Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

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

May 8, 2006

Today’s announcements

Happy Birthday Loren Casper from your friends at Storytime Tapestry

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

~**~**~

Memory In My Heart

By Mary M. Dees

  My earliest memory of my dear friend Chris, takes me back to the spring of 1991. It was a warm sunny day, the birds were chirping and the sun felt warm on my skin as it pushed its way through my window. The smell of gravy on the strove woke my senses. My mother always made a hearty breakfast for us on the weekend. My brother John entered the kitchen and threw himself into a vacant chair at the table where I was sitting.  “This would be a great day to go fishing,” he said,  “Mom where are my poles”?” Oh out in the garage I guess John,” she replied. “I’ll ask Chris if he wants to go with me,” he said, while gobbling up his breakfast. I begged, “Can I go? Can I, John, please? Can I go?” “I guess, you little pest.” John muttered to me before slurping down his full glass of milk. The day was set, John and Chris were going fishing and I “the pest” was going too.

   John, Chris and I arrived at the falls. The water was pushing against the rocks with so much force that it sent fear racing through my veins. I was sure though, not to let my brother have any inclination as to the way I felt. He would never bring me along again I thought to myself. John and Chris gathered their poles, bait and tackle boxes as we set out to find the perfect spot to fish. Following, but falling behind them, I made my way down the steep slope to reach the bank. They had found their place to fish and were casting their lines one after the other.

While Chris and John were busy watching their still bobbers, I went for a stroll down the bank. I remember seeing a rock, not just any rock though, it looked more like a crystal when the sun shown through the water. I wanted that rock and although it was further out than I had thought I went against my instincts and stepped into the water. I took one step and then another until my shoes were immersed in the cool river, feeling braver with each step. I felt the cool slip up my legs as I reached out for my treasure. I raised my foot for my last step but there was nothing - no bottom. I was completely immersed in the water. I reached my hands and arms way over my head and still could not find the surface . Suddenly with one tug, Chris latched on to my fluttering hand and ripped me from beneath the water and pulled me safe against his chest. My terrified soaked body lay against him while he calmed my brother who was shouting from behind him, “Is she okay?” “ John she is fine!” He assured him, in between breaths,  “John I’ve got her, she is fine”.

     Although I never went fishing with my brother again, our friend Chris had saved my life that day. To my dismay, that following spring of ’92, I would learn that Chris’s own life had been taken from him. Chris, our precious friend would be with us no more. Although many years have passed and several new memories have been made, I have kept a picture in my heart where his face is as clear as it was the day that he pulled me from that raging water.

Mary Dees

marlena7694@yahoo.com

Mary M Dees resides in Ohio with her two children. She wrote her first poem at age 13 and has been writing ever since. She currently works as a hair dresser but has had a lifetime interest in poetry. She also likes to dabble in interior design.

~**~**~

FORGIVENESS

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     I was driving down the road the other day when I saw a sign in front of a church. It said, "Forgive your enemies. It messes with their minds." As I read this sign I felt a smile come to my lips, a feeling of delight come to my heart, and a long, deep laugh come from my belly. When I finally stopped laughing at the joyous humor on this sign I realized something. What it said couldn't be more true.

     A person whose mind is full of anger, after all, gives anger to the world and expects anger in return. In the same way a person whose heart is full of hate, shares that hate with the world and expects hate in return. Likewise a person whose soul is full of hurting passes that hurt on to the world and expects to be hurt again in return. It is a horrible and vicious cycle that eventually destroys the person's life and harms everyone he touches.

     It is forgiveness that breaks this cycle, however. It is forgiveness that messes up the mind full of anger and shows it that there is another way to live. When you forgive another you keep your own mind full of peace, your own heart full of love, and your own soul full of joy. When you forgive another you pass these precious gifts along to them as well. When you forgive another you live the way that God meant for you to live and you show everyone around you how a Child of God can make this world a better and more loving place.

     Keep on forgiving others then. Keep on messing with their minds. Keep on helping their hearts and souls. Keep on living the life that God meant for you to live. If you have to do it seventy times seven times then do so happily. God never stops forgiving us. Why should we ever stop forgiving other.

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

~**~**~

Made Perfect

Joyce C. Lock

The gift of fellowship is bestowed from above;
Devotion, adoration, sharing God's love.

For, when rejoicing souls exchange praises of Him,
God comes to dwell in the midst of them.

His Spirit takes over. Love begins to flow.
His presence is so awesome, producing magnetic glows.

Responsive hearts warms both God's and theirs,
Uniting them as one; the ultimate gift to joint heirs.

 

© by Joyce C. Lock

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 17:3

~**~**~

Matters of the Heart

Joyce C. Lock

When your heart aches for something
Most precious to your life,
God has placed that heartache -
As He grieves in your strife.

When your heart aches for something,
God wants that for you, too.
For, He sent His Spirit,
Who resideth in you.

When your heart aches for something,
It's time for a fresh start;
As He forever cares
In matters of the heart.

 

© by Joyce C. Lock

Proverbs 4:23
I John 3:21-22, 24

~**~**~

May God Grant You ...

Joyce C. Lock

Peace that surpasses all other possibilities.

Hope for things yet unseen.

Faith in that Jesus continues to save.

Joy, being enveloped in God's love.

Courage when knowing that two agree

and Remembrance of God's promise that ...

Love Will Never Fail;

Not His, yours, or mine.

© by Joyce C. Lock

Senior Writers

Chief writer: Sharon Bryant

                                     Chief researcher/historian: Hartson Dowd

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