to help," he said.

"Then let God do His job," he said.

"God?"

"Everything that caterpillar does is a part of God's plan for him. Every step it takes, is a part

of the path created just for him. It not only knows how to be a caterpillar, it was designed to fly."

"You mean when it turns into a butterfly?"

"That's right. If you are lucky enough to see this, you will also discover that his biggest challenge

is yet to come. After a time in the cocoon it creates, it will begin to transform itself. When the time

is right you will see it struggling to break free."

"I'll help it!" the boy said.

"If you do it will die."

"Why?"

"God's plan."

"Why does God want it to struggle?"

"Because every time it pushes, every time it fights for freedom, its wings become stronger. Pushing,

wiggling around actually helps to pump up the wings, giving it the power to one day spread them open

and fly. If you help it, it will not have the strength to become all it was created to be."

The boy sat there thinking.

"Then that explains school," he said. "By the time I graduate, I'll really be flying."

When some people read my signature story, "I wish you enough!" they find fault with

the idea that I would wish someone "enough rain, pain and enough loss."

Enough struggle turns a caterpillar into a butterfly.

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."

"I believe in you!" Now fly!

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 .net"

(spaces were placed between words in email address for security)

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