NEWSLETTER PAGE 1
NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2008
Hello Readers.,
Once more its time to meet up with those who are interested in this subject., since I last wrote I have been to visit John (our web master) in Wales, and I must thank John and his wife Margaret for making my trip such a fun time., I was taken about to see the sights and drove John mad with my interest in England and Wales’s ancient castles., and historical area’s.. John had a crash course in the history of his land and I am sure will not be visiting another castle for quite some time., I did visit Stonehenge, which I have always had an interest in and of course the ancient Roman baths at Bath,, more ancient stones at Avebury as well.,. John did get his own back at me, he took me down a coal mine!!!! a rather unusual activity for me but a very interesting one just the same. With a much cooler climate than here in Australia I found the country so green and with so much lush growth of trees etc.,, roads all lined with thick trees or hedges fascinated me after the openness of the Australian roads., The sun did not shine much at all, this summer they are having much more rain than usual they tell me., !.,
I visited John’s church and enjoyed the Platform on the day, I also gave a small talk the following week, the three ladies in charge of the church made me very welcome and everyone was very friendly, My thanks go to all.
We all enjoyed every minute of it even the Castle's.
John
THERE COMES A POINT
Over the years we change our habits and our ways, depending on the new experiences we have, friends enter our life and friends disappear from it for many different reasons.
The following came into my computer mail this week and I think its very apt.;-
There comes a point in your life when you realize
Who matters
Who never did,
Who won’t anymore...
And who always will.
So, don’t worry about people from the past,
There’s a reason why they didn’t make it to your future.
Be kinder than necessary
Because everyone you meet is fighting
Some kind of battle..
LOVE AND PUPPY SIGHS
We’ve been back to this animal shelter five times, it has been weeks now since we started all of this, the mother told the volunteer. “What is it she keeps asking for?” the volunteer asked. “Puppy size” replied the mother. “Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that’s what she wants” I know, we have seen most of them” the frustrated mum said. Just then Danielle came walking into the office “Well did you find one” asked her mum “NO, not this time” Danielle said with sadness in her voice “Can we come back on the week-end?” The two women looked at each other and shook their heads and laughed “You never know when we will get more dogs in “ the volunteer said. Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed for the door “Don’t worry , I’ll find one this week-end” she said.
Over the next few days both mum and dad had long conversations with her, they both felt she was being too particular “It’s this week-end or we are not looking anymore” dad finally said in frustration. “We don’t want to hear any more about puppy size either” Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning, by now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mum sat in a small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages, there was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren’t permitted.
Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, “Sorry you’re not the one” It was the last cage on this day in search of the perfect puppy. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer “Mum, that’s it ! I found the right puppy ! He’s the one ! I know it” she screamed with joy. It’s the puppy size” But it’s the same size as all the rest you held over the last few weeks” mum said.
No, not size ......The sighs! When I held him in my arms, he sighed !” she said “Don’t you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depended on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh” The two women looked at each other for a moment, mum didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both “Mum, every time you hold me, I sigh., when you and dad come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms” she said Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said “Mum, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!”
Close your eyes for a moment and think about thee love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones., but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day..,
We experience the feeling of love in so many way, and yes I do remember the sighs I have felt when I have hugged someone I love., its like I have come home !
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Once more we wish all those having a birthday a happy day, it’s a special day and I love to share it with you.,
This month
Phillip McMillan (my son)
Lillian Cooper on the 2nd
Marian Jones on the 13th
Hasi Oria on the 13th
Renee on the 16th
Raine on the 5th
Adrienne on the 23rd
Robin Houghton on the 27th
Cherie Lawrence on the 28th
Anne Payne.
The birth stone for this month is the Sapphire which means LOVE
The flower is the Aster,
BAPTIZING A DRUNK
A man was stumbling through the woods totally drunk when he comes upon a preacher baptizing people in the river. The drunk walks into the water and subsequently bumps into the preacher. The preacher turns around and is almost overcome by the smell of booze. Whereupon he asks the drunk “Are you ready to find Jesus?”
“Yes I am” replies the drunk, so the preacher grabs him and dunks him in the river. He pulls him up and asks the drunk “Brother, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk replies “No I haven’t “ The preacher shocked at the answer, dunks him into the water again, but for a bit longer this time. He pulls him out of the water and asks again “Have you found Jesus, my brother?”
The drunk again answers “No I have not found Jesus”, by this time the preacher is at his wits end so he dunks the drunk in the water again, but this time he hold him down for about 30 seconds.
When the drunk begins kicking his arms and legs, the preacher pulls him up. The preacher asks the drunk again “For the love of God, have you found Jesus?”
The drunk wipes his eyes and catches his breath and says to the preacher
“Are you sure this is where he fell in ?” ???
GOD WORKS THROUGH THE POST OFFICE.
Our 14 year old dog, Ebony died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and taking about how much she missed Ebony. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Ebony got to Heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words.,;
Dear God
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her., she likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love Meredith.
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Ebony and Meredith, and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it, then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her I thought he had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front step, addressed “To Meredith”..... in a unfamiliar hand writing. Meredith opened it, inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called “When a pet dies” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Ebony and Meredith and this note.
Dear Meredith, Ebony arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help, I recognized her right away.
Ebony isn’t sick anymore, her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Ebony loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you to keep and have something to remember Ebony by.
Thank you for your beautiful letter and thank you mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have, I picked her especially for you.
By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.,
This is a sweet little story and it illustrated how little it takes to do something kind to help another.,, this little girl was helped with her grieving process and uplifted by this persons kindness.,., Look around you, and I am sure you will see an opportunity to uplift someone in need, all it takes is that love within your heart that can reach out in so many kind ways. And make such a difference to the life of another.,
Just what I wanted before going into work. What a tear jerker?? John
CHALLENGES
Every period of our life has its challenges and they all have one thing in common;---
None of them are easy !!!! in our youth we may have thought that some day we would get all the difficult times behind us. Out of somewhere, we would have reached the top of the hill, or turn a corner, and suddenly all our problems would be solved. I’m tempted to say “In our dreams !” and yes like the people in fairy tales we would “live happily ever after” but many of us have lived long enough to realize that this is never going to happen, we solve one problem, and another is standing there, waiting to take its place, and so often many are not solved at all., we simply learn to live with them..,. Our life and our character is made up from what we experience, the good and the bad, we can all do the best we can and with the wisdom coming to us from our spirit friends can put much of it in operation to ease the worries and the problems we face., these problems create our lessons and in the long view of things we have much to gain from them., we understand that our problems are faced by many and can use our experience to reach out and help another faced with like experience !., We gain an knowledge of ourselves that comes about by the challenges we face, knowledge that we can use to enhance our life as time goes by. CHALLENGES- BRING THEM ON !!!
GOD’S EMBROIDERY
When I was little, my mother used to sew a great deal, I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing? She informed me that she was embroidering.
As from the underside I watched her work with the boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat.
She would smile at me, look down and gently say “Son you go about your playing for a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side”
I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed sp jumbled from my view. A few minutes would pass and then I would her Mother’s voice say , “Son, come and sit on my knee”
This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower, or a sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing”
Many times through the years I have looked up to heaven and said “Father what are you doing?” He has answered “I am embroidering your life” I say “But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can’t they all be bright?”
The Father seems to tell me “My child, you go about your business of doing my business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on my knee and you will see the plan from my side.”
It is good to know that one day it will all make sense to us., !!!!
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A PET CAN MAKE
( SORRY ITS ANOTHER Dog story !)
Not another tear Jerker John
Jane and her husband Tom had a dog named “lucky” , Lucky was a real character. Whenever Jan and Tom had company come for a week-end visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would go missing. Jane or Tom would go to Lucky’s toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky’s other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Jane found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease....in fact, she was just sure it was fatal.
She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her.....what would happen to Lucky? Although the three year old dog liked Tom he was Jane’s dog through and through. If I die Lucky will be abandoned, Jane thought. He won’t understand that I didn’t want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Jane than her doctors had anticipated and Jane was hospitalized for over two weeks. Tom too Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Jane to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Jane was so exhausted she couldn’t even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Tom made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to sleep. Lucky stood watching Jane but he didn’t come to her when she called, this made Jane sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Jane awoke for a second she couldn’t understand what was wrong, she couldn’t move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Jane realized the problem, she was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned ! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love.
Jane forgot about dying, Instead she and lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It’s been 12 years now and Jane is still free of cancer. Lucky ? He still steals treasures and stashed them in his toy box but Jane remains his greatest treasure..,
Remember......live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget.....the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.
Animals continue to amaze us with the compassion and their love, they teach us much and there are so many great stories that illustrate that very fact.
This is more of a Christian nature than of the Spirit but its still clever. !
THE HOLY ALPHABET
Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without his love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “Camp Complaining”
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
Until we see him coming
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
X-alting God most high
Yes there’ll be good times and yes some will be bad....
Zion waits in glory... where none are ever sad...!
Thanks to Margaret for sending that in.
BITS AND PIECES
It often takes less time to do something right than to explain why you did it wrong.
A promise is a debt that we must not overlook
A smooth sea never made a skilful sailor
One of the heaviest burdens a man can carry is a chip on his shoulder
Every day is a new life to a wise man
Habit has made you the person you are
It takes just as much energy to wish as it does to make plans
People who achieve things in life dicipline their time.
Its been a busy month for me with the time I spent away and I shall try to bring more Spirit input into the next months edition.,/. But for this month I hope that you enjoy some of the stories and the morals and lessons they bring us.,.,
MOIRA