Archives at Zinester: "Words". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "Words" - December01, 2005

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend! Please read...

What a wonderful Wednesday it was. We pray you are well and happy.

Wait until you read the follow up story about my tree. Absolutely unbelieveable...on Friday!

So many replies to my tree story. So many "tree huggers" out there. More replies than I could print here.

15 days until my store event ends.

My stories are sent free because of your support...thank you!

Put my name, Bob, in the coupon code get an additional 10 % O F F $10.00 or more. Plus some already lowered prices and a free copy of my book "The Flight of a Lifetime!" with a $20 or more order.

Just 15 days. That's it. Hug mugs, and t-shirts and greeting card galore.

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Today's Message:

They are not the most inspiring words ever written. They are not earth shaking, stop you in your tracks, "ah ha" words either.

But they caused me to stop what I was doing and think about what I just read.

But when I read them my heart warmed, my hopes and dreams held a new place in my soul. They suddenly came in second.

I had bigger responsibilities.

I have told the story of the first time I really heard the words "I believe in you!" I spent the last 16 years talking about it.

"Next to the words, "I love you!" "I believe in you" are the most powerful words one can say to another person.

You have been reading my work for some time now. I believe many of you have come to "know" me by the way I write, the things I believe in, and the honest, from my heart style I use in telling a story.

Here's a test. I want you to read the following message I received from a "friend I never met."

See if you can find the words that "warmed my heart" so much:

dear bob and marianne,
i can imagine how difficult it will be to part with that tree. i will say though that the idea of giving those pine branches to the local florist was absolutely brilliant. just think of how many people will enjoy the last
christmas of your tree. it will give pleasure and memories far and wide and you can always know that your tree will live forever in the memories that
you have created by doing what you did.
God bless you both and your entire family this christmas and all of the year.
i will always be your friend.
marie

Well? Did you find them? Was it obvious to you, too? When you read them did your heart warm? Did you sit back and think about how powerful they were?

Next to the words, "I love you!" followed by the words, "I believe in you!" I now place...

"i will always be your friend."

Tears nestled in my eyes as I smiled. Joy. Blessings. Honor. Humble gratitude.

"i will always be your friend."

When I read them I felt this odd sensation of innocent love. I thought of Winnie the Pooh and the Velveteen Rabbit and I felt like a child again.

"i will always be your friend."

So simple, pure, honest that my heart sighed like an infant in their mother's arms.

"i will always be your friend."

Like when my puppies danced at the sight of me and finally tired from all the celebration of seeing me, crawled up in the pit of my arms and fell asleep.

Happy to be with me. Me feeling important enough to be that loved.

That's what I felt, heard and experienced when I read..."i will always be your friend."

I am shaking my head in awe of that thought right now. I am settling into a new place in my life that reminds me how important friends are in relationship to my own well being and self worth.

I have a friend. That is such a big responsibility.

Like the thought and work I put into what I write for you, my "friend I never met."

"i will always be your friend."

"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...

Visit my photo 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.

RE: "...One more Christmas"

Bob, Beautiful!

Thank you,

Susan

Dear Bob,

I can't really write what I most deeply want to say because I am crying too hard. Yes, some of us understand.....completely. Some of the most important truths God has ever given me have been through His creation, and that to which He gives life is alive, indeed. I pray this Christmas your tree blesses and is in turn blessed more than any Christmas before.

Love and God bless you and Marianne,

Sharon T.

Thanks, Bob!

That really warmed my heart, as promises made are sometimes hard to keep.
As a fellow tree hugger, I understand the grief you felt seeing the tree's
dignity cut off branch by branch. My trees needed trimming after last
year's hurricanes, and I am thankful the man that did it was gone by the
time I got to see them. My fianc?Še told me to go hug the trees to make them
feel better. I did. Merry Christmas, my friend. Give your tree a hug from
me.

Breanne

Bob,

so sorry about your tree. i too love my trees and bushes. sometimes they become a part of who we are. reminds of the Christmas story of the 3 trees. don't remember all of it, but i do remember how proud they were. as is your tree. look how much happiness was spread around. more than just you can enjoy. good luck with Marianne's room. God Bless and Have a wonderful CHRISTMAS and a happy holiday. Dianne

Bob, thank you ever so much for your sharing your story of the Tree, indeed we all are connected, there is no where that God ( by whatever name He is called), is not.

Certainly blessings of this story shall touch ever so many, again, thank you........

Namaste, Doug/aka, Yeiskpa

Bob,

Just another loyal reader , wanted to say this story really hit my heart. You see I once had a tree like that , I planted it as a small shrub , now to the best of my knowledge it's very much taller than I am . You see I had to move away and leave it , maybe I'll visit it once more this Christmas. Thanks for bringing memories back. Imogene

Bob, Have you thought about keeping some of the wood & making Tree ornaments(small Christmas Trees) to remind you of your Tree for years to come.
A few years ago we lost a family tree & made ornaments & my husband also made me & some of the children rolling pins from some of the limbs. He also made some birdhouses. Wishing you & Marianne a Blessed Christmas ! Nana

Hi Bob and Marianne,

Please don't cut the tree down. I cried when I read your story. I am such a softy.

Thank You for your stories. Prayers and Christmas joy to all of your family and extended family.

Your Friend,

Marie

Bob, Think of the joy many others will get from the branches it shared for its last Christmas, too!!

Thank you! I appreciate you!

Gayle

Hello Bob,

I really enjoyed this story because, I too, am a tree hugger!

I have always loved trees, it is one of the deciding factors in moving to the northern part of my state. I am surrounded by trees!

Thanks for another wonderful story....keep them coming!

I Wish You Enough!

Donna

Hi Bob,

That was a wonderful but sad story. I hope you don't get too upset. Just think of what is taking it's place and that will help you get through this. Sometimes I wonder if the men in the white coats ever come to take you away. But I promise, I would never let them.

You are perfect the way you are.

Hugs all ways and always. I wish you enough.

Loretta

Bob, How is it that a story about a tree can bring me to tears? I had to think about it for a few minutes and then I understood. That tree symbolizes tradition and love and life. I am a single mom of 3 incredible kids and one beautiful 2 year old granddaughter. Two of my kids are grown and my baby is only 9 years old. They look at me funny as the holiday approaches because they know I will cling to our old traditions. We may not have dad in the house anymore but the traditions were mostly mine and the kids anyway. He never understood the need. Christmas was always just another day to him. Not me, though! It is and always has been the one time of year I am certain to take the time to let those I love know just how much. And when he left he was not able to take that from me. We don't have a lot of money anymore and we had to give up our home. But on the bright side we have a smaller, less expensive home filled with love, we are healthy, we are able to work hard and we love a lot. So in this beautiful season I finally feel like the bitterness is gone and like that tree of yours, even if we wind up missing a few branches or living in some different form, we are still here and in the hearts of all those we love.

Thanks for reminding me different is OK maybe even better!!!!

With Loving Thoughts,

Dawn

Dear Bob

I can't believe it, but I have tears in my eyes as I read about the
contractor cutting branches off your special tree. I could relate to it's
feeling of betrayal that it had been promised one more Christmas and that
was about to be denied. And yet...... it would live on in far more homes
giving far more joy to other people when being used as greenery for wreaths
and Christmas decorations than if it still stood in your garden. And for
that I'm sure it will be very proud, as you must be also.

I also talk to my plants and shrubs and anything that I raise from seed I
encourage and feel sad when the inclement weather of the UK claims their
lives. I feel as if I've failed them in some way and for that I am sad. But
the circle of life goes on, just as surely as the life of your precious tree
is going on for just one more Christmas - and the joy it will bring to so
many people.

God bless you Bob.

Pauline (UK)

Hi Bob:

Your story of the tree, was so touching, my husband who passed away of cancer was named Bob also, and there was this little pine tree that grew next to our bigger one, he asked me to plant it in the back yard, and I did, so over the years it was his tree, but when he died, that tree just died with him that same year, and it was so healthy about up to my head, I felt he must have wanted it with him, or the tree wanted to be with him in heaven, as that is where he is at, just needed to tell you how your story touched my heart and brought all that back to me, as I am a nature lover, and do my 2 mile walks in the woods.

Arlene

Bob, I just read your story and I cried
. So I decided to share a similar one. Where I grew up in a small
midwestern town my father planted two pine trees in the front yard.. Allthe
while I was going to school I was able to jump over them. I graduated and
left home. My dad had cut down some other trees that blocked the sunshine
from really reaching these two. Now they have matured. My father has
passed on this year. The day after fathers day. We have sold the property.
Haven't been back to see whats happened, hopefully they are still there.
Just a note [time lapse 57 years] Enjoy the holidays and thank you for
sharing your story. Don

Dear Bob -

I know how you feel about the tree. I love all trees, feel like they are friends and benefactors. When my partner says she plans to "trim" one of our lovely maples, I always watch to make

sure she doesn't take too much. I'm sure that your beloved tree felt blessed to be shared with so many people on his last Christmas. You did a good thing.

A faithful reader,

Vickie

Please don't cut down that tree. Even if they trim it up high as long as they trim it nice that's all that counts. I know what it's like....We have...had...an oak tree that was over a hundred years old it was is a mighty oak it's why we purchase our property so many years ago. It got oak wilt and in order to save all our tree's alot including that one had to go. My house is built almost right on top of this mighty oak that's how much this tree means to us. Well we cut only the absoult necessary and did what we had to do to cure the disease and my wonderful husband made benches for our home and we made homemade bird feeders and hung them we made shelves and attached them to the tree for flowers as well as bought the new eyes and mouth for our tree so that now we can see eye to eye and have a chat. So you see this is our tree it has a heart and soul and it will live forever even if it is slightly altered. Yours can too. Wendy

Dearest Bob,

May I offer my condolences on the loss of your beloved tree. Your story was so "sappy" it brought tears to my eyes, because I too, relate to all of the wondrous nature in the same manner. May your tree bring many a joyous feeling of love and comfort so that "he" knows those sixteen years were well worth living. Had he been cut as a sapling, he wouldn't have so much to offer. So look on the bright side, (if there can be one for you) You can plant a new tree for your wife and kids, your wife gets her much needed addition, and you can rejoice in everything you behold. My prayers are with you!

Sincerely,

Joni

Sooooo Sorry that you have to cut your tree down. Isn't there some way to save it? I truly understand the memories that revolve around that tree. I am very sad for or you. Lots of love, Eloise in Franklinville NYS

Bob,

In Kansas we don't have too many trees, but we do have "tree spades". We have "rescued" trees similar to yours -- the last project included 5 huge Austrian pines. Please look in the yellow pages ! Louise

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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."