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July31, 2007 - "Out on a limb" >> |
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"I Believe in you!"
A message of Hope...stories from the
road.
By Bob Perks
************************************************
Hello, my Friend!
I know. I only sent one story this week. I
know this is
Saturday and I don't send them on Saturday. But I
had to send
these.
Two stories for you. One I wrote and they say a
picture is worth a
thousand words. So, I am providing a link to a
picture as my second story.
Both will make you smile...I "Promise!"
************************************************
Perks Pearl of Wisdom
"Don't worry about what they might think if you do.
Worry more about
what He might think if you don't. God always expects
more from you
than they do." 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:
"Promise?"
By Bob Perks
I was in a hurry. It was raining on their picnic and
I had just set up my sound
system on the front porch in hopes of getting them outside
at least for awhile.
I happened to hear one of the residents comment that it
was too "cold and damp"
to go out there.
"I have to move all of this inside," I told my
friend.
In a short time and much hurry, I had everything set up
again in their living room.
But I was clearly exhausted. Sweat ran down my face
and the back of my neck
was wet. I looked like I was standing in the
rain.
I was there to run a sing-a-long. The residents were
varied in ages, so I started out
with classics like, "By the light of the silvery
moon." Then I handed a few of the younger
people a handful of CD's I brought that just might have
something they would like.
I heard earlier that one young girl who lived there
was a "professional." So I hoped I
would get to hear her sing.
We had finished a few songs and I approached her.
"Here, see if there is something you would like to
sing."
I no sooner turned away and she said, "This one!
This is the one I want to do."
I looked and she was pointing to "The Rose" by Bette
Midler.
"Wow! That would be great!" I said. "I'll have
them sing two more songs then you can sing."
"Promise?" she asked.
It stopped me. In all the hurry of the moment, one
word stopped me. "Promise."
I thought it was a bit unusual. I mean, this isn't
something I would promise to do. I would just
do it.
It seemed like the world stopped. I looked at her
and everything was in slow motion around me.
Her hair pulled back, her glasses sat perfectly on her
face and her young innocence showed in the
acne splashed across her forehead.
There was a twinkle in her left eye, not the sparkly
fairy-like twinkle of youth, but one that told me there
was something wrong with it.
I snapped back into the moment and struggled to play the
next song for them.
Then I introduced her.
"Michelle wants to sing for us, " I said. The group
cheered.
Then the music started.
She was an angel. Her voice pure and her presence
soft and gentle on the eye.
"Some say love it is a river..."
I stood across the room mesmerized.
When she finished I cheered. I ran over to thank
her, praise her and hug her for what she had given us.
Later she asked if she could sing again.
Without hesitation I said, "Absolutely! Pick out
another song."
"I want to sing one I wrote. There's no music," she
said.
My body sank into a peacefulness that warmed my heart just
knowing she was so much more than
her environment.
The home we were gathered in was for those with mental
challenges. Not some spiffed up, spit-shine
facility, but a real home-like atmosphere. New
people expect more when they walk in but I have learned to
see it with a more forgiving eye. Like when you
visit grandma's house. Old age, poor vision causes her to
miss a few spots here and there, while the paint fades but
the memory of it lingers on.
It was her turn again. The room went silent and I
focused so much on her I forgot where I was.
She did it perfectly. It was so well written I swear
it could have been used as one of the closing songs
for the American Idol winner.
And she wrote it.
It was positive, hope filled and powerful beyond
measure. Her pitch was perfect and all eyes were on her.
When she stopped I walked up to congratulate her.
"I'm almost finished here. I want to talk with you
afterwards," I said. "Would that be OK?"
"Yes, sure," she replied.
I rushed to wrap up and I packed all my
equipment.
I wanted to ask her where that song came from and if she
had others.
It was during our conversation I began to understand why
she made me "Promise?"
She was violently abused as a child. In
fact, so violently that it caused detached retinas
in both eyes.
One blinded and the other, as she
curled her right index finger and placed it over her right eye she said,
"I can only see the world like
this. I am legally blind."
I looked at her and said, "But you have a great gift that
many lack. You can see what's inside you.
That's where the songs you write come from."
I left there that day a different man. Oh, yes,
everyone I meet touches my life in such a way as to
make me better for having met them. But, this
one...this young lady...is hope for the world.
I have decided that somehow I need to help her get to
somewhere where she can make a recording.
Not so much to turn her life into stardom, but so as to
give something back to her she lost as a child.
I found out just yesterday that she sang for a wedding at
a local church. I wish I knew. I would have been
there.
But I'll go back...I "Promise!"
"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.
Now for the
picture...
*********************************************
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." |
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| << July26, 2007 - "A lasting impression" |
July31, 2007 - "Out on a limb" >> |
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