Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

August 28, 2007

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Today’s Stories

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The Survey

Sharon Bryant

Six years ago, the local news advertised about a survey that would be coming to our area.

A company wanted volunteers to test biscuits.  They were paying all volunteers $30.00 for being part of the survey.

My friend called me and asked me if I'd heard about the survey.  I told her yes.  She said, "Why don't you and I go for it?"  "We could test a few biscuits and then have lunch in the mall."   I thought a minute and said, "Sure, it might be fun."

The survey was held at a local hotel inside a large mall.  My friend met me there and we were surprised to find at least thirty other people who wanted to be part of the survey.  We were all laughing and joking about how easy this would be to get thirty dollars.

We were seated at long banquet tables.  A woman came into the room and announced that we would be given three biscuits each round.  We were to take a bite of each one.  They were labeled 1, 2, and 3.  We were given a sheet of paper and a pencil.   We had to fill the little circle in pencil to tell which biscuit we liked the most.  She did not tell us how many biscuits we had to test.

We then were all given a little paper cup of water.

Mind you, these biscuits had no butter with them.  No jelly.  No honey.  Just plain biscuits.  The biscuits were a popular brand, a brand I'd purchased before.

The biscuits were brought to us on clear plastic trays.  They were lined up side by side with numbers in front of each biscuit.

I took a bite of biscuits number one.  "Not bad," I thought.  Then I bit into number two, then number three.  I chose the one I liked best.

The survey lady came and picked up all our remaining biscuits.  A couple minutes later, another set of three biscuits were placed in front of us.  Again, we bit into each one, circled the one we liked the most. Again, the survey lady picked up the trays with the remaining biscuits and replaced them with three more.

By the time we had went six rounds of biscuits, I was getting full.  My friend, who is a little woman, said her stomach was starting to hurt.  I told her we'd be lucky if we could get out of the seats when finished. By this time, I couldn't tell one biscuit from the other.  They all began to taste alike, and I was sick of eating biscuits.

I had also asked three times to refill my little paper cup of water.  So had my friend.

The survey lady kept saying, "Just a few more to sample, " and I thought, "I can't keep eating this many biscuits."  My friend was stuffed to the gills and my stomach was beginning to hurt.

I whispered to her, "You think this is worth $30?"  She whispered back, "No, I didn't know we'd have to eat 5 lbs. of biscuits to get $30.00."

By the time the survey was over, we had tested 30 biscuits.  I felt like an anchor.  My stomach was bloated and I had to go to the bathroom.  My friend said her stomach was cramping terribly.  I told her I knew the feeling. I looked around the room and saw several people rubbing their stomachs.  I knew they too, were have problems. I felt like I could do the Pillsbury Dough boy commercial.

We were given thirty dollars cash for that survey.  I had a stomach ache until late that night. 

I never wanted to look at another biscuit the rest of my life after that day.

We never got to lunch that day.  I could not have eaten one bite of food after being stuffed with dough.

Just today my friend and I were talking about that survey and we laughed remembering how we thought getting thirty dollars would be easy.  I told her if we were ever gutsy enough to try a test like that again, I would sneak some little butter containers in  my purse and some jelly packets and a quart of water.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net

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Is Written # 2
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

There are some lines in the Bible one almost never in a life time hears said in any sermon or any time in a church. I can't recall ever hearing the words in any church I ever walked into. I think these lines, these words should by all means be taken to heart, much thought given to each line, and understand the meaning of each line. If one would think each line is very important, also if every one lived those lines, there would be very few problems.

I was reading about a person, now dead, who was a greatly admired person of one church.  She questioned a lot of the church beliefs. I think I understand why this might be. She may have never understood the fact, that God doesn't always send a horse, most of the time it is just a donkey.

The very important lines are to be found in Matthew, chapter 6. Matthew 6; 9. Our Father which art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Our Father, the one who made us, gave us life, and every thing we have,
and  see. Without our Father, God, we would not be, we would not have
one thing.

Hollowed be his name. This is very simple. His name is to be most honored. We are not to take his name and trash it. It is his name and his name only.

Matthew 6; 10. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

His Kingdom. He is Lord, master, and maker of all. It is his to rule over. If it is his will, and we live by his rule, we will have all our needs.

Matthew 6; 11. Give us this day our daily bread. Without God, we will not have food for the table. Bread can mean many things here: food, water, and breath. It can be the means also to work for the food, and water. Without God, one could not move a hand to pick up the slice of bread.

Matthew 6; 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. This means we owe. We are in debt to God each and every day in many ways. We owe for everything we have, nothing is ours. We also have sinned in someway each and every day. We are asking in this line to forgive us of whatever great amounts of sins we have committed..

But should we not forgive those who said or did things about us to upset our cart a
bit? This means if we can not forgive others, how can we ask God to forgive us?

Matthew 6:13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.

We are asking God to keep us out of the pit falls of life. Keep us from going off the main road, or falling into the ditch at the side of the road of life. Kingdom, which is the most high, power, there is no greater power than God. Glory, never ending, lasting for ever and ever. Amen. So be it.

If we say this prayer, we are asking for all we need in one day of this life, no more, and no less. If we would live the words of this prayer, we will have today's needs, no more, and no less. If we would say this prayer, we would be most blessed, would have more then enough to make it through each day.

I remember reading something written by a poor soldier boy of a war long ago. A poor soldier boy dressed in Gray, found dead on a battlefield of the American Civil War. A paper was found in his pocket with these words.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn to be humble, to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all these things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for, but every thing I had hoped for.
All most despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.

You see God knew what was best for this poor soldier boy, dressed in Gray; one poor soldier boy, known but to God.

Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5
 

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Poetry Corner

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 Mirror, Mirror

Cheryl Williams

Mirror hanging on my wall,

Tell me, do you sleep at all?

I was young and restless,

didn't want to be free;

Now a married lady

is staring back at me.

Mirror, mirror...don't be shy;

Listen to my lullabye:

I sing as I rock my baby to sleep

and pray to God his soul to keep.

Mirror, mirror...I know you can't lie,

But tonight I'm seeking an alibi;

I tried and tried not to go,

But this heart of mine loves him so.

Sometimes its hard to face yourself

when you are living a lie;

Sometimes you feel so very lost

You just look in the mirror and cry.

Mirror, mirror...who can this be?

This sad person staring back at me?

One part saved,

the other part lost;

Tell me, tell me,

what's the cost?

Cheryl Williams

politicalgirl04@aol.com

~**~**~

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