Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

April 1, 2006

Today’s announcements

Let’s give a big welcome to Steven Boaze who becomes writer # 314, for Storytime Tapestry.  Please send him an email and let him know just how much you enjoyed his story.

Happy Birthday Tennie Winter

We are very excited to announce the completion of the My Walk With Jesus website. The user-friendly site includes columns of life stories, quiet time articles, testimonies, short quips, poetry, humor, and many others. The online articles will include some that are published in the printed magazine, as well as some that are not.

Those who wish to subscribe or donate to the printed magazine will find information on how to do so, and all transactions are secure via Paypal. We have also included our contact information and guidelines for writers and those who wish to advertise in the magazine.

In alignment with our purpose, there is also a section entitled "Know God" in which visitors will find the plan of salvation, the sinner's prayer, and a 1-800 number to call if they wish to speak with someone about their relationship with God. We have also constructed a message board on which visitors may register for free and talk with others about their walk, prayer requests, and much more.

Please visit us at WWW.MYWALKWITHJESUS.NET, enjoy our site, and tell us how we can further help you in your walk with Jesus.

Now onto the good stuff!

Animal awareness series, endorsed by Shiloh and Hank Baker our mascots; all stories must be endorsed by these very special dogs.

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

EDITORS: Several of you have wondered about Taylor, the young man I wrote about a couple of weeks ago who was waiting for a heart transplant.  I am pleased to report that one week ago Taylor received a new heart, and as of this writing he is doing well.  In fact, the doctors are talking about sending him home in a week or so!  Thank you for your concern and prayers!

ValueSpeak
A Weekly Column
By Joseph Walker

Valuespeak@msn.com

 DO IT RIGHT
 Have I ever told you how much I love Anita's eyes?  They really are extraordinary.

I mention this only because I'm about to talk about her legs, and I've learned through sad experience that it's best to lead with a positive -- especially when I'm about to be negative.

Don't get me wrong -- my wife has great-looking legs.  They're short and stubby, but that's not her fault.  Blame her father.  He's got the shortest legs this side of Oz.  And Anita has his legs.

But that doesn't stop her from abusing me with them whenever we go walking.  Well, OK – for me it is walking.  For her it is running.  Even though I can cover about twice as much territory as she can with each stride, she gets those short little legs churning and I can't keep up with her.  I spend most of our exercise time looking at her . . . well, from behind, and trying to come up with reasons to slow the pace.  At least a little.

"Nice evening, isn't it?" I asked recently.

"Uh-huh."

OK, so Anita isn't especially into aesthetics when she's exercising.

I paused a moment, not so much for effect as to catch my breath.

"So," I said at last, "why don't we slow down a bit so we can take it all in?"

"I'll take it all in when we get home."

"But we can chat . . . " -- pant!  gasp! -- " . . while we walk," I countered.

"We can chat at home."

Yeah, right -- just as soon as I'm through having my stroke.

I gathered my strength for one last shot.  "But strolling together is good for our . . . "

“Strolling is for babies," she said, "and we can be together at home."

Tough, relentless and short-legged.  No wonder I love this woman!

Finally, after two torturous miles, we slowed for the cool-down portion of our walk.

"There!" she said, smiling brightly.  "Didn't that feel good?"

"Sure, if you can include hangnails and kidney stones in your definition of `feeling good.'"

"But just think how great you'll feel once we get you back into shape," she said.

"You're right.  I'll make a lovely, well-toned corpse."

She rolled her eyes.  "You know, you don't have to do this," she said.

I knew.

"I want to get in shape," I said.  "But do we have to go so fast?"

"You know what they say: no pain, no gain," she said.  Then she took my hand.  "I know it's hard," she said gently.  "But we can't avoid it if we're going to accomplish anything.  And the way I see it, why spend time and energy on something if we're not going to do it right?"

It's a good question, isn't it?  We all face painful realities in our lives.  Aspiring pianists think practicing is a pain.  Watch a world class athlete work out, and you'll eventually see a face twisted in agony.  It's hard to stay true to principles of honor and integrity when you see others getting ahead through questionable ethical tactics.  Sometimes you think there has to be an easier way -- and usually, there is.  It's rare, however, when the easy way is also the right way.

Achieving success in any endeavor is a process that almost always requires sacrifice, especially if we're going to do it right.  But like Anita says, why spend time and energy on something if we're not going to do it right?

You should see the look in her eyes when she says that.

Have I ever told you how much I love those eyes?

~**~**~

I have a short story to share with your readers.
This is something that happened to me recently.

"Putting Life into Perspective"

Steven Boaze

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom at
our local grocery store. She must have been 6
years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle
faced image of innocence, it was pouring outside.
The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain
gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth, it
has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood
there under the awning and just inside the door
of the grocery store.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated
because nature messed up their hurried day. I am
always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the
sound and sight of the heavens washing away the
dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running,
splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in
as a welcoming reprieve from the worries of my
day.

The little voice was so unique and sweet as it
broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in
"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.
"What?" Mom asked.

"Let's run through the rain!" She repeated. "No
honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom
replied.

This young child waited another minute and
repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"
"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.

"No we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this
morning," the young girl said as she tugged at
her Mom's arm.

"This morning?" When did I say we could run
through the rain and not get wet?" Mom asked.

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to
Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get
us through this, he can get us through anything!'

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you
couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood
silently. No one came or left in the next few
minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what
she would say. Now some would laugh it off and
scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore
what she said. But this was a moment of
affirmation in a young girl's life. A time when
innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will
bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run
through the rain. If God lets us get wet, well
maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling
and laughing as they darted past the cars and
yes, through puddles. They held their shopping
bags over their heads just in case. They got
soaked. But they were followed by a few who
screamed and laughed like children all the way to
their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed
washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your
material possessions, they can take away your
money, and can take away your health. But no one
can take away your precious memories...So, don't
forget to make time and take the opportunities to
make memories.

Steven Boaze

owner@boazepublishing.biz
About The Author

Steven Boaze, Chairman, is The Owner of Boaze.com Inc
Corporate Web Solutions. Steven is the Author of
hundreds of articles featured in radio, magazines,
newspapers and trade journals. Steven has 28 years
experience in journalism, copywriting, certified Web
Developer. http://www.copywriteplus.com
Copyright © 1998-2006 Boaze.com Inc

~**~**~

Bad Day?

Joyce C. Lock

So, you had a bad day.  Didn't we all?  Well, if not this day then maybe another.

But, maybe you had a chip on your shoulder, too.  Perhaps you told someone to 'kiss off'.  Ok, well, maybe you don't use that expression.

What you might have said is 'bug off', 'leave me alone', 'go away', 'get lost', 'suck an egg', 'kiss my foot', or something a lot more unkind.

Maybe you didn't mean anything by it, you just wanted some time alone.  And, sure, you're probably right.  It wasn't the end of the world.  Hopefully, they'll get over it.  The question is, "Will you?"

Of course, next week, you both might have forgotten the incident ever occurred.  However, even so, it could come up again.  One day, you just might wake up (or be awaken) to realize that your every act of unkindness was actually done to Jesus.  Talk about a bad day!

_____________________

... Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?  2 Cor. 13:5

I in them, and thou in me ...  John 17:23

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Col. 1:27

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these (or inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these), my brethren, ye have done it (or done it not) unto me.  Matthew 25:40, 45

© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock
http://www.angelslight.org/joycepoem.html
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

Poetry Section

~**~**~

Muses
Christina Hymes

Muses are but tricky creatures,
some stay long into the morning light,
creating sappy, morbid, words; scribbled on
a lined pad of paper.
Some sprout a seed once
in a blue moon; leaving room for growth, and
others like mine, won't leave me alone.
My shadow, my muse, my soul.
Christina Hymes
hymc0001@unf.edu

~**~**~

White Bark

Christina Hymes 

White bark
peeled off
like skin
from a
shedding snake.

Green remained
juices flooded
every artery
down into
its soul.

Back up
again, sprouting
flirtatious arms
and budding
blossoms.

I knew you were Here For Me

I knew you were here for me,
When Ice covered my Soul,
and your warmth melted it away.

When my tears fell and you let
them land in your delicate hands.

When the bleak night left a blocked road,
you were the star that lead the way.

That is when I knew you were the one for me.
--
Christina Hymes
CDRC Marketing Assistant
hymc0001@unf.edu

~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Great its thrilling to see one's short story EMBARRASSING MOMENTS in print on the internet!
WOW! SM THOMPSON: AUTHOR & TEACHER: UK:

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

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; Westerfer, Clara; White Robert;

Storytime Tapestry Staff

Carol Roach - Founder/publisher

Thelma Hartselle - Co-Founder, Moderator

Clara Westerfer – moderator

Bob Johnston - moderator