Archives at Zinester: "Behold a flower is coming". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "Behold a flower is coming" - June22, 2006

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

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Hello, my friend!

A wonderful Wednesday to you!

The teller at my bank always has a wish that goes with the

Have a fabulous Friday!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Today she said, "Where have you been? I haven't seen you in awhile?"

I thought about it and said. "You only see me when I have money. I don't have

She said, "Have a cash-filled Wednesday."

"That doesn't match!" I replied.

"No, but I will get to see you again," she said.

I hope to see you again, too.

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Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"It is uniquely yours. It is all you have and all you can give. Make it your

own and share it with others...your life." Bob Perks

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Thanks, my friend!

Bob and Marianne

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Today's Message:

"Behold, a flower is coming!"
By Bob Perks

"For nearly a decade we've had that small pond in our yard. We've

had fish in it, plants in it and I almost fell in it once. But I've never been

able to grow flowers in it," I said in frustration.

I stopped by a local garden shop to talk to one of the experts about

why I can't get our flowering pond plants to flower.

"Every year I try a new one hoping that this will be the year. My sister-in-law

has beautiful flowers popping up from the lily pads in her pond. I think my

fish are laughing at me," I said to the young man.

"Well, you've answered one question for me. If you have fish in there you

need to be careful. Adding fertilizer for the plants won't necessarily be

good for the fish," he said. "Are the plants spreading like they should?"

"Yes, in fact they spread too much. I actually have to remove some leaves."

"How big is this pond?"

"Oh, about five feet by three."

"That's not a pond, it a bird bath!" he said joking.

"I know. But we love it anyway."

"What else do you have growing in it?

"Some tall plant this year that supposed to grow a gladiola-like flower on it."

"Is that growing?"

"Yes, it just keeps growing these big leaves. I thought at first I bought a

palm tree. I bet if I bought one more I could tie a hammock in-between.

Okay, it's not that big," I said. "But every time a new shoot comes up we

think "could this be the flower?" Then more leaves drop down."

"Wait for a moment while I go get Bill. Maybe he can help."

I stood nearby their display pond. It had at least a dozen beautiful lilies

growing out of the water along with some smaller bush type plants

along the water's edge. They had flowers, too.

"You know it just needs time," a voice said softly.

I looked around and couldn't see anyone. I thought I was having heat stroke.

Then just on the other side of the bushes near the pond, this wonderful

looking older woman standing no taller than 4'10", came walking out.

"Oh, there you are. I thought I was hearing voices," I said.

"They need time. Everyone of those shoots has potential. It's like life.

You take time to nurture every part of your life and you never know what

part is going to go into full bloom," she said.

"That's true. I never thought of it that way."

"How many times did you try something that didn't work out the way you

wanted it to, but you discovered something else of value?"

"I'm in the business I'm in because of that. I never thought I'd be doing

what I'm doing now. I started off wanting to be something else."

"So keep on nurturing all that you have and stand back in anticipation of

beautiful things popping up. Yes, there will be some weeds mixed in. Be

grateful for the weeds. They help you to appreciate the flowers more. But

don't ever just focus on one part. You are one spirit with many parts. In order

to find the flower you need to treat the whole growth."

The young man returned. "Sir, Bill's not here today. He'll be in tomorrow

if you'd like to come back."

"My friend, I think I found the solution."

"Excellent, what's wrong with them?"

"I need to appreciate the leaves more," I said.

Upon my return home I walked out by the pond and took a second look at

those plants. There springing up from the water was a whole bunch of potential.

That evening Marianne and I sat on our deck and talked for

about an hour. I told her we need to love the plants more and appreciate

the beauty of their leaves.

"So, you're saying we won't have flowers again this year!" she said with a smile.

"Well, let's be grateful for how tall this one grew. It has potential," I said.

When we came out to feed the fish this morning one of the tallest, tightly

wrapped shoots started to open. Behold, a flower is coming!

"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks

"I believe in You!"

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copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information

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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: "My Child's hands"

Dear Bob,

Rarely does a story touch me as deeply as yours about Keith's hands. That's why

I just had to write and let you know. What a poignant Father's Day gift he chose for

you when he had his handprints framed, and what a gem of a son you have in him

(as well as Evan!). Like father, like son.

When I looked at the "blue hand prints" photo, it brought tears to my eyes. Then

I clicked to view pictures of Daisy, Ricky and Lucy, and was smiling by the time

I started typing this note to you!

Embrace the new day and grasp your dreams,

Sandi, Florida

Whew, Bob, what a beautiful story! Hard for me to hold back the tears on this one.

What a loving Dad you are!

Cynthia

Oh Bob, What a perfect gift Keith gave you. I would love that. He couldn't

have done anything more perfect than that. I'll bet my friend had a few tears

streaming down his face when he opened that gift. Keith must be a lot like his dad.

Tell him WELL DONE for me. Love ya, Bob. Betty

Oh Bob How truly wonderful.

Have a wonderful week.

Wendy

My dear friend~

I really don't like to cry on a beautiful almost-here summer morning.

I don't know whether to say "thank you" or "darn it, Bob". You've

done it again! Touched my heart with your/HIS divine words.

Thank you, my friend!

Love, light, and blessings~Mama T

Bob...an absolutely wonderful Father's Day story! How fortunate your sons are to have you

for their dad. God bless you & Marianne - all ways & always.

Connie

Hello Bob,

wow it is amazing how much you seem to like the same things I do. My birthday is in July,

too. I love chocolate chip mint ice-cream and I have many of my children's art work all over my

house. They are on my walls and in my curio cabinets. While growing up, my children "were forced"

to do all sorts of art and crafts and both gave it up after they reached their teen age years. Much

to my delight, my daughter seems to be enjoying decorating her new home with simple home made things.

My son has a real talent with sculpting, but unfortunately has not yet picked that up again, but he is

only 23, so there is hope that he will do so again some day. It is so important to have art and music in

life because they can be a powerful expression of yourself, just like the written word. Thank you

for all your wonderful stories.

Love,
Karin

Bob,

Thank you so much for sharing your fathers day gift with us. It means
a lot to me. God Bless!

Rick
San Angelo, TX

Thank you Bob, and thank you Keith, for reminding us of the depth, and the beauty of the

eternal bond of love between parent and child. I will carry this beautiful story in my heart.

God bless you both! Beverly.

Hello Bob,

I read all of your stuff and can relate to much of it but this story moved me

because I have hanging in my bedroom a picture that is dear to me. One night

while working in my office (I work from home) around 11:00 p.m. my little guy

who was 3 then came in and was wide awake and wanting attention. He wanted

to make a copy of his hand on the copier so we did it together and the pic in my

bedroom is his hand in mine. Nothing fancy just black and white but it is the

beautiful memory that is in the picture frame. I look at it now 3 more years later

and can see the growth and with that more memories. I can only imagine what

time will bring. I agree with you, give me time or a handmade gift, both are

precious commodities. Bless you and Marianne.

Health and Prosperity,

Cyndi

Bob,

Thanks for sharing the message of your child's hands--how precious...I also

enjoyed looking at your family album....Beautiful!!! Your family are blessed to

have you also and that you express your love for them so freely. You are giving

them a wonderful legacy. God bless you all. Your friend Sheila

Bob,

As I sit here and cry after the 'umpteenth argument with my 14 year old son, I am

thankful that I opened my mailbox just when I did. I needed you today. I don't have

my Mom to phone for advice. She went home to heaven almost five years ago...

I miss her so...She helped me find balance and perspective when I felt I most

needed it. My husband, our son's Dad, is a truck driver and on the road 260+ days

a year, so I am pretty much on my own when it comes to parenting our teenager.

Anyway, when I read your article, "My Child's Hand's", it helped me to remember,

as I try to every day, that one day, too soon, our son will be gone for good. Off to

college, then making his way in this world, marrying and having a family of his own.

I try SO hard to be a good parent, to raise a moral, decent son that sometimes

I forget...to just...I don't know...it's hard to see your own perspective when you are

the one in the middle of it. Which is why I miss my Mom so much. She was a straight

shooter. She told it as she saw it. I just hope that I'm doing alright by my boy.

(What if I'm really messing him up? How do you tell?)

Thanks for listening.

Pat

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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."