STORYTIME TAPESTRY

March 20, 2005

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<p>Animal awareness series endorsed by Shiloh and Hank our mascots; all stories must receive their approval.</p>

 Now on to the good stuff..........

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ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

ONE APPLE AT A TIME

Joe Walker

            Sterling wasn??™t trying to make the world a better place.

It just turned out that way.

            One apple at a time.

            To hear Sterling tell the story, he was just trying to get into better shape.  The elementary school at which he teaches is several miles from his home.  His thinking was that if he walked to and from school each day it would help him take off some weight that he wanted to lose, and it would help him to stay in shape.

            He has been meticulously faithful in maintaining his walking regimen.  I see him on the road every morning ??“ rain, snow, wind or sunshine ??“ as I drive my daughter to her high school.  Journalistic ethics require that I point out that we live closer to the high school than Sterling lives to the elementary school to which he walks.  I think there is a lesson in there somewhere for me or for my daughter, but it??™s too early in the morning for moralizing.

Oh, and parenthetically, I should also mention that Sterling??™s exercise program is working.  He has lost a lot of weight, and he says he??™s never felt better.  Rumor has it that Brad Pitt and Tyra Banks have been signed to do the infomercial.

But this isn??™t the story of one man??™s battle of the bulge.  That??™s just background for the really interesting stuff.

Along the route that Sterling walks each morning (and also along the route that I drive) is some open ground.  On that open ground is a corral, and in that corral are several horses.  One morning Sterling was munching on an apple from one of the trees in his yard, and he finished it just as he was coming to the horses.

???One of the horses was close to the fence, so I just reached out and offered the apple core to him,??? Sterling told me.  ???Evidently he liked it.???

Which is a little like saying President Bush likes Tex-Mex.

And a tradition was born.

???Before long it was clear that the horses were waiting for me,??? Sterling said.  ???I started bringing a few apples for them.  It isn??™t a big deal ??“ our trees gave us more apples than we could possibly eat.???

But it is a big deal to the horses.  Most mornings I get to the corral before Sterling does, and almost always one or two horses are standing along the fence, looking in the direction from which he will be coming.  If horses could smile ??“ and some say that they do ??“ these horses would be smiling when they finally see Sterling chugging up that little hill, a shopping bag full of apples dangling from his hand.

???They do get a little anxious sometimes,??? Sterling acknowledged as he displayed the discolored fingernail that resulted when one of the horses thought he had an apple between his teeth but only had Sterling??™s finger.  ???It was really my fault.  He was just doing what horses naturally do when they??™ve got something between their teeth.???

And Sterling was just doing what many good-hearted people naturally do as they travel along life??™s road.  It isn??™t something they think about or plan or strategize.  It??™s just something they do.  They see stuff that needs to be done, and they do it.  They walk with their hearts and souls, not just their legs.  They make the road a little smoother, a little easier, a little more pleasant for the rest of us because they walked it.  And they make the world a better place in which to live.  That??™s just the way it turns out.

Whether or not that??™s what they are trying to do.

Joe Walker

Valuespeak @msn.com

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<p>Today's Queue Stories</p>
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 "I am very disappointed in you"

 Roger Dean Kiser

I am very disappointed in you," said the mother, in a gentle tone, as
she looked down into the face of the 5 year old boy.

I watched as the boy's mother took the stolen candy bar from his shirt
pocket and placed it back onto the shelf. The small child stood there
looking down at the floor. His face somewhat turned away from his
mother, yet he said not a word.

I watched as she knelt down and kissed him on the forehead and then
patted him on the back.

All my years in the orphanage, reform school, jail and finally prison;
no one ever told me that they were "disappointed in me." Why was I not
worth hearing those words? Oh, how wonderful those words would have been
to my young ears.

Telling someone that you are disappointed in them means that you care
about them and that you are concerned about them as a person. That you
love them and that they are important to you.

No one ever took the time, or cared enough to tell me that they were
disappointed in me. When I was a little boy I always thought that I felt
sad and lonely because no one ever told me that they loved me.

I can only thank God that I was able to tell my children, and
grandchildren, when they did something wrong, how much I loved them by
saying the words "You know, I am just a little disappointed in you."

Roger Dean Kiser

trampolineone @earthlink.net

Roger Dean Kiser is the author of the
book "Orphan, A True Story of
Abandonment, Abuse and Redemption."
Roger also writes non-fiction short
stories which he displays on his
website "The Sad Orphan" located at:
www.rogerdeankiser.com
Roger's short stories have also been
published in: Chicken Soup, Heartwarmers
Heartwarmers of Love, A
Cool Collection I and II (Israel),

"The Bully" was made into
a short film by Nicholas Delfino
and has been entered into several major
film festivals in the United States. 

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Michaels Farewell

Kathleen Ann Shelton

Tears freely flowed down his parents face as they looked upon his unmoving, almost unrecognizable body lying in the casket.  Undeniable grief and deep pain etched their faces.  This was wrong, children were supposed to bury their parents, not the parents bury their child.  His mother reached and clutched his ice-cold hand as she cried. The Bible that his hands rested upon seemed a mockery, an injustice to all the rage that she felt towards Yahweh for permitting this to happen.  Heart broken over the death of her young son and angry towards Yah, she felt as if her life was out of control.  In this living nightmare, she could not understand her husband and found herself even incensed with his reaction and seemingly calm acceptance of Michael??™s death.  He even had the audacity to state that Yahweh had a definite reason and purpose in allowing Michael to die.  He also pointed out the good that had already came from Michael dying and the life of so many others that had been saved through the donation of his organs.  But in her anguish, she could not fathom what plausible purpose there could be or focus on these lives saved, only on the fact that she wanted her son alive.

At home that night, she screamed and cried at Yahweh for His injustice.  She had been faithful to Yah, had entrusted her life and that of her child to Him, unwavering in her conviction that Yahweh would always watch over and protect her child.  Michael had accepted Yahshua at a young age, and although he went through many trials and temptations, always stood steadfast in his relation with The Father.  He was a good child, one that many parents wanted for themselves and an example to many of his friends and associates.  Now he was dead.  It was not fair, for he was so good and yet, so many others that were living against Yahs??™ will were still alive.   Bitterness raged through her veins like vile.  The days before his funeral passed in a haze of anger, grief and unbelief. 

Michael??™s funeral was colossal.  The turn out was amazing for just one young boy.  Every seat was filled and many crammed into the isles and even along the walls.  Again, Michaels mother thought of how unfair it was for one who was so loved and touched so many lives to be snatched away so abruptly and senselessly.  As the pastor approached the pulpit, there was an unmistakable sense of sorrow in his demeanor.  He was visibly weeping as he prepared for the memorial service.  It took several attempts before he could clear his throat in order to speak. As he started to speak, he slowly walked over to Michael??™s coffin and then immediately stopped.  It seemed as if he had froze as he looked upon Michael??™s body.  He asked Michael??™s parents to come up to him.  As they approached, they too, seemed to freeze in shock as they looked upon Michael.  In his hands, neatly laying under his hand upon his Bible was his favorite cd-the one he had about worn out listening to, with a simple note saying ???please play.??? They knew that it had not been there earlier. 

With shaking hands, Michael??™s father reached for the cd and slowly, tearfully placed it in the church??™s??™ player.  Awe encircled and circumscribed the entire congregation as they heard Michael??™s youthful voice speaking amidst a background of the most beautiful music and singing.

 Mom, Dad, family and friends, since I was so abruptly and unexpectedly called from this life, Yahweh allowed me to say farewell to you.  I know that the majority of you, including you Mom and Dad, wonder how and why this tragedy had to happen. Mom, I have seen your raw pain and the anger you have had towards Yahweh for allowing this to happen.  I see how your faith has been shaken and how you feel abandoned and deceived by Him. How your trust in Him to always watch over and protect me from harm has been shattered.  Mom, Dad, everyone please listen closely to what I have to say.  Yahweh looked ahead and saw that I would be misled down the wrong path that would someday lead me away from Him.  In His love and mercy, he could not allow that to happen.  In order to protect me and assure my place in Heaven with Him, he intervened and took me away from Earth before I could so foolishly take that wrong turn in my path.  It was through His love and yes Mom, in answer to your prayer that He protected me from the destruction that lie ahead.  I know that many of you have experienced the loss of someone very young like me, someone who seemed to have a good life to look forward to, things to accomplish, but, I promise you, that none of the losses have been in vain.  There are some like me that would have someday taken the wrong pathway, some that would have ended up living in nightmarish conditions, and others that were ill and suffering, or would become ill.  Each and every one of us was looked upon with compassion and taken out of the world sooner.  Mom, I know you have questioned why it had to be someone like me when there are so many sinners still living.  Through my death, I was saved and guaranteed my place in Heaven, but the others are also Yahs??™ children, and in His benevolence, He is allowing them to live in the hope that they too, will come to know and serve Him, and establish their places in His Kingdom.  The purpose of my sudden death was to make sure that my eternal home would be with Him.  The good that came out of my untimely death is that I will be able to spend eternity with you, for our time apart is only like a grain in the sand when compared to eternity.  Dad, I am so proud and thankful to you for your wisdom.  You knew and understood that my earthly body was just a vessel that was no longer needed and would just turn back to dust. Even in your sorrow, you had empathy towards others and allowed for my organs to be used in order to preserve other lives.  Unknowingly to you, there is a greatness that will come from some of these lives and/ or their generations to come that would not have happened if you had not given so generously. Our separation is only temporary.  I love you all and will be with you again. So for now, farewell.

Love, Michael

Kathleen Ann Shelton

Kathleenannshelton@yahoo.com

Misty
Kathleen Ann Shelton

Hi! My name is Misty.  Well, actually, I don't have a name yet,
because I haven't been born yet, but, I sure like that name.  It
sounds like a soft, spring day when gentle rain gives life to all the
earth.  When the rain brings a soft, fresh scent as it cleanses.

Mommy is going to be so surprised when she finds out about me!  I was
just conceived last night and already I am so excited about life that
I can hardly be still.  I can't wait to actually see and feel the
rain, to smell the flowers, play in the grass and everything else.
Most of all, I can't wait to see my Mommy's face and feel her arms
wrap around me as she holds and cuddles me close to her.  Just
thinking about it makes me feel all warm inside.

Right now, I am no bigger than a grain of salt.  But, I'm still
alive.  Already, everything about me has been determined.  My sex (and
as I told you-I'm a girl) my hair color, my eyes, my skin, my features
and even my height!  They have a funny name for me-a big long name for
such a tiny person: embryonated ootid.  But, that's just a technical
term-for I know that I'm a human baby. And I have been busy.  I have
been taking a ride down my Mommy's fallopian tube to her uterus where
I will stay warm, cozy, fed and protected until I am born into the
world.  And while taking this ride, I have been growing!  I began just
as one cell and now I am a bundle of cells.  I sure have been busy.

Wow has things been happening fast.  Guess where I am at?  I made it
to my Mommy's uterus or womb! It took me  ten days to get here, but I
made it!  Mommy was ready for me. Her uterus actually increased its
mucous membrane just for me. And instead of eating from an egg sac
Mommy is feeding me. Through her  umbilical cord and chorion (my
future placenta) my Mommy's blood brings me my  food for nutrition and
even oxygen so that I can breathe.  How lucky I am to have such a
caring Mommy that takes care of me the way she does.

Something exciting happened today.  I am twenty-one days old and I
actually got to feel my heart start beating.  Yelp, I now have a
heartbeat of my own.  Yesterday, my nervous system actually started
forming.  I am growing so very fast.  I still look funny, actually, I
think that I look like a tadpole, but I am still growing and
developing and before long I will look just like the big people only
in a smaller size.

I am four weeks old now and have another new technical name-embryo.
How funny people can be with all their labels and names.  Why not just
call me a baby?  You can tell my head is my head now and even my brain
has started to form.  I have tiny buds on me now, but they will grow
to be my arms and legs.  I now have a beating heart, a brain, spinal
cord and the beginnings of my arms and legs.  How happy I am to be
growing so fast.

It's been a whole month now and here I am at two months old and I
look like a small human being now!  I have my fingers and toes and
everything.  I can even smell now. And of course those funny
specialists have another name for me: foetus. Even though not fully
developed yet, all my major organs and systems are formed.  I even
have ears, ankles and wrists and eyelids!  I'm still so tiny
though-I'm only about one inch long and only weigh about an ounce.
I still have a lot of growing to do.  But, only seven more months to
go and I will get to see the world!

Another month and here I am three months old!  Again, I have another
name- fetus.  I have soft finger and toenails now!  Just think, one
day I will get to paint them pretty colors!  And, if a doctor wants to
use his special instrument, he can now hear my heartbeat!  My mouth
feels funny though, because I have about twenty buds in it.  But, I
will need them because they will someday grow into teeth so I can eat
real food. And I have grown even more.  I grew three inches in the
last month!  Everything about me has formed, so all I need to do now
is mature and grow.  I can even move now!  I can move my head, wave my
hands, kick my feet and even suck my thumb.

My liver now produces blood cell, my brain sends impulses to my
muscles and even controls my heart.  My stomach now even produces
gastric juices and  my kidneys have begun to work.  They can even
distinguish my RH-factor with blood tests now. I can feel a touch now
too.  And I can even hear and see now.  Sometimes I put my hands up to
my ears when the noise gets too loud. I look just like a big human
being now, only very, very small.  But I will grow!  Everyday I'm
working hard to grow.  I'm getting more and more excited just thinking
about life and being out in the world with my Mommy.  I love her so
much for protecting and taking care of me while I grow.  She is so
special to share her body with mine so that I can live too.

Yesterday, I was so excited and happy.  Today I am devastated and
scared. This will be my last entry in my journey into life.  Mommy has
decided to abort me.  They said something about it being her body and
freedom of choice.  But it is my body that they have decided to kill
and they have given me no choice.  If they had, I would choose to
live.


Kathleen Ann Shelton
 kathleenannshelton @yahoo.com

NOTE:
Types of Abortion
The abortion process is the horrible killing of an unborn, helpless
and defenseless baby. When looked at realistically, the cruelty and
brutality of what occurs during the process if an abortion is clearly
obvious.  In the privacy of the mother's womb, unseen and hidden, the
baby's body is ripped apart, poisoned, sucked and vacuumed out, his
brains removed or similarly other cruel and inhuman methods.  The end
results are the same; the taking of an innocent life.  There are seven
main types of abortion that are currently used and practiced in the
United States.
Suction Curettage: This process is used for approximately eighty
percent of abortions.  It is commonly used for the first through the
third month of pregnancy. The mother's cervix or mouth of her womb is
dilated using dilator rods.  The cervix is closed tightly to protect
the unborn child during pregnancy and sometimes because of this, this
procedure damages the cervix.  A hollow tube with a knife-like edged
tip, a powerful suction tube, called a suction Curette is inserted
through the cervix into the mothers womb.  The strong suction tears
the unborn child apart and the pieces of the baby and placenta are
sucked into a jar or container.  However, the head cannot be sucked
out since it is so large.  Instead, it must be crushed, then
extracted. Dilation and Curettage (D & C) is similar to the suction
process with the exception of the insertion of the curette or loop
shaped knife that cuts the baby apart and scrapes the baby's pieces
out through the cervix.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E):  This procedure is used primarily
during the fourth through the eight month of pregnancy.  Laminaria
(seaweed) and dilator rods are used to dilate the cervix. Once the
cervix has been dilated, forceps are inserted and they twist and tear
the unborn child into body parts in order to remove them in pieces.
Then, the unborn child's skull and spine are literally crushed to be
removed by ring forceps.  After the body parts have been extracted, a
scooped shaped surgical instrument is used to scrape out what has
remained in the uterus.
Partial Birth Abortion or Dilation & Extraction (D & X): This vicious
and cruel method is used from the fifth month of pregnancy up through
the ninth month.  Laminaria is used here also to dilate the mother's
cervix.  The abortionist, guided by ultrasound, grabs the baby's legs
with forceps and pulls them down into the mothers' birth canal.  Next,
the baby is delivered with the exception of its' head.  With its' body
out and its' head still in the uterus or birth canal, blunt, curved
Metzenbaum scissors are forced or jammed into the baby's skull. Next,
the scissors are spread open to enlarge the opening.   Once the hole
in the baby's skull has been sufficiently enlarged, the scissors are
removed and a suction catheter inserted. This catheter is a high
powered suction tube that evacuates the baby's skull, removing its'
brains, causing the baby's head to collapse.  Afterwards, the dead
baby and it's placenta are removed and discarded.
Saline Solution Method (Salt Poisoning): This method is used from the
fourth through the seventh month of pregnancy.  A long needle is
inserted into the mothers' abdomen and a concentrated salted solution
is injected directly into the amniotic sac and fluid that surrounds
the baby. The baby swallows or breathes this solution and with its'
skin severely burned, the baby is slowly poisoned.  It takes from one
to two hours for the unborn baby to die from salt poisoning,
dehydration, hemorrhages of its' internal organs and convulsions. The
mother will go into labor and delivers a dead or dying shriveled baby.
 Unfortunately, some babies survive this procedure and are born alive
with severe burns to their bodies and other complications.
Prostaglandin/ Chemical: This procedure is used from the fourth
through the eighth month of pregnancy. Prostaglandin is a hormone like
compound that is manufactured by the Upjohn Company.  Prostaglandins
induce labor. They are applied to the mothers' uterine muscles or
injected into the amniotic sac that surround the baby. This causes
intense contractions and the mother goes into labor, giving birth to a
very young child. Harmful side effects along with live births are
common.  Because of the rate of occurrences of live births, this
method is now falling out of favor.
Inter-cardiac Injection or Digoxin Induction: Performed from the
fifth through the eighth month of pregnancy.  The mothers' cervix is
dilated and ultrasound is used to locate the exact location of the
baby's heart.  A syringe is filled with digoxin, a heart moderating
drug, and a needle injects the digoxin directly into the baby's heart,
killing the baby with an immediate heart attack.  This procedure is
commonly used in "pregnancy reduction" abortions-when multiple babies
are in the womb and some are killed because of defects or simply to
reduce the amount of live babies born.
Hysterectomy/ Cesarean Section: This harsh method is performed during
the sixth through eighth month of pregnancy.  An incision is made
through the mothers' abdomen into her womb.  While still in its'
mothers' womb, the baby is then killed by strangulation or other
means.

Kathleen Ann Shelton

 Kathleenannshelton @yahoo.com

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Writers Feedback

Carol, 

Thank you so much for this special writing of yours (traveling the Road Of Life.  You are the greatest!!!

Love you,

Bette Tolnai

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