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June22, 2006 - "Behold a flower is coming" >> |
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"I Believe in You!"
A message of Hope, stories from the
road.
By Bob Perks
*************************************************
Hello, my friend!
Hello! Monday wasn't that bad was it? Hey
Tuesday will be even better.
But that's all up to you. Make it so!
My best to you!
Bob
*************************************************
Perks Pearl of Wisdom
"When you hear the voice of reason you are standing on the
edge of
maturity. Turn and run the other way." Bob
Perks (My advice to my two sons
on Fathers Day 2006)
*************************************************
You can find great gifts related to
my stories
by visiting our online gift
shop.
"Wishes" Gift
Store
Special one of a kind gifts.
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Send a Hug Mugs, T-shirts
Buying products helps keep these messages
F R E E
*********************************************************
Make a donation to
help us continue to
"Touch the world one person at a
time"
These messages are f r e e...
but writing and speaking is the way I make a living.
If you enjoy reading and sharing my work, you can help us
continue
our "Ministry of the Heart" in 2006 by making a donation of any
amount:
If you can't help financially at this time there is something you can
do...
an even greater need...
please pray for our mission to "touch the world one person at a
time."
Thanks, my friend!
Bob and Marianne *********************************************************
All stories copyright 2006 Bob Perks
Today's Message:
"My child's hands"
by Bob Perks
When he was small he loved to play with finger
paints. It was something that
connected us. It seems to me finger painting has
been around forever.
When I was a child in school I loved squishing the paint
in my hands.
I loved the feel of it as I
artistically created the masterpiece to be hung
at the top of the chalk board in
school or on my refrigerator at home.
It is the gift that goes with parenthood. You get to
do it all over again.
And we did.
I could see his creative ways developing from the first
time he could hold
a crayon. Saturdays when we got to spend so much
time together, we often
played with finger paints. I promised myself that I
would hold onto everything he
created. It was a promise I could not
keep.
Most of that stuff remained in the attic of his home long
after I and his mother
divorced.
That is until this Fathers Day.
I go through this every year. I declare, "Don't
spend a lot of money on me. My
birthday is coming up in July and I don't want you to buy
me stuff. I have enough
stuff. Give me something you made. Better yet,
give me your time."
We had dinner at Keith's house and I loved every minute of
it. I am so very proud
of both my sons. I simply love them more then they
will ever know.
We finished dinner and had just completed a fine dish
of chocolate chip mint ice cream
pie, when Keith handed me two packages.
The first was a beautiful t-shirt with seagulls on
it. One was saying to the other,
"I believe in you!" Perfect.
Then I opened the second one. It was a framed
picture.
At the very top, in blue finger paints, were two small
hands. Underneath, highlighted
in yellow with red print, "Keith."
Below, in the same blue finger paint, were his hands
today.
I sat quietly as I looked at what he had done for
me.
I held those tiny hands as we walked though the park and
brushed off the sand
on the shore. I kissed away the boo boos and
bandaged the cuts and scrapes.
I watched them carve the perfect pumpkin time and time
again. I saw them catch
a line drive ball and fumble a football or two.
They rang the doorbells on Halloween
and unwrapped the gifts that Santa left.
I held them on that sad, sad night that I tried to explain
why I was leaving home.
But it was his 18 year old hands that frightened me the
most. The doctor walked in
and held his hand that day as he told us both that Keith
had cancer.
As he stepped outside I turned toward Keith, grabbed his
hands and tried to be strong
but tear drops fell upon them as I realized I may lose him
to the same disease that had
taken almost everyone in the family who had cancer before
him.
I touched those same hands through every chemo treatment
he had and as he slept
after his surgery that day.
Through God's Mercy and Grace I have seen the beautiful
work of those same hands
through the years as he moved from
finger paints to brushes.
I watched from the pew in the church as he joined his
hands with the love of his life and
that day shook the hands of a man.
In the years to come those hands will introduce me to a
grandchild or two and finally in the end
they will caress my old weary face as he gives me one last
kiss goodbye.
My God, there is nothing on this earth that could possibly
compare in value to the gift I got that day.
It hangs on the wall in my office tonight just to the left
of my desk. Every night before I go to bed I will
touch the hands of my child and say what I had always said
to him back then, "Sweet dreams, see
you in the morning, Dad loves you."
God, thank you for the hands of my child and the hands
of the man he has become.
You can see them by clicking on this link. Look at
the first picture under "Family"
"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks
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.
***********************************************
May I Suggest...
Need a quick pick me up?
Visit my audio blog to hear my inspirational
messages
and you can hear me sing, too.
Visit my photo album:
Why not send me your picture to be added to
"My Friends I've never met"
Think you missed a message from
me?
Here are the archives...
*************************************************
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.
**************************************************
"I wish you enough!"
Bob Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist. Member National Speakers Association. Visit http://www.BobPerks.com Visit Bob's story site: http://www.IWishYouEnough.com Sign up to receive Bob's free stories sent three times weekly. "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." |
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| << June16, 2006 - "Until the next light" |
June22, 2006 - "Behold a flower is coming" >> |
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