Tomboy




		WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" May 20, 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." *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. Until the end of June, I have a writer’s appreciation gift of a bookmark and pin for each writer whose story appears in Write 2 the Heart. There is a limit of three per author. There will be a new appreciation gift offered in July. Lyn had to make a decision; either fear had to go or her lifestyle had to change. As she followed God’s lead, she discovered more changes that she needed to make in her life. The Tomboy By Lyn Chaffart I'm a tomboy, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. As a child, instead of playing dolls or hopscotch with the rest of the girls, I spent recess "galloping" across the playground as a "horse". Instead of lying in the sun and enjoying the ocean, I passed my time at the beach by climbing the cliffs at the edge of the sand. It wasn't that I disliked doing "girl" things. It was simply that I preferred climbing trees, hunting cicada skins, building tumbleweed forts, riding horses-and backpacking! To this day, my idea of a perfect vacation is to slip on my hiking shoes, call the dog, and take off for some remote parts of the world known only to mosquitoes. Having grown up in the Los Angeles area, the most logical hiking spots were in the San Angeles Mountains. The trails in the area often crisscross streams and creeks, which can become quite swollen in the spring. In addition, the frequent forest fires, coupled with the sometimes-heavy winter rains, often result in mud and rock slides that pit the trails with washed-out sections. While these may not seem like "big" obstacles to most people, to an 8 year-old girl with a heavy backpack, fording swollen streams and crossing mudslides were ominous undertakings. It was then that I learned I had a BIG desire to maintain my body in ONE PIECE! This observation immediately gave birth to a fear of falling, and this fear mushroomed with each slippery log, each set of too-widely spaced moss-covered rocks, and each washed-out section of the trail. Before long, it was also interfering with horseback riding, rock climbing, and sadly, even tree climbing! It was keeping me from being a tomboy! Until one day, that is. We had come to a particularly wide section of washed-out trail. As I watched the older kids pick their way from one shifty-looking foothold to another, I realized there was no way I would ever make it across. It was then that I knew I had to make a decision: Either I gave up my fear of falling, or I gave up being a tomboy! The choice was clear: Fear had to go! So I started out, one foot at a time: You can do it! You can do it! I didn't allow myself to look up or down. I didn't even allow myself to look ahead. I only allowed myself to concentrate on the next step. Needless to say, I made it across that "chasm" unscathed. And by handling the next swollen stream and scary section of the trail in the same manner, I slowly overcame my fear of falling. The inner strength I discovered that day served me well throughout my childhood, and nothing ever again came between me and being a tomboy! As life went on, however, I quickly learned that most problems are bigger than what I could conquer on my own. For example, it didn't matter how much inner strength I had, it couldn't change the fact that I hated my job. It couldn't heal my husband's back pain. It couldn't change my children's defiant behavior, or make them do better with their schoolwork. This lack of control frustrated me beyond comprehension. Then I learned that I did have something within that was strong enough to combat even the worst situation. I had asked Jesus into my heart, and now HE resided there! All I had to do was rely on Him. I had to let Him hold my hand! But after relying on my own strength for so many years, it was hard to relinquish control. Just like my fear of falling nearly ripped away my childhood desire to be a tomboy, control now threatened to snatch my ability to overcome the now-bigger obstacles. I was again faced with a decision: Give up, or relinquish control. Again, the choice was clear: Control had to go! So I started out. One step at a time: I can do ALL things- THROUGH CHRIST! I couldn't allow myself to look at the situation-the illness, my children's behavior, the reality of a stressful job. I couldn't even allow myself to look ahead to what could be. I had to learn to focus on one step at a time, trusting Jesus with the rest. Where I once had reached inside for inner strength, I now reached inside for Jesus' strength! By relying on Jesus for each situation that arises, my much- bigger problems no longer have the ability to make me afraid. I have once again conquered fear-and concern, worry, anxiety, apprehension, and even my fretfulness! As long as I rest in the arms of Christ, nothing will ever again come between me and being-A Tomboy for Christ! God bless each one of you! Lyn Chaffart lyn@answers2prayer.org A part-time Speech Pathologist, Lyn is also a homeschooling mom who writes devotionals and short stories on the side. She serves as the director of mini-sermons for Answers2Prayer Ministries (www.Answers2Prayer.org) and is webmaster for Scriptural Nuggets (www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/). Besides writing for Answers2Prayer, Lyn has also written devotionals and stories for Eternal Link, Write2theHeart, the Sand Dollar, Gospelines, Moments of Reflection, Storytime Tapestry, and 2theHeart. 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 I am so sorry about Patricia’s son. I know I would have withdrawn from life over the same circumstance. She is so blessed to have a daughter that knew just what she needed to get her involved again. Godly wisdom truly came through that young woman! Carol Although I have read "Loss Comfort & Healing from Animal Sightings" by Patricia Spork, I am still amazed at Patricia's ability to share how the loss of her son, Casey, has touched her life. In her piece here about Patience, she offers all readers the hope that there is something or someone who can ease the pain of loss. Thank you for printing her words. Barbara Deming Author of "The Quilt Maker” Dear Cheryl, Thank you for publishing my story "Gifts of Patience" in WRITE 2 THE HEART. I've been touched by every story shared in this newsletter since subscribing. I hope my story about Patience touched someone as well. Kindest regards, Patricia www.patriciaspork.us 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 Thaddeaus Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Eric Hernandez Kristin Danielson Ken Prieur Ryan Jonathan P. Wells Larry Miele Daniel Amy John Joanne Gary Boardwine Josh Hadassah 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 on the server before it hits 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 Tim has learned that he will probably be heading to Iraq in December. His cousin Todd will be going also. I have some absolutely wonderful news! Tim has asked Kristen to marry him, and she said yes. David and I are so pleased. They have decided not to set a date until he returns from his tour in the Middle East. I am in the process of learning how to take care of Write 2 the Heart’s website. Poor David has so much to do right now he can’t get to everything, so I thought I would take this over. I never really wanted to have to learn to do this, but anytime I say never, look out. One of the things I would like to do is to create a page where we could write our well wishes and encouragement to our troops. I am asking everyone who sent names to go on our prayer list to please send a picture. If you can’t send it by e-mail, please drop me an e-mail and I will make arrangements for you to mail it to me. God bless you! 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.