Big Mac




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" June 29, 2004 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator @ write2theheart.com. Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart." All new subscribers will receive a free downloadable copy of the e- cookbook, "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover." To join, send an e-mail with subscribe written in the subject line to: subscribe-me @ write2theheart.com. *Advertisement* Tired of high cable bills? You may want to consider Dish Network. Right now you get free installation and free equipment when you sign up for one year of programming. You can get more programming than what is offered by most cable companies for less. Compare what you now have with the Dish Network programming packages at: http://cognigen.net/dish/?cbspeir Do you have a heart-touching or inspiring story to share? Send it in the body of a plain email, no graphic or colorful back- grounds please. Write 'submission' in the subject line. Don't forget to write a brief bio to introduce yourself to our readers. You may include your family friendly websites, information on your books, newsletters, and upcoming projects. Email your submission to: moderator @ write2theheart.com. We always love to hear stories from new, first time writers. Beginning in July, there will be a writer’s appreciation gift of a pen. There will be a limit of three per writer. Bob has been friend and rescuer to many dogs and cats. When he sees an animal in distress, his heart melts and he does his best to turn the situation around. Then he blesses us with his wonderful stories. Big Mac By Bob Shaw It was in the early '80's, and I'd been out of work for some time. Like a lot of others, I decided to head for the booming job market in Texas. I figured it wouldn't take long to find something, and send for the family. I'd been there for a few days, and landed one of those "sort of a jobs," but it kept the wolf away from the door. At least there was a door. It wasn't long before I got to feeling a lot lonely and a bit homesick, and as I was leaving the grocery store one day, I noticed a flier on the bulletin board, Red Bird Dog for sale. It had been a year since I'd lost my Brandy, an Irish Setter, and was curious to see this one. I figured it might be nice to pet and visit it. Always been a sucker for a Dog. When I got to the address, I asked to see the Dog, and was taken to the back yard. He wasn't what I expected. The Dog was on a chain in a fenced yard, terribly thin, and hadn't been groomed in a long time, if ever. He could have been a beautiful Irish Setter, but instead, he was a frightened, and I suspected, a mistreated and abused animal. The young teen that showed him to me said he probably wouldn't come to me, and shied away from his owner. I asked if I could be alone with him for awhile, and the boy said "Sure, but it won't do any good." I went to where he could reach me on his chain, and sat down. I talked in a low smooth voice, trying to coax him to me. Finally, I just sat and waited. Little by little, he came closer. He sniffed my hand, and I started talking to him. He was shaking pretty bad, and wasn't used to a gentle touch, but I could see something stirring in those big brown eyes that might be a glimmer of hope. We spent some more time together, and I knew I wouldn't be able to leave him there. I paid for him, and took him back to the small apartment. I knew this would be another problem, but it was still better than the life he knew. I had the next few days off, so it would be a good time to get to know each other. I stopped at the local corner store for some dog food, and McD's for supper, and took him to what I figured, was his first real home. Then the battle began. It was bath time. By the time I finished, we were both soaked, and he wasn't sure if he'd found a friend, or another tormenter. With a gentle touch, and a calm voice, we finally emerged from the bath room with something that looked more like a dog than a briar patch and tangle. By the time I'd finished his grooming, he'd transformed into a beautiful dog, skinny, but beautiful. I had to find a name for him. Couldn't just keep calling him Dog. As I looked toward the table, I spotted the remains of supper, and had his name. He was Big Mac. I always figured if he could have talked, he'd probably say he was glad I didn't have Chicken Nuggets that night. As the days went by, Mac settled in to his new life. I knew the apartment was hard on him, and I had to do something to find him a good home. I asked around at work, and found a family that was looking for a dog. She was a single mother, trying to raise a daughter, and wanted a dog to keep her company. The little girl had been wanting a dog for quite a while, and I asked the mother if they could come by to see Mac. When they got to my place, he was groomed and fed, and looked more like the dog he was born to be. When the little girl saw him, she just got on her knees and said in a barely audible voice, "Oh Momma, he's so beautiful." Mac hesitated, then walked over to her. She put her arms around his big hairy neck, and Mac put his head over her shoulder in something like an embrace that seemed to last forever. Her mom looked at me with tears in her eyes, and asked me how much I wanted for him. I told her that what I'd seen, couldn't be bought with money. A Dog will choose his master. They went home together, both with their dreams. She had her dog, and Mac had his own kid. They spent many happy years together, each loving and protecting the other. Bob Shaw CapeRabbit @ SEMO.Net Bob and wife Ronni live in the Cape Girardeau, Missouri area. You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator @ write2theheart.com. Letters From Our Readers Cheryl, Good luck on meeting your goals, so your friend and you aren't out lunch expenses. LOL! Excellent way of working together with a friend to get things done, that's for sure! I'm sorry to hear Debi Russell's lost her mother and grandmother at one fatal time. "Grannie's One Regret" certainly gives us insight into both women and their lives, and especially insight into the faith Debi's grandmother had for the Lord. Beautiful story for "Preacher" to share at the service, and for Debi to share with us. Patricia Spork pspork @ patriciaspork.us Tatum, TX--south of Longview Wonderful story. What good memories to have of a grandparent. Cheryl, I think you and your friend have a great thing going here. Setting goals and getting together to discuss them is a wonderful way for each of you to be responsible to yourselves and the writing. I think I'll "steal" this idea for myself and a writer friend to use. Blessings, Barbara Deming Author of "The Quilt Maker" Military Prayer Reminder As you read over this list of names, please take a moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Josh Hadassah Chanz Wackerly Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. *Advertisement* Imagine my surprise and dismay to open my e-mail program only to find over 1500 e-mails. (That is not a typo!) All of them were spam and each had a virus attached. I knew I had to do something to get a handle on this or I would be constantly swamped with spam and worried about accidentally opening a virus, trojan or a worm. I purchased MailWasher Pro. I can check and delete e-mail before I download it to my computer. It tells me if the e-mail is from a friend, a known spammer or has a possible virus. I love bouncing e-mails from spammers telling them they have the wrong address! Try it free for 30 days at: http://entier.ecosm.com/link/?wybyoww Cheryl’s Corner If everything goes according to plans being laid now, Tim should be in Iraq January 1st. His main concern has been leaving his guitar behind. He is self-taught and enjoys playing it. He had to go to his annual two weeks training recently. The days were filled with classes and meetings. Coming out of one mandatory class, he saw that the optional meeting with the Chaplin was about to start and hurried to make it in time. Near the end of the meeting, the Chaplin asked if anyone played a musical instrument. Nearly all the men in attendance said, “Speir does.” Upon learning that Tim played the guitar, he asked if he would be interested in playing for the church services in Iraq. Tim told him he would be honored. The Chaplin is arranging for Tim’s guitar to be shipped to Iraq at no expense to him. God is so good. Not only has He arranged for Tim to take his guitar, but is allowing him to use it for His glory also. In Blessing, Cheryl Copyright © 2004, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.