Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

July 16, 2007

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Today’s Stories

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This I Believe # 20
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

This I believe, It is time to close up shop on this line of thoughts. I can just hear all saying it is about time, most  wrote something along the lines of, hey this isn't too bad, while others writes back, YOU NUT. This I believe.

I have had a little fun doing it, and maybe there is some thought to some of the things I scribbled about. I know I am not the smartest whip on the block. Little Girl told me that, along with a couple others. This I believe.

I do think we have many problems in this world, and nation. I have no answers, and I am sure if I had a say as to doing anything about the problems, things would be much worse. This I believe.

Now that I built you up to thinking I might be done, I have thought of many things to add, so will there ever be an end to "This I Believe"?

Maybe there is an end, and maybe there isn't. I believe there is always those that will believe things are good, there is also things that are on the bad side. Maybe there are things that should give people thoughts. We all have hopes, dreams of a better world; a
world of no wars, or rumors of wars, peace and happy times, where we
will live in the land of milk and honey. This I Believe.

I Believe, that day can be had for all, some day if we only believe. Believe in a man called Jesus, who will some day come along with Angels, and say "well done my child, it is time for you to come home." THIS I BELIEVE.

So will I be done till that time? Maybe and maybe not. So I will from time to time as long as God allows me to hope, and dream, I will try to plug along with a  new thought on something. This I Believe.
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

~**~**~

 ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

Joe Walker

            The conversation was lively even though the subject was . . . well, unmentionable.

            Not that there was anything unseemly being discussed.  It was a perfectly appropriate conversation between a mother and her teenage daughter.  They were talking about . . . you know . . stuff.  Lady stuff.  The kind of lady stuff about which moms need to talk with their teenage daughters.

            Unfortunately, it wasn't just my wife, Anita, and 17-year-old Beth in the kitchen last Sunday.  There was also 15-year-old Jon, who was playing a computer game in the next room and who was therefore well within earshot (although “within earshot” doesn’t necessarily mean he’s hearing anything – witness my repeated attempts to get him to take out the garbage).

            Then there was me.  I was trying to be mature about the whole thing.  I sat there at the kitchen counter, listening, occasionally nodding my head or offering what I thought was a useful comment.  But beneath the surface, where no one could see, I had my hands over my ears and I was loudly chanting "La_la_la_la_la . . "

            Hey, I may be a father, but I'm also a guy.  And talking about lady stuff makes guys go "la-la-la-la-la."

            So we were talking (or not, as the case may be), when all of a sudden an adolescent male voice emanated from the office: "I have a question."

            Those are chilling words to a parent, especially coming out of the mouth of a 15_year_old.  Especially when he's male, and the topic on the table is . . . well, you know.  We wondered how much he had heard.  We wondered how much he had understood.  We wondered how long it would be before we saw his face on the cover of the National Enquirer with the headline: "Psychopathic Teenager Blames Parents Who Forced Him to Listen to Lady Stuff."

            We braced ourselves: "What is it, Jon?"

            He paused thoughtfully.  Then he asked: "Can I have something to eat?"

            Turns out Jon wasn't at all concerned about the things that were being discussed around him.  He was content in his own world, except for one thing: he was hungry.  But he knew what he could do about that, and he focused on taking care of the situation.

            In many ways, I wish I could be more like Jon.  I find myself spending an awful lot of time worrying about Things I Can't Do Anything About.  Some of them are cosmic and incomprehensible.  Others are just silly, uncontrollable irritants in an imperfect world.  Recently, for example, it's been the NBA Playoffs.  When my team won I worried that they would become complacent.  When they lost I worried that they had lost confidence.  When the breaks went their way I worried that the victory would be tainted.  When the breaks went against them I worried that the entire NBA was conspiring to get them.

            I worried about my team a lot.  But when it came right down to it, my worrying didn’t make a bit of difference.  It didn’t help them to play better or to have a better attitude or to STOP TAKING SO MANY STUPID SHOTS AND PLAY BETTER DEFENSE!!!

            See what I mean?

            It just frustrated me, and that doesn't help anyone.  Which is not to say that I'm recommending a "don't worry, be happy" approach to life.  There are plenty of things about which we should be concerned, and we should do everything we can to make positive changes in the world.  But in the words of a well-known prayer, we need to ask God to grant us "the courage to change the things that I can change, the serenity to accept the things I can't change, and the wisdom to know the difference."

            Unmentionable or not.

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

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Time
Cynthia Groopman

As quick as a wink, time races by so very fast,
We blink, and an entire day has passed.
Then, as fickle and unpredictable that time may be,
Always trying to play comical tricks it drifts in lassitude,
making a minute feel like an eternity.
The hands of time swiftly dance around the clock's puzzled face,
Behaving unpredictably and moving at an irregular pace.
For time is like a wheel, constantly spinning round and round,
Motivating us to contemplate in a pensive mood,
as thoughts dance in our head in a manner that is deep and profound.
For time, where did you go?
Your are like the waters of a mighty river that constantly flow.
For God only knows the mazeful mysteries of time,
and to me, that is fine.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Together
Cynthia Groopman

Together we shall radiantly smile,
as we walk hand in hand laughing all the while.
Together we shall make a difference doing good deeds for all,
supporting those who stumble and fall.
Together we shall do all that is right,
to be pleasing in God's sight.
Together we shall savor every minute of each day,
Thinking positively in all what we do and say.
Together we shall stand side by side
With hearts that beat as one, where joy and love regally reside.
For together we shall always be,
whether it is living on this earth or in blissful eternity.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman  

 ~**~**~

Turning The Pages Of Life
Cynthia Groopman

My book of life has many interesting pages,
and they contain memories of the past,
filling my life's sky with a splendor that will always last.
The pages of my book of life, I begin to turn,
and from them, many things I do learn.
The love of my parents was so powerful, optimistic and strong,
and on each page, I can hear them singing to me a lovely song.
The triumphs in my life were quite a few,
and I basked in the golden sunshine of achievement,
gazing at a sky that was so clear and blue.
As I turn the pages of my book of life,
I read how joy and courage triumphed over disability and strife.
For in each page of my book of life I find inspiration,
and when I am sad and lonely, in these words I find consolation.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

Warmth
Cynthia Groopman

Warmth is exuded in many magnificent and enchanting ways,
that add zest and meaning to each of our days.
The sunshine's glow is so pleasant and warm,
healing a soul that is sorrowful weary and torn.
The warmth of a mother's kiss will cause smiles to appear,
and fill the cup of love with such elegant cheer.
The warmth of a laugh,
will soothe an aching heart as we stroll down's life's rocky path.
The warmth of a prayer,
will reassure our anxiety with the knowledge that God is always there.
The warmth of a message of love,
is indeed a blessing from God above.
For warm thoughts will ease worry and pain,
and colorful rainbows will fill our life's sky after rain.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

Readers Feedback

 Hi Carol

This column is really great. It's given me a lot to think about. I was a preacher for a number of years. I gave it up because my personal life was in conflict with my ministry. My hope has been that I might have a ministry through my poetry. Anyway thanks for the food for thought.

Conrad/cconseth@aol.com

I read Sharon Bryant's article, "Abduction" with great interest.  Although I was never abducted as a child, and my girlfriend and I plan on having no children of our own, I can see how distressing it can be for a parent, especially a mother to find her child suddenly abducted.  Sharon, you are one of the lucky ones.  Sometimes it takes years and sometimes parents never see their children once they are abducted.  That is why, I strongly advise parents everywhere, as Sharon has, to keep a close eye on their children.

Sincerely,

David Fox

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