|
"I Believe in You!" Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << May09, 2007 - "The Sweetheart Tree" |
May15, 2007 - "Happy" >> |
|
"I Believe in you!"
A message of Hope...stories from the
road.
By Bob Perks
************************************************
Hello, my Friend!
My very best to you and in advance Happy Mother's Day to
all who celebrate.
An update on my last story..."The Sweetheart
Tree."
I wrote that late that night. Immediately
afterwards, as I was just lying down in bed I
happened to look out the window and I saw a falling
star. When making a decision in life
I have often times begged God for a sign. I most often asked for a "shooting star."
I can say I never got one when I asked.
God gives you signs unexpectedly. That's when they
have more value. But wait. There's more.
I was leaving the hospice office and driving toward home
the very next day. Suddenly, out of nowhere,
my car was blanketed with..."blossoms of white."
There, right there on main street was a dogwood
tree.
"A tree that will give you a sign," I said
in amazement. My story today comes from an unexpected place...a man's
heart.
Love always and all ways,
Bob and Marianne
************************************************
Perks Pearl of Wisdom
"God lives within so you will never be without." Bob
Perks
************************************************
Appreciate what I do?
Here's how you can help me:
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:
"With a Heavy Heart"
By Bob Perks
It's such a stupid thing to say. I mean I say things
like this all the time and not really think about it.
"He's dying and he's such a nice man." Sounds
innocent enough, but it also suggests that only bad men die.
It's like when you see a picture of someone who was caught
stealing or arrested for drugs.
"She's such a pretty girl. How sad."
As if only ugly people do bad things.
I looked that this man and would never guess he was so
talented and creative.
He was a mechanic. He was a Harley rider, tough guy,
and he was old and slumped over...he was dying.
"I would never guess he would be able to do this," I said.
How stupid that was.
What, only well educated, gentle, Chevy owners can create
beauty in the world?
He just surprised me. I mean, looking at him I would
never be able to guess that he had that kind of talent. Oh, he wasn't
Vincent Van Gogh, but the details in his simple work were
wonderful.
He didn't use fancy material. His canvas was not
stretched over wooden frames and displayed in his studio overlooking
the world.
He took lead from the scrap yard, state quarters, paint
and a great deal of imagination.
The lead is molded into every conceivable shape. He
then embeds one of the new state quarters into the lead. Then he
extends the image on that
quarter by painting beyond it, using the quarter as the
center piece. Yes, one might think it to be yard sale, flea market
stuff.
But this man whose outside image hides, even masks, the
artist within, is dying.
Does he sell this stuff? No. He gives it to
people. His daughter took me back to see it and without hesitation offered
one to me.
"Oh, I couldn't. You will want to have this after he
is gone," I said.
"No, you don't understand. This is what he
does. If he were standing here, he'd do the same thing. Please..."
she said as she extended
her hand to me.
I was at a loss for words. It wasn't that she was
handing me money. It was melted lead and a quarter.
She was giving me a piece of his life. A part of who
he was and that was so much more than I could see.
So are you. Don't rely on the image in the
mirror. Don't dare judge yourself by some painted, hair dyed, buffed up,
freshly washed
image. Or even a rough looking, wind worn, aged,
overly tanned and stressed out shell of a guy.
That's not who you are. That's not what God
sees. That's not a reflection of all you can or should be.
Open up the "you" inside and surprise the
world.
Make them say, "He did that?" "She made this happen?
"This came from them?"
Every time I write a story and read it years later I find
myself saying, "I wrote this?"
By the way. She handed me a heart shaped paper
weight made out of lead with a 2005 Liberty
nickel and a butterfly on it.
It made be sad to think he was dying. I walked out of the
house, sat in the car and
"with a heavy heart" in my hand said a prayer of thanks
for people like him and "friends
I've never met" like you!
"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 .net"
(spaces were placed between words in email
address for security)
"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." |
|
| << May09, 2007 - "The Sweetheart Tree" |
May15, 2007 - "Happy" >> |
|
"I Believe in You!" Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on "I Believe in You!" |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |