Archives at Zinester: "One thing to be grateful for...". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "One thing to be grateful for..." - August09, 2005

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend!

To wake up this morning and discover I lost a trusted friend, almost made me want to go back to bed.? I can't say I knew him personally, but I knew I could trust him.? In a world of mistrust it was his voice that told me every evening, that everything would be alright.? ?

I am no celebrity chaser nor star struck by those who make a name for themselves in the world.? But there are those I would love to have a conversation with in person.? He was one of them.? I guess in a way we did.? He spoke to me every evening at 6:30 and I listened.

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Here's something you can do...

Sharon is looking for specific items to send to the troops in Iraq.? I added her picture to my "friends photo album today.? She's standing next to several boxes she just sent out.? She told me: "The last one I shipped cost me $1900.00 just for postage."

How can you help?? Visit...

"Operation We Care"

http://www.dk-ink.com/operation_we_care.htm

Sharon Bryant

Operation We Care

P.O. Box 208

Green Pond, Alabama 35074

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"There is more than a silver lining to every dark cloud.? There is, in fact, an ever present blue sky.? Sometimes it's what you know that gets you through tough times.? Not what you see."? Bob Perks

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NEW!? Looking for partners!

I'm looking for partners in my mission to "Touch the world one person at a time!"

Three? ways you can help:

1.? ? Do your gift shopping at "Wishes" Gift Store?

Tapes, Books, Greeting Cards, Wall prints, Mugs, T-shirts

http://wishes.easystorecreator.net/

2.? NEW! Now you can make a Donation!

At the urging of many readers who would rather make a donation? from time to time

instead of purchasing products to support my work, we have added this feature:

Make a donation:

3. Unable to help financially?? I need prayers more than anything else.?

Your role as "Prayer Partner" is to remember me in your prayers so that? I can continue to expand "My Ministry of the Heart!"

Drop me a note and tell me you'll join me in prayer.? I'll add your name? to my "Prayer Partner" list!

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Today's Message:

"One thing to be grateful for..."

There's a song I love that comes to mind whenever I think of her.? ? The chorus? goes, "Give her thorns and she'll find the roses, give sand and she'll find the sea.? Give her rain and she'll find the rainbow.? ? Just see the love she's found in me."? ? The song is? called "The love she found in me."

I must admit that my own love, Marianne is first in my mind, for she has this incredible ability to find the good in me.

But I have a friend I haven't seen in years that gave me the challenge to be grateful for the little things.

I came to expect it from her.? I could? go to her with the most tragic news and right in the middle of all the moaning and groaning she'd pause, put her? finger to her chin and say "One thing to be grateful for..."

The amazing part is there? was always "one thing to be grateful for."

After she had? been in a terrible accident, I called her at home.

"I'm fine," she said.

"But you broke your arm and had 38 stitches in your leg!" I said to her.

"One thing to be grateful for,? I still have my other arm and I'm alive," she said.

I couldn't argue with that.

During the great fall of the internet stocks she lost a lot of money.? Again her positive outlook kept her head above water.

"What will you do now?" I asked her.?

"About what?" she replied.

"You lost almost all your money!" I said.

She paused for a moment and said "One thing to be grateful for, I didn't lose it all."

But I think her best advice was once shared with a small group of her friends gathered in her honor.

She had just gone through a terrible divorce and by the time it was all over one of her businesses was closed to settle the divorce.

After a few drinks at the party someone asked her, "Well, what will you do now?? You lost your business to the bum."

There was silence in the room.? How rude.? How awkward the moment.

She stood up and said, "One thing to be grateful for, he's someone else's problem now!"

The crowd went back to busy talk and the party continued on.? I was standing next to her at the time and thought it to be just the right moment to express my concern for her.

"Well, what will you do?? ? You loved that business."

In her wonderfully refreshing style she said, "one thing to be grateful for, he took my money but not my ability to make it again.? I built that business, I'll build another even better."

When I find myself slopping around in my own sad depression at times, I almost immediately find myself asking "Well, what's one thing to be grateful for?"

Sometimes I struggle, but I always find what I'm looking for.

I believe that in the darkest moments in my life I could always find at least one thing to be grateful for.? In reality there are many more.? But like one lit candle in a dark room, pushing myself to find one thing always reveals to me another and another.

Like today. ? I discovered, ? "One thing to be grateful for...friends like you!"

"I believe in You!"

I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission from the author.

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May I Suggest... A dying man is looking to give away his website and poetry content to a church or church school.? Read all about it or just read his work.? Maybe drop him a note of encouragement, too. I put his picture in my "Friends I've never met" album.

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Your Comments...? If you would like to share brief comment about today's message,

please write to Bob@BobPerks.com? I will use only first names and no email addresses.

BOB PERKS, YOU ARE SO BLESSED THAT YOU??™RE NEVER TIRED OF WRITING. YOUR WRITINGS ARE ALSO INSPIRING AND ENCOURAGING. I PRAY GOD TO GIVE YOU MORE POWER IN THESE WORKS. I HOPE YOU HAVE TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY?

REMAIN BLESSED FOR US ALL.

OBELE, NIGERIA, AFRICA

Bob,

Yes indeed your album is coming along quite nicely.? I must admit this is a nice feature... it always helps to put a face w/ the name, e-mail, telephone voice...
I have worked with college students and their parents for many years & we often get to know each other quite well while we prepare them, their sons & daughters for college.? But the end result is always the same when we meet face to face... it's nice to meet you finally.?

It amazes me to know and realize...should I have passed this person on the street I might not have said a word.? As a result I try to make it a point to say hello to all those "friends you might never meet" as you pass through your daily business... my wife often asks me... who was that?? I just smile at her & tell her I have no idea... she thinks me strange but you never know when it might indeed be something you said.? Oh!? And by the way... having finally looked through your photo albums... it's nice to finally meet you.? ;)

God Bless!

Rick
San Angelo, TX?

Bob, Thank-you Bob For everything. Your stories have blessed my life so.

Becky

Cleve.Tx.

Dear Bob

Sue here from Doha in Qatar. Right now I am in Cape Town, South Africa and I don't have access to my pictures.

I will send one through when I arrive back in Doha on 10th September. I will continue to pray for strength, courage and ? healing for Marianne during her time of reconstructive surgery. Your stories are a constant inspiration to me. Thank you.

I would have spoken to you on the bus or in the street because you have the light of the Lord shining in you.

Love in Christ, Sue

Bob,

I will be glad to send a picture, honored that you asked!? I would certainly say hello to you if you were sitting next to me on a park bench, standing in front of me on a line at the store, don't know about the mall, though - not for any particular reason, but I don't say hello to people walking in the mall. I don't know why, maybe because I don't go to the mall very often as I am not a mall person.? I have to pay attention the next time I go.

I am the type of person who talks to everyone; drives my husband crazy.? I have met some very interesting people that way and had some very interesting conversations.? If I see a hairstyle I like, I have no problem stopping a total stranger and asking where they got their hair cut.?

Just thought I'd answer your question.

Love,

Cathy

Hi Bob,

I could definitely relate to your story today.? Being from the South I am a naturally friendly person.? I always try to smile and speak to everyone as if I knew them.? It really makes my day when someone genuinely smiles back or even speaks.

Sammie

Gulf Shores, AL

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"I wish you enough!"
Bob
?
Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.?
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com
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"I wish you enough!"
written by Bob Perks (c) 2001
?
"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."