Flag Waving




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" July 3, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ With the Fourth upon us, Betty reminds not to take our freedom lightly and to remember how it was acquired. ------------------------------------------------------------ "Flag Waving Kind' a People" By Betty King ------------------------------------------------------------ I've always said you can find real people at the 'Mart' stores. You know, God fearing, flag waving, penny pinching, church going kind' a people. Not the kind that think they have to wear name brand clothes and leave the house with every hair in place. Oh, don't get me wrong, those people are alright kind of folks. It's just those 'backbone' of the country type people that I notice frequent the 'Mart' stores; the kind you wouldn't mind have living next door to you. I've noticed some people go there just to hang out, see friends and shoot the breeze. There is always the guy wearing his overalls, sporting a jovial laugh hanging out in the aisles somewhere. Then there's the mom with a kid in the shopping basket, and one or two others playing tag with each other as she stands, mauling over her life and comparing it with a friend she's met up with. They're picking up life's necessities, verbal ones that is. People, especially mothers of toddlers, need some adult conversation from time to time; what better place to pick it up than in an aisle of a 'Mart' store. Teenagers, too, know they can catch up with a friend of the same or opposite sex at a 'Mart' store, if they head in that direction and hang out long enough. Some people claim to hate the 'Mart' stores, but admit they stop in occasionally just to pick up supplies for living. They park, run in, quickly pick up what's on their list, and then hurriedly head for the check out lanes. Some people are too busy to enjoy living; they rush through life missing what others have to share. They don't see life or feel life, they just live life. Talk about real life and good flag waving kinds of people; that reminds me of a sight I saw while living in Phoenix Arizona. My husband, the ever patient shopper, and I headed out to do our necessity shopping and before we even pulled into the parking lot we saw it. Right there in the dark of night were these magnificent lights; it was a sight to behold! "Oh my look at that," I exclaimed to Bill. "Boy that's sure something isn't it," he said. Bill parked and proceeded to get my three-wheel motorized scooter out of the back of the van for me. I just sat there admiring the site until he came around to the side door with my transportation. He got me situated on my scooter and we headed straight for the attraction. "Oh my, isn't that something, Bill!" "It sure is," he added. Others were meandering over to take a look. People's eyes were wide and their jaws dropped a bit at the sight of such a patriotic display. Even those who weren't edging closer to take a better look were obviously taken by the patriotism being shown in front of the 'Mart' store. Now I'm a bit inquisitive and have a mind of an explorative nature. Others might say I'm a bit nosy; yet I realize I spent too many years hurrying by. Now that I'm older and MS has taken up residence in my body I realize how short life is. I don't just want to live life, I want to really see it and feel it. So I struck up a conversation with the two men standing beside this amazing truck. "Is this sponsored by the store," I questioned? "No, it was my idea, mine and another guys," he volunteered "We do have a sponsor though; we take the truck around and park it at different places on our own time just to show patriotism," he added proudly. The guys were more than delighted to answer all my questions. They had used thousands of red, white and blue Christmas lights to cover that eighteen wheel truck. It was one of the most spectacular displays of the American Flag that I have ever seen. They knew when they parked that truck there that real flag waving; God loving, patriotic citizens would see it and appreciate it. They knew people like themselves, good old flag waving kind' a people would appreciate patriotism. They also knew those were the kind' a people who would want to send donations to those poor people in New York who know just how precious life is. We all became patriotic when 9-11 happened, we all went out and bought new flags and displayed them proudly. All too soon, though, people crawled back into their routine of taking life and freedom for granted. Most took down their flags and tucked them away in a closet somewhere. Oh, they bring them out on special occasions; they will say the pledge of allegiance at ballgames and every 9-11 they will remember. But what if it had been your mother, father, child or loved one who fell that fateful day, could you ever tuck away the memory? Our freedom is something we should never forget, tuck away or take lightly. Someone somewhere paid the price for your freedom; always remember to be thankful. Raise the flag proudly placing your hand over your heart when you say the pledge. Breathe a prayer to God, thanking Him for all those who paid the price that your flag can fly over a great country like this United States of America. Watch the fireworks display and let that tear dribble out of your eye and down your cheek unembarrassed. Allow yourself to feel that swelling up within your chest - be proud you're an American! Betty King baking2 @ charter.net You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Betty King is a freelance writer and author of two books, It Takes Two Mountains to make a Valley, and its sequel soon to be released, But-It Was in the Valleys I Grew. She has a story in Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul and one in Alice Gray's book, Stories from a Soldiers Heart. She writes a newspaper column, Betty's Points to Ponder. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- I enjoyed Diane's story about bedtime routines. They are comforting at the end of a busy day. With the kids married there are no longer prayers, kissed and hugs, but without realizing it, I have fallen into a routine for myself. Now I can slather lotion on my poor dry body, try a facial without scaring anybody. But that cup of tea just says the end of the day is here and now I can relax. Kim --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur 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. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I had offered my sons the old bunk beds that had graced their bedroom for so many years. No one wanted those ugly old beds. I decided to paint them and put them up in the back bedroom as single beds. I painted them cream and trimmed them in Christmas green. They turned out better than I expected. So of course, now I have offers to take them off my hands. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 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.