Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

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March 26, 2006

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Today??™s Queue Stories

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Angel at Publix

? ? ? ? ? ?  Sharlett F. Hunt? 

1/18/06

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?  It is cold here in Central Florida.?  When the temperature gets down to about forty degrees, watch out, people start dropping like flies with every cold and that bird flu that the media? has come up with.?  Thing is, the wind chill factor comes from out of the North and it gets heavy with the humidity we have here and blows in your face with the surprise of a sawed off shotgun welcoming you, between your eyes, about midnight.?  This wind will hit you right between the eyes while the sun is shining, and your eyes become filled with tears, it stings so, maybe because of some of the chemicals we put into our very air we breathe.?  This is 2006, people, wake up.

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?  Every time you start up that luxury automobile you have setting in your garage, you cause chaos with our eco system.?  The only birds I see are those that are raised inside.?  Please understand what you are doing.?  Those of you who have grandchildren, are you teaching them their way of life is in a fancy sports car that gobbles up our world's environment.?  Or can you say to them, it is so much healthier to walk.?  And mean it.

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?  Look people, we almost have no ozone layer.?  Do you want to go to church and pray about it and hope it will get better??  Then drive out of the parking lot knowing you are so much closer to Hell because of this insane desire to burn more fuel?? 

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?  How on earth can we continue doing this as human beings, forgetting the illnesses it contributes to and causes, as well.?  Emphysema, COPD, allergies, not to mention, it is killing us all by destroying the layer with which God has protected this planet.? 

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?  My dad has informed me that most of the wildlife he has known in his almost ninety years here on this planet is no longer here.?  I sit in regret.?  There is nothing else I can say.

?  I am one of the lucky ones.?  I never get sick.?  Oh, I have the common sniffles, the allergies, etc.?  I realize my boundaries and accept that.?  I also know that God? places? no boundaries on me and I am free to fly.

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?  When I say that most people think I am capable and that is beautiful, in itself, because I am.?  I might not fly quite as high as I used to but I can give them all a run for their money!?  That's called acceptance, for me.? 

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?  When He took away some things that I felt were so important, He replaced them with things that are awesome!?  Every thing in my life that has hurt me, ? God has put something in it's place to over joy me!?  The things I thought He had taken, such as my health, (perhaps to teach me something, which it did)?  He gave it back and for me to deal with as I may.?  First He gave me free will, to govern myself if I choose.?  I have to smile as I say, then He showed me His will.? 

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?  His will for me today is to do according to what I feel is right and true.?  It is not something you read in a book.?  It is an inner intuition that I believe was given to me from birth, maybe before.?  I'm not saying I always use that small, inner voice that is so quiet, I sometimes can't hear it for all the outside noises.?  When I don't listen, I always take heed.

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?  This might sound absurd to some but I met an angel today.?  This is what the story was supposed to be about but somehow, I got sidetracked.? 

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?  Here's how it happened:?  I was sitting outside at the bus stop, approximately, 2:00PM today.?  I had been on the city bus all day and was getting a little tired, had to go to the HUD office this morning, Precious,( my Hemingway life cat) ? wasn't ready to come in, had to leave her out, it was cold, etc, anyway, I'd had it.? 

?  I had bought an 8 piece fried chicken in Publix (good old Publix, don't know if you have them there, but wonderful store)?  Mind you, I had been awake since 5:00 AM.?  You would have to know the "Citrus Connection" bus that our city has to offer and I thank God for it but boy, is it never on time.? 

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?  I had waited for about 35 minutes when I decided to eat a chicken leg.?  I was so hungry, having missed lunch, of which I am a fan.?  I am so health oriented.?  I decided to eat a chicken leg, sitting there on a grocery basket, in front of Publix, with the wind whipping, about 25-35 MPH and I have long hair so keeping that out of my face was a project.

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?  I had noticed a man out of the corner of my eye.?  He was one of those elderly gents, so nice, who make sure I have a cart inside the grocery store.?  He was prancing all over the parking lot, securing all the carts that people who don't seem to care, leave there, in a hurry to get to their gas hog cars, to bring oblivion to their ancestry, as they know it.? 

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?  Got sidetracked again, but maybe that is this message.?  That little sweet guy walked past me, saw me eating a chicken leg.?  I felt the need to speak to him and so I said, " I decided to eat since I have so long to wait for this bus," in humor, and he responded. "That looks good, probably would go better with a cup of coffee."?  I shrugged and agreed, the wind was cold and coffee would taste good.

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?  Within a split second there was a cup of coffee in my hand, black.?  How did he know I like it black??  He made some sort of small talk about only being allowed to drink coffee in the break room on his break, so he wanted to make sure someone else could enjoy a cup.?  I could barely understand him.? He was almost inaudible. The wind was blowing and it was hard to hear.?  Sure sign of an angel.? ? 

?  ? Best coffee I ever drank.?  I knew I had a long way to go on the bus and was afraid to drink it all, for lack of a bathroom, but it warmed me from the inside out.? 

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?  Soon the bus appeared and I was back to my charmed life.?  You know what, though??  The guy who brought me coffee??  He doesn't live here.?  I will try to call Publix tomorrow or go there and he won't be there.? 

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?  No, but he will be available to give coffee or a helping hand where needed.?  ? He is one of those angels we sometimes forget to seek.?  Awesome!

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Sharlette863 @aol.com


About Me:

I was born in Alabama, the middle of seven children. At about age four we moved to Central Florida and I have lived here most of my life. I am a Viet Nam Era Veteran. I have always enjoyed writing and as I get older it seems to come more naturally to me. I believe everyone has many stories inside them and some are blessed to be able to share them.

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The Breathings of my heart

Debra Shiveley? 

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I fill the paper with the breathings of my heart as I sit at my computer, fingers flying across the keys; the tap tap tap a soothing sound, adding to the satisfaction I feel as the page rapidly fills.

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I envision a great merry-go-round spinning above my head: bright lights and the music of a calliope; rococo benches interspersed among horses, dolphins, swans.?  Up and down, up and down they go, like the beating of my heart, as I recall first one memory and then the next, as I continue to fill the page with the scenes and memories that flash by.

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I see a little girl; lonely, neglected, abused.?  My heart cries out ???Why???? as I search for the reasons for mother-loss, father-loss, hunger, despair.

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A young woman twirls to the sound of pulsing music!?  Hands above her head, a smile radiating across the dance floor, she spins for the pure joy of it.?  Dancing, dancing, the beat of the music rising, ascending through the floor and entering her being with a delicious, reverberating, throbbing sensation.

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A bride walks down the aisle.?  Here, at last, is the father; a tuxedo clad arm steadies her as she slowly steps to the music: step, stop, step, stop.? ?  Here finally is love: a harbor; a safe place to rest.

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The merry-go-round continues its circular journey.?  More images flash by: anniversaries, birthdays, deaths. And now, the reward for the years of sorrow: the blanket-wrapped form of one sweet child.?  The mother breathes him in, savors his unique scent, fills her lungs in a celebration of motherhood.?  The child cries and her heart leaps at the sound of it, the joy of it, the completion of it.

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Up and down, up and down, the spinning of memories, of images, of bull frog hunts and toys, birthday parties and homework; tiny, ink-stained hands pressed to a paper doily: a Mother??™s Day gift; tears:? running to Mama for comfort; lip closures and bone grafts; that first broken heart.

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I fill the paper with the breathings of my heart as the merry-go-round spins: up and down, up and down, the images flashing by.?  I see the brass ring.?  I reach for it and make it mine!

Debra Shiveley

merribuck@aol.com

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Debra - Mitakuye oyasin - We are all related.

Author of "A Very Special Child" - An Adoption Story - http://www.whodathunk.org -- I firmly believe that I have received the same child I was meant to receive whether I gave birth or adopted.?  The same soul, the same entity was meant to be mine from the beginning of time. Debra Shiveley? Welch "A Very Special Child"We love our life on the lake where birds and animals of every description abound
www.merribuck.com
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous -- it is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
- Elizabeth Stone."

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~**~**~

YOUR LOVE SONG

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

? ? ? ?  I love to listen to love songs. There are few things as delightful as hearing or singing a beautiful song about the greatest thing in life. I don??™t really enjoy the songs about the pain and heartbreak of love although they are the ones that are most often written. I prefer the songs about the endless joy and Heavenly happiness that love brings us. These are the songs that can lift your heart out of your chest and set it soaring through the clouds. These are the songs that can fill your soul with so much light that you shine brighter than the sun. These are the songs that bring you so much bliss that when you sing them you feel like a choir of angels is singing with you.

? ? ? ?  I often think that this life we are given is God??™s love song to each of us. Its beautiful music flows into us through glorious nature, special people, sweet-hearted animals, fantastic thoughts, and enlightening ideas. Its wonderful lyrics sing to us through endless opportunities to choose love, share love, learn about love, and grow in love. Its Heavenly sound touches our hearts, souls, bodies, and minds. The most wonderful thing of all, however, is that God allows each of us to co-write our life??™s love song with Him.

? ? ? ?  I hope that you write a beautiful, love song then. I hope that you help God to make your life the greatest love song the world has ever heard. I hope that you never stop singing it either. May it ring out from your voice and your life everyday. May its music flow from your heart, your soul, and your mind to God??™s ear. May its melody touch the lives of all those around you. May its sweet sound make everyone who hears it feel like singing and loving as well. May it make a noise so joyful and so wonderful that all of Heaven??™s angels join you in singing it in this life and in the next.

Joseph J. Mazzella
joecool @ wirefire.com

Joe lives in West Virginia with his wife and three children. Various dogs and cats have adopted Joe and his family for their own. Joe enjoys his family, beauty, love and hearing from his email friends. Joe likes to take the time to smell the roses and enjoy the beauty around him as he goes about his daily life.

Poetry Section

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The Warrior Child

Joyce C. Lock

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Wounded in the Battle,
He carries me in His arms.
As we journey together,
the trumpet sounds alarm.

Casting all my burdens
And sharing all my cares;
Leaning upon His shoulder
As he answers every prayer??¦

Kneeling down before Him
While basking in His love,
Cherishing His presence
As to angels above??¦

Reaching out to touch His hand,
He puts His hand in mine.
Ready for the next journey,
With the LORD by my side.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

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They Didn't Know Love

Joyce C. Lock

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When captives crawled
And revolters were stoned,
He mended their wounds
As they were never alone.

When children were sick,
Crippled, and lame;
He fought for them and
Loved them just the same.

When looking over Jerusalem,
His bleeding heart wept.
Pouring our His soul,
He committed unto death.

Singing praises to Jesus,
While they pierced His side;
They mocked and scourged Him
'Til His broken heart died.

When the judgments came,
Thus did the angry mob.
They couldn't know love
Because they didn't know God.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed

upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:1

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~**~**~

Things Aren't Always
What They Seem

Joyce C. Lock

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A voice crying in the wilderness,
"Help make my path straight."
For, one who is lame
Can't make if through the gate.

A heart full of pain,
A life full of woe;
None sought his name.
Where else could he go?

Falling on his knees,
Making prayer his aim ??“
Then came the MASTER,
Who led him through the flame.

Tears of sorrow vanished
When paths were made straight;
Never to be the same,
Walking through Heaven's gate.

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?© by Joyce C. Lock

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Romans 10:20

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Readers Feedback

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Prayer Requests and Updates

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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, Westerfer, Clara; 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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