Tested




		-------------------------------------------------------- WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 The Heart" May 9, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 17 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com -------------------------------------------------------- By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of "WRITE 2 THE HEART" ----------------------------------------------------- SPONSORSHIP NOTICE ----------------------------------------------------- For a FREE personalized health analysis profile, visit Teraforma Health, Inc. http://teraformahealth.com/tfh/56094.html Your personal profile results will be shown immediately along with appropriate nutritional recommendations. While there, check out our line of supplements. ----------------------------------------------------- This ezine may be freely forwarded to as many people as you wish, please send the whole issue. ----------------------------------------------------- Do you have a story you would like to share with our readers? We are currently looking for new writers. To submit, send your story as an email to: moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------- Today we have a thought provoking story and poem by Gale. I wonder how many tests I failed? But Gale didn't stop there, she also gave us the added treat of a Mother's Day poem. ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Are We Being Tested? By: Gale Stevens ------------------------------------------------------ There is an old Christmas song that I really like. Its a country song and you don't hear it as much as you used to. The song is about a man that prayed and prayed for God to come visit him. Finally, God spoke to him and told him that He would come to visit the next day. The man was overjoyed and every time there was a knock on the door he rushed to open it. Three times the knock came and three times the man was disappointed. One was an old beggar woman. He took her in and fed her. One was a man with no shoes. He took him in and gave him some shoes. The other, I think, was a person without a coat. So, this man took this person in too. He let him get warm and then he gave him a coat before he left. All day this man waited for God to visit. At the end of the night the man prayed once again. He said, "God, you told me You would come visit and never did. Why did You not come, God?" The part of the song that always gave me goose bumps was this. The Lord's answer to this man. "Three times I knocked on your door. Three times you took Me in." I keep wondering how many of us would have done the same. Too many times I have seen people shun others because the other wasn't dressed as nicely. Or maybe you could tell that the other was a homeless person. Sometimes, I have seen people shunned because of they were ugly, scarred, or deformed. Many times I have wondered, what if this was God? What if He was testing us by coming as this person? Or what if He sent this person so that He could see whether or not we judged them. There are times when I believe that the hardships placed on some people aren't a test for THEM, but a test for the rest of us. When we saw these people did we try to relieve their suffering or did we just turn our head? Did we take the time to see if there was some little something we could do that would help? Too many times I think we fail these tests. Too many times we just think "ewww" and try to get away as fast as possible. It doesn't take much to help many of these people. When our own lives are blessed, what harm does it do us to speak a kind word or to provide a hamburger for this person to eat? How different would our reaction be if we KNEW that this was the Lord in disguise? Or if we KNEW that this was a test sent from Him? I don't think that very many of us could find it within ourselves to be as callous and cold if we knew that it was a test or God in disguise. You can think my ideas silly, I guess. You can keep ignoring the suffering of others. But as my final suggestion to you, I say to you. "Are you SURE that bum isn't God in disguise? Are you 100% sure? Is it worth the risk to act as if it isn't?" The Test By: Gale Stevens There are people in this world that suffer For some of them, life couldn't be rougher Sometimes we blame them for not trying We ignore the fact that they are crying We turn our heads and we walk away Arrogant in the fact that we don't live that way We take pride that we have done better Take pride in our hundred dollar sweater But good things come only because you are blessed And what if this other person's sorrow is your test? Is your grade on this test an A or an F? How could you walk away like you were deaf? Couldn't your soul hear the other person's pain? Couldn't you see they were cold and wet from the rain? When you compare yourself to these poor souls Remember it could have been you paying these tolls But for the grace of God and His blessings you've received There goes you, both lost in this world and deceived ------------------------------------------------------ Mother By: Gale Stevens ------------------------------------------------------ Whenever there was trouble in my world, It was you that was always right there. Whenever I felt small and all alone, It was you who always said, "I care". There has never been a time that I didn't know, That your love for me would never die. For the your love for me would always show, When you would hold me and let me cry. So many things you have done for me, And it never seemed to be too much. There were so many times you comforted me, With your sweet and most gentle touch. I know the things you have done for me, Could never have been done by another. I want to take the time to let you know, I am so very grateful, that you are my Mother. Gale Stevens Galetexasbelle @ cs.com ----------------------------------------------------- Gale has written "Like A Hug From Heaven" and "The Secret Of My No Worry Success" as well as numerous poems. New subscribers will find her work on our web site in the archives. ------------------------------------------------------------ From Our Readers ----------------------------------------------------------- That was a sweet story. It reminds me of my oldest daughter's son and his fascination with Star Wars. He too had all of the action figures. I sent the story to my daughter, Cathy. She'll love it. I loved it too. Bless you, Pat I see I'm not the only one who has raised a fanatical Star Wars fan. My brother, Jason, got my kids started on it and now we've probably invested thousands of dollars in little plastic figures and ships (both old and new). I keep thinking that Aaron will grow out of this, but since my brother turned 30 this year, and is still enthralled with the whole thing, I guess we're in it for the long haul. HA! Tammy ----------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I have been looking for a while now for throw pillows to place on my sofa. I couldn't use just anything, I have a big sectional type that makes a regular throw pillow look like someone dropped a cotton ball on the sofa. I found the perfect thing. A discount store had placemats in just the fun summer theme and colors I wanted. I sewed pairs together and stuffed them with old bed pillows. I now have BIG plaid pillows with ants, caterpillars, dragonflies, butterflies and fruit on them. Very bright and cheerful. Tim and Jeremy are expecting me to any minute to grab their personal bed pillows for the cause. I think they are hoping for what they consider to be a valid excuse to sleep in front of the television. The sofa is so big they both could comfortably. Hmmm, and now that I've added pillows that possibility does seem within their reach. God Bless Cheryl CLASSIFIED ADS ----------------------------------------------------------- Visit TeraForma Health, Inc. http://teraformahealth.com/tfh/56094.html for a FREE personalized body typing. Discover which foods and exercise programs are right for your body type. ----------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2001 Write 2 The Heart ------------------------------------------------------------ All subscriptions sent to your email free of charge.