Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

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March 16, 2006

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Today??™s announcements

Please remember that we have a new contest going; the April Fools Day Contest.

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Now onto the good stuff!

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Today??™s Queue Stories

~**~**~

What Kind Of Love Is This?

Helen Dowd

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I Corinthians 13
The Love Chapter

We all know this passage, but do we demonstrate it? How far will our love stretch?

"Love suffereth long...Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth...For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known....And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love."

I want to tell you a modern parable. (A parable is a short, simple story, usually of an occurrence of a familiar kind, from which a moral or a lesson can be drawn.--Webster's dictionary)

This is a story of a man, who I think demonstrates the kind of love taught in I Corinthians 13:--longsuffering love.

He was eighty-nine. She was eighty-six. They had lived as man and wife for sixty-five years. Every day he would get up, have breakfast, and hobble down to the bus stop, a book in his hand. He was headed for the nursing home, where his wife had been for four years. He hadn't wanted to put her there, but when he had had a heart attack, he was forced into having her placed in a care facility. She was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and was deteriorating very quickly.

He stepped off the bus, and walked the two blocks to where his wife was. "I wonder how she is today," were his thoughts as he pushed the security buttons to get in. "I wonder if she'll know me. She didn't yesterday." A lump welled up in his throat as he recalled the many happy times he had shared with his beloved wife. Now she rarely recognized him. She sat limp in her chair, her eyes dull and distant. When he approached her to give her the usual kiss she recoiled, trying to push him away.

"Come on, my little Turtle Dove," he would say, taking her hand and squeezing in beside her on the love seat. "I've brought you your favorite book. What story should I read you today?" He watched as her eyes flickered. She moved her hand to touch the Children' Bible Story Book he had brought with him. He turned the pages until she placed her hand on a picture. He smiled, taking her hand again. He had read her this story for four days in a row, but he didn't mind. He started reading. "I am 'the Good Shepherd," the story began. It was the story of the little lost lamb that the Good Shepherd left the flock for, in order to rescue the wandering lamb.

He finished the story: "and the Good Shepherd carried the lamb back to the flock, wrapped its injured leg with a piece cloth, torn from his clothes, and laid it beside him, as he continued the night watching the flock.??? He saw her wipe a tear from her eyes. That was enough for him. He kissed her wrinkled face, which to him was still beautiful, and led her to her bed. She fussed a little, but he lay down beside her. Soon they were both asleep? Two hours later he kissed her goodbye, promising, "I'll see you again tomorrow, my wee Turtle Dove."

My Wee Turtle Dove

Helen Dowd

She cannot recall that we shared our life,
partners in pleasures, co-bearing life??™s strife.
That her memory has gone, cuts my heart like a knife.
Though she can??™t remember, she still is my wife.

She??™s not that old lady you see sitting there,
Wrinkled and wizened, hunched up in that chair.
To me she??™s a beauty, with skin soft and fair,
a girl, tall and straight, with a rose in her hair.

She??™s not that poor creature, who looks out of place,
With eyes that are vacant, staring off into space.
To me she is elegant, with poise and with grace,
her eyes full of sparkle, a smile on his face.

Each day when I see her, I speak of my love.
I call her her pet-name: My Wee Turtle Dove.
Her fleeting smile tells me what she??™s thinking of.
I assure her God??™s still in His throne up above.

Though she can??™t remember, God is still her best Friend.
He stays close beside her to help and defend.
Though she may forget, God??™s love will not end.
On this precious promise I have to depend:

???I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.???
Hebrews 13:5.

Suddenly the visits stopped. This dear old man, who loved and cared so much for his wife, went home to glory before her. What a glorious day it will be when the couple is reunited. And on that day she will recognize him.

The man in this account was a poet friend of mine. I never met him in person, but we corresponded for two years. And he told me how he went down every day to visit his wife. I wrote this poem and sent it to him, in respect for him for his dedication to his wife. To me he demonstrated the true meaning of I Corinthians 13.

I am looking forward to meeting my friend and his wife in glory.

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?© Helen Dowd

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thedowds@telus.net

www.occupytillicome.com

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~**~**~

~ God First ~

Joyce C. Lock

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God first, others second, self last ...

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? ? ? ? ?  Most Christians believe that's how it should be, whether they practice it or not.

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? ? ? ?  Few have problems recognizing when "Me, Me, Me" gets in the way, whether they care to admit it or not.

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? ? ? ?  But, putting others second can get very confusing in relationship to God being first.

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? ? ? ?  It is God who teaches us how to love others and, in so doing, we are loving Him.?  However, when we have a passion for caring for the needs of others, you can bet Satan is looking for ways to trip us up and burn us out.

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? ? ? ?  Satan will use that passion against us (wherein we are being called upon, up to twenty-four hours per day, to help others in countless ways) until we find we no longer have time for God.?  Then, others get first place and God gets nothing.

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? ? ? ?  In addition, we run out of time for tending to our own spiritual needs and soon become drained, finding we no longer have anything left to give.

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? ? ? ?  It would go a long way toward keeping Satan within tight reigns were we to:

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1.) spend quality time with God, even if we have to schedule an appointment.

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2.) seek God's will, even above the feelings of others.

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3.) learn to discern and detach, a little, from those who manipulate our time with no real intention of following God

(while keeping an open door for the time when they don't just want attention, but a real help.)

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4.) let go of responsibilities God didn't call us to; works that please man but not Him.

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Only when God is first does everything else fall into place.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

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Poetry Section

~**~**~

Laughter through smoke and ashes!

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('Not Gone With The Wind!)

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Paula Booher

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Picking up the teddy bear

Tears streamed down her face,

Another home was dead and gone

Once again life had won the race.

Shifted from place to place bed to bed

No security was destined to be her own,

She determined? in her? heart that One day

She would create a destiny of stone.

One that would not burn down and disappear

It would not blow away with the wind,

No one would come and rob it away

She would protect her precious kin.

Terror and fear would Not consume darkness

The days would not be dreaded,

Forward she would Bravely march

She knew Exactly where she was headed.

Pointed in the Right direction

Lifting up her sashes,

The determined lass picked up her skirts

With laughter through smoke and ashes!

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copyright 2006 Paula Deann Booher poetry.com

1/29/2006

wrappednword@yahoo.com

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Mrs. Paula Roe Booher, a Missouri girl all of her life has a love of art, music, home, and? family,(with 5 children and 1 grandchild), but first and foremost she loves God and serves Him with a Passion from her souls' core!?  You'll be reading ALOT MORE in the days to come so stay tuned...

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~**~**~

Ode To A Friend

Verika Nikolic

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and now in pain and tragedy,
I look for you
and you for me

clouds they billow and block our sun
tears rain down on every one

this pain that streaks through our sunlit sky,
ripped from us,
you live
you die

ode to you my dearest one
for all that you shone and all you've done
for the merriment and life brought into sharing
from your being
loving,
caring.

take to flight precious one
and know we love you
each and every
one

resolve our hearts to not forget
the promise of our lives just yet

let the wee ones always know
as they stretch and as they grow

how you love them, still,
and
so.

Verica Nikolic

brokenswine@yahoo.com

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38 year old female, living in AZ/USA...runs her own company, degree in chemistry, interests include gardening, beadwork, writing, reading, metaphysics, quantum physics, consciousness studies, comparative religious studies, reside with husband, two dogs, a cat and a couple of fish tanks...and tons of plants. :) nickname online: pixiepig: nickname at work: mike

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~**~**~

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Readers Feedback

This is a cute story (No Pets) Bill always writes cool things. Jene

Jodi Flesberg ??“ Old Spice - This is a bittersweet story. Jene

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Carol,
? ?  300 writers is quite an achievement my friend.?  I am happy to be one of them and
to still be included often like I was today.?  It feels good to be a part of
something so special.?  Wishing you every joy, Joe

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Response to Sharlett Hunt??™s Story Run out of gas? Run out of oil? Well just think about it. If
we do run out the lights will go off. What will you do if the electricity goes off?

I know what I'll do, probably the same thing that Sarah will do since it sounds like she's from an area of the country and has the background of survival that most of us have had that
grew up under the poorest circumstances.

We will survey our garden seed supply, maybe trade some with neighbors and get busy getting them in the ground, supplying them with care. We'll trade for some poultry stock to keep around and gather firewood or something to burn for warmth and preparing meals.

I could go on and on, but that's just the surface of things that you learn from being hungry. Hunger is the highest motivator on the planet,,,,bar none.
Thanks
Mark Crider

Prayer Requests and Updates

Dear Friends;

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Helen and I have been off line for the past week - due to a heated up Router.

We could receive messages but we? have not been able to send anything.......

We had a Computer Expert in this evening and he discovered the problem.

We will get a new Router on Saturday.

I am fine!

I start Physio on the right leg tomorrow.?  I presently have 50% mobility and

they will be trying to give me exercises to improve that number.? 

I see a Surgeon on lower back problems on Thursday.?  I am in good spirits

and fully believe that God has indeed answered prayer.

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? Everyone needs a Prayer Partner....

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Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

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Agee, Vance; Apted, Violet; Baker, Kathy; Batt, Al; Berry, Nell; Blaine, Pamela; Boda, Ginger; Buhagiar, Victor; Cassady, B.J.; Cavalera, Robyn; Crider, Mark; Deming, Barb; Doherty, Maria; Gilbert, Robert, Jr.; Goodier, Steve; Braun-Haley, Ellie; Harris, Kathy Anne; Hunt, Sharlett; Hymes, Christina; Jacobson, Gary; Kiser, Roger Dean; Kerens, Claudia; Kevin, Tim; Jenkins, Pamela; Liles, Norma; Lily Jodi Flesberg; Lock, Joyce; Marlor, Janice Bumbalough; Mazzella, Joe; Morris, Deepak; Ojeibge, Georgewaters; Petry, Dianna Doles; Roberts, Susan; Shiveley, Debra; Shaw, Bob; Sims, Richard; Streidel, Saskia; Swarner, Ken; Vaknin, Sam; Verhoeff, Jan; Walker, Bill; Walker, Joe; Warner, Gordon, K; Walsh, Sue; Weymouth, Barbara J.; Whirity, Kathy;

Wainland, David; White Robert;

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Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer ??“ moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator

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