Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

February 6, 2008

Today’s Announcement

Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

Today’s Stories

  ~**~**~

Lessons God Taught Me
Ellie Braun Haley

Did I share this on with you ? It was under a different title but has since had an overhauling .
I have discovered as my relationship with God becomes more and more fine-tuned I feel more of what He has to offer. This story could easily be called Lessons God Taught Me.
Have a super day,
Ellie

The Forgiveness Flowers
God showed me how anger can push out the” happy” in a person and replace it with a dark hole. I guess if I got angry at enough people soon there would be no room for laughter and joy and the subsequent quilt-work of dark holes would produce a solemn, unhappy person.

My lesson in anger began with a good deed.

One expects to feel good about doing a good deed. This does not always happen. The day I set out to do a good deed I was a bit rushed. I had stopped at a grocery store on the way into the office and bought a bouquet of flowers. I checked through all the bouquets until I found one which looked inviting. I ‘d brought three very nice vases from home and in the parking lot I separated the flowers, placing some in a vase for our secretary. I brought the flowers in and gave them to her hoping they would give her a little lift. As I set them down for her I mentioned she would need to add some water to the vase.

Her response surprised me.  She asked in an abrupt tone, "And just why would you give me flowers and not bother to put water in the vase?"

I must have stood speechless for at least five seconds before I apologetically explained that I didn't want the water to spill all over my car on my drive into town. I live out in the country and right then our road was a mess of slick mud, causing the car to slide and rattle from one side to the other. I just didn't think she would mind adding water to the vase.

"Well", she continued, as if I was a naughty child and she certainly intended to make an example of me, "what kind of gift is this? Look at this flower," she said disdainfully as she tapped the little pink carnation, "it is wilted!”

I was shocked at her rough and thoughtless manner and embarrassed at being the center of attention, for a small cluster of employees had stopped in their tracks at the front of the office and seemed captivated by what was unfolding at the front desk. I wanted to fade away from the whole scene.

When the secretary continued I could hear a snicker from behind me and couldn't believe that anyone could find this funny. But the secretary seemed refueled with the attention she was getting and she touched another carnation.

"And what about this one, it looks rather wilted too?” She flicked at it in a condescending manner

“My gosh” I thought, “didn’t your mother teach you manners?”

She continued in a dramatic fashion, finding more fault with the gift. She touched flower after flower, ridiculing each one.

"This one looks kind of droopy too and so does this one. Where did you get these anyway? They certainly aren't fresh!”

By now I felt like I was in some ridiculous melodrama as I watched her play out her part. My emotions charged through me in a chaotic manner from embarrassed at the scene and apologetic for not having found a nicer bouquet to disappointed and then angry at her thoughtless actions and words.

I turned my back on her and began slowly walking away. I was fighting tears and working to keep my composure. I spoke to her with my back turned from her.

“I can not believe that you would behave in this manner and be so hurtful when I tried to do something nice for you.” By now I was only six steps away and I turned and faced the one individual who had been laughing and directed my next remarks to him, “and I cannot believe that when someone is hurt you would choose to laugh. I feel so badly. How can you see something funny in my feelings being hurt? What is with that anyway?”

He looked at me startled, stuttered over a few words, had the decency to look embarrassed and then said, “I don't know.”

I turned away from him and walked into the small open area where photocopying is done and began working the photocopier as I tried to settle down my thoughts. I felt so aggravated at just everything. I promised myself, “I’ll never do another nice thing for that thoughtless, condescending, insensitive old bat.” This was not the first time her abrupt behavior and thoughtless words had left me feeling hurt and aggravated.

The following day I sat at my kitchen table reading my daily scriptures. The chapters were all about Joseph, this was Joseph, son of Jacob, who had been betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery to Egyptians. Joseph's life took some interesting turns and though he ended in prison, eventually he ended up in a position second to the Pharaoh. By and by, Joseph's entire family went begging for food in Egypt. Joseph, the head-man there was forgiving, gracious and caring even to the brothers who had betrayed him.

The final scripture I read that day left me sitting there stunned, for I felt it was directed at me. “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another: for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin,

I felt chastised. I was holding a grudge and had been determined I’d never again do anything nice for the secretary. I was irritated at first with what this scripture was telling me and spoke out loud to my Heavenly Father. “You mean though she was the thoughtless one and she was in the wrong, if I don’t forgive her, you hold me more responsible?”

Even as I look back on those moments I know I sounded like a child full of disbelief that I should be taken to task when it was someone else who did the wrong.

Begrudgingly, I knew I had to yield to my Heavenly Father, but I was not happy about it, still I said, “ Okay, I’ll forgive her.” And then as if it cost me a lot to utter the words, I added, “Maybe I’ll send her a nice card now and then.”

With that, I immediately felt something amazing happen. In my chest it was as though a dark spot had been replaced by delightful light. I began feeling so good and knew my grudge was gone. I felt full of light, even happy!

Though I had not been pleased with the ruling I had agreed to follow his words and God in his mercy and wisdom decided to show me the darkness I had been carrying around. He literally allowed me to feel the dark being taken from my body and then allowed me to feel the light which replaced it.

Forgiveness is such a blessed gift, I think I just received a sunny smile from God.

Ellie Braun-Haley,

shaley@telusplanet.net
Post Script
Ellie says she is so glad that she kept her composure and later learned the best lesson of the day, that of forgiveness.

Anger is a choice

Ellie is the author of four books and is presently working on a new book, a compilation of true personal stories about heavenly intervention. Her short stories have been published in numerous books and e-zines .

Ellie Braun-Haley,

shaley@telusplanet.net

God fills us with a glorious light. Love fills the light
within us. Sometimes we choose
to replace the light with darkness and inevitably darkness
crowds out the love. Forgiveness, humility, and faith in
God always seems to bring us back to a balance.

Ellie Braun-Haley

Author/Motivational Speaker

 ~**~**~

A RELATION

Dr. Harmander Singh

"I feel I know you,” he said to a stranger.

"I'm sorry, I do not know you,” the stranger said.

"It seems to me that you're from the Islands,” he was very interested in him.

"Sir, I request you that I do not recognize you. Even if we know each other, I am not in a mood to talk. I'm sorry,” the stranger said and started to look in other direction.

            He felt sorry just because he never wanted to disturb anybody but for some unknown reasons he felt some relation with the person. He felt turmoil because his psychic reading and intuition were appearing to him failed. He started to read a book waiting for the bus. However, inside he was not happy because he felt that the stranger was a known person to him. While he was reading, the stranger could not stop asking.

"Which book are you reading?” the stranger asked after reading his facial expressions.

"Sir, it's a book about human relations,” he replied.

"What is its name?” the stranger asked.

"Sir, it's named, "Ask Yourself First,” it's a very good book,” he replied.

"Have you written a letter to its author?” the stranger asked with keen interest.

"Yes, I'm his fan. I have written him more than 10 letters and his reply is always great. I wish I could see him,” he expressed with great satisfaction and sighs.

"Don't worry. We will spend these 14 hours together. I am the author of this book. I know you. And I love your questions and have always enjoyed your letters,” the author said.

            The mates spent all of the traveling together and remained good friends with a smile of recognition.

Daily Moral Insight for a Peaceful Night

Are not we well-wishers of those who express that they know us without our knowing them?

Is not it beautiful and enjoyable that there are more human relations that we are taught or known to us?

Is not it rare to develop our own psychic reading or intuition?

Is not it wonderful to enjoy the company of the one whom we never knew by face?

Is not it great recognition when our smile receives the same response?

Dr. Harmander Singh

bhagouauty@gmail.com

~**~**~

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

  !

 Readers Feedback

~**~**~

Well, Respected Clara, you see Miss Universe and Mr. World has become the idols, and the worshipping goes on as we have seemingly detached from the ideal world. Which tree, plant and the flower is beautiful. Well nature beautifies, but if we allow. The eye that cannot find the beauty in the ugliness is blind. We are learning from the perfectionists, the cosmetics and the artificial products, isn't it and the practical teacher is nature, evergreen and everlasting. Thanks for sharing. May God Bless!

With sincere regards,

Dr. H. Singh

Dear Carol,

I am so sorry to hear the pain in what you wrote. You are right, she just didn't get it. You are entitled to your feelings and you made a request. When she didn't honor your request,it bothered you a lot.I do hope that something positive makes your days ahead brighter. Take care.

Bev Sobkowich

Darling Carol.  I understand your hurt.  I too have gave something to someone. Something I figured could be put to better use, but in a way I treasured also.  A few years ago I had a watch, a nice one, it was just laying here doing no one any good. A friend let it be known his watch had played out, and at the time he did need a good watch.  So I had a battery put in it, and gave it to him. In less time then it takes to tell about it, well it was in less then a month  and maybe sooner,  the thing was junk  This watch was a  gold cased with the band also of gold.  He didn't like that, so he got it cut off, and a leather strap glued to it in some fashion, which did not hold.  This was a well known brand named watch, not a 5 dollar job.  I guess the thing is when one gives away, maybe one should say I did as the Bible says. I had two coats, I seen someone with out, so I gave them one.  As I have grown older, I have come to one thinking.  Some people, the amount of stupid is more then can be understood, or measured.

Bill

Carol, I do agree with you. But try to remember that is what makes this person who she is. We are all different. I am sure she will never understand your point. But don't lose a good friend because of it. Love you kiddo Peggy

 I've always felt the way you do, too. A gift from someone is their GIFT TO YOU, not to someone else. It's a shame some people don't understand the concept. HOWEVER, what to do with a gift someone gives you that you already have is a problem, too. The way I solve that is I give the OLD ONE away and keep the new one, thus honoring the person that gave me the gift. The same thing happens when you give a wedding gift. If the bride and groom get 15 toasters and only need one, then they take the other 14 back and get what they want/need. And, you send out a THANK YOU CARD to everyone that sent the toasters. How are they to know that you may have sent back the specific toaster they sent you unless they happen to live near you and visit you often? Gifting can be a hard thing, sometimes. That's why I usually give money to my grandson LOL I never know what he'd like, especially in clothing, so I let him buy what he likes and it's within my budget to what I give him. He's always grateful that he got the money instead of something he won't ever use or wear. Just depends on the person I guess.

Love,

Joanne

Hi Carol,

I understand how you are feeling about your friend giving away the gift certificates. And especially when she promised she would use them for herself. A promise is a promise and unless you break a promise to save someone's life, it must be kept. Your friend should never have given the gift certificates away after she said she would use them. When you break a promise you are breaking your word. Without your word, a person is nothing.  In the older days, people gave their word with a handshake and didn't need any paperwork. Now days, people have to sign their life away, but that doesn't always mean anything either. When you don't keep your word, you can't be trusted. Then what do you have left to offer?

Keep your chin up. Hopefully she at least appreciated your thoughtfulness.

God's blessings to you

Barb

Well Respected Suzanne, thanks for sharing, you see we knit the words for peace and if it accompanies the actual knitting, the prayers seems accompanying the rosary, knitting process, the never ending circle of peace, and we join with the candles, while praying. Thanks and May God Bless!

With regards,

Dr. H. Singh

Carol,
   It is a joy as always to be included in Storytime again.
This is probably one of the best collection of writers on
this planet.  I am always honored to be included among
them.  Keep up the fantastic work.  Wishing you every joy,
Joe

Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Maria Keller, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Clarice Hinson, Conrad Cardinal,