Lost/Be There




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" January 7, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this free 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. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ Today there are two great stories! Annettee has a way of taking everyday doubts and fears and using them to turn our eyes and hearts to God. Steve challenges us to fully be there wherever we find ourselves. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ Lost In The Crowd By Annettee Budzben ------------------------------------------------------------- "... A large crowd followed and pressed around him." Mark 5:24 (NIV) Finding your way through a crowd can be a challenging feat. When one of my son's was very young we lost him in a crowd. One of the Chicago Cubs was visiting a store only a few blocks from our home. I had three sons, and they were avid baseball fans. They were looking forward to seeing a baseball star! So, we walked the boys over to the local ice cream store to see this giant. The streets were blocked off and the crowd was very thick; it was hard to hold on to each other. Somehow in the midst of trying to fight our way through this crowd my youngest son got lost. I remember the panic I felt when I looked at my niece as she said, "I thought he was with you." We could barely find our way to get to the police, who appeared to be overwhelmed themselves, with trying to control this crowd. On top of this chaos, it started pouring down rain. People were running for cover to their cars and jamming inside the ice cream shop. I frantically searched the streets for my young one, as I prayed to the Lord to help me find him. I fought against the people as they struggled to find their place in line; I battled the crowd of doubt as the thought, "What if I don't find him," kept racing through my mind. Next were the crowd of opinions, " How could you lose your son?" I felt like I was the one lost in the crowd. Then out of the corner of my eye, there he was, sitting on some woman's lap crying for his mother. I was never so relieved in all of my life. Needless to say, we left that crowd promptly. The Bible mentions a woman who had been sick for twelve years. When she heard of the arrival of Jesus she knew if she could just touch Him, that she would be healed. But, a large crowd pressed around Him, and she had to press through this crowd to get to the Lord. She too, must have heard the opinions of others, and had her doubts about finding her way to Him. But, she was determined to press her way through the crowd to find the Son of God; just as I pressed through the crowd and found my son. It is lonely when we feel like we are lost in the crowd of doubt and fear, pressing toward our goals, just as I felt that day. But, we can't let the opinion of others, or the doubts of our mind, stop us from being victorious. We must replace those thoughts of doubt and fear with, hopeful thoughts of help through Jesus Christ, no matter how long we feel lost in the crowd. Annettee Budzban aheartwrites2u @ aol.com (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) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Annettee Budzban lives in Wildwood, IL and is the author of the devotional book, Life Changing Inspirations. She has a writing ministry called , "Writings Form The Heart." and sends her devotions to friends and others. she has been published on several e-zines and magazines. She writes a weekly devotional column for her local paper. -------------------------------------------------------------- Be There By Steve Goodier -------------------------------------------------------------- A delightful story is told about a young man who applied for a job as a telegraph operator. He answered an ad in the newspaper and went to the telegraph office to await an interview. Though he knew Morse Code and was qualified in every other way, seven other applicants were also waiting in the large, noisy office. He saw customers coming and going and heard a telegraph clacking away in the background. He also noticed a sign on the receptionist's counter instructing applicants to fill out a form and wait to be summoned to an inner office for an interview. He filled out the form and sat down to wait. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering why he had been so bold. They talked among themselves and finally determined that, since nobody had been summoned to interview yet, the man would likely be reprimanded for not following instructions and possibly disqualified for the job. Within a few minutes, however, the young man emerged from the inner office escorted by the interviewer, who announced to the other applicants, "Thank you all very much for coming, but the job has just been filled." They were all confused and one man spoke up: "Wait a minute -- I don't understand. We've been waiting longer than he and we never even got a chance to be interviewed." The employer responded, "All the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message: 'If you understand this, then come right in. The job is yours.' So you see, all of you were summoned, but HE heard and understood!" This man knew a valuable life-lesson that most people miss: Wherever You Are, Be There. You're there physically, be there emotionally. Be there mentally. Be there attentively. Be there as fully as you can. Wherever you are, be there. When you're completely present, you'll make the most of every minute. And minutes lived fully add up to a life lived magnificently. Steve Goodier © 2002 LifeSupport @ worldnet.att.net http://www.LifeSupportSystem.com -------------------------------------------------------------- I have published seven books and have been featured in Reader's Digest and Chicken Soup for the Soul. The Life Support System newsletter and column gives readers a daily dose of life, love and laughter while offering tools that help readers build whole and happy lives. -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- Pamela's story was wonderful! I have become email friends with her and would love to live closer, for she is such a nice person; I would love to receive visits from her! I bet my dog Missy would get along swell with her veterinarian husband too!!! Her families kindness is visible through her stories! Betty King ****** I always look forward to Pamela's stories. She has such a soothing way with words. Wouldn't it be fun to take a peek in her household? I bet there is always something going on. Kim --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner We are praising God! Tim had a blowout going to and from Starkville, there was no casualty except for the tire. We are always humbled and blessed to see God's protection on our children. So, with new tires and a truckload of personal belongings he is off to college again. Our out of state relatives who came for the Christmas and New Year holidays have left to return home. One had brought her very old, very sick cat with her to have it put to sleep. She put it in a plastic ware container and buried it in my backyard. If she burped it properly, that cat should be fresh till the Lord returns. God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2002 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.