Watch Angel




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" August 12, 2004 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator @ write2theheart.com It was only a watch, but it had brought comfort to Ellie during a dark time in her life. When the watch seemed broken, it once again brought comfort into her life. 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 The Watch and the Angel (Time to Heal) Ellie Braun-Haley After my only son, Jason, was killed in an automobile accident his friends and fellow athletes at the track club searched for ways to honor him. They had a track named after him and one Christmas they gave me a watch. The club's logo was a big green frog. The frog was not ordinary. He wore track clothes (a white tee shirt and dark shorts). On my watch he was running, upright on two legs. It made me smile as I remembered Jason running. How my son loved running! I treasured the watch. I slept with it on. I took care of it and for some reason it gave me comfort to have it. It gave me a feeling of connection. Jason had been killed in 1989 and in February of 2000 I still had the watch and would wear no other. Of course it had been through new watchbands and new batteries so it still looked great. During the summer of 2000 the watch stopped and I knew it must need a new battery so we drove into a small town near us to have a jeweler install one. Now I need to back up a wee bit here to tell you that at some point in early 2000 I started taking on too many jobs, one of which was a course in Skills Training for one of my jobs. By June, the load had increased even further as I took on two large community service projects. I found myself snapping a bit at people and in my mind people around me were just not working hard enough. I began carrying some of their load. Well community service work is important to our spiritual health, but not when our own health is at stake. Finally the day came when my body gave me definite signals that I was not in good health. (Likely I had earlier messages which I ignored!) I woke up that morning and put on my watch. It was that special watch I mentioned. The watch had stopped. I did not realize that my own body was also about to go on strike. My husband, Shawn, and I drove into town to run some errands to include the purchase a new watch battery. En route to town I suddenly began to cry. Shawn looked at me with concern, "Honey, what is the matter,” he asked. Tears pouring down my face I answered, "I don't know," and truly I had no idea what was happening. We arrived in town and began taking care of the errands. At the jewelry shop I was told that the eight-year-old watch was beyond repair. "I'm sorry, it's toast!" was the explanation given me by the clerk. "Well give it a new battery,” I instructed her. "You don't understand," she said. "The watch is dead and can not be repaired. We can put new insides into it for $60.00." Suddenly I felt as though I was going to break down and cry again. "This is ridiculous," I thought to myself. I got out of the jewelry store quickly before the tears started. We finished our errands and headed home. As we drove along I suddenly began crying. "You're crying again. What is the matter?" Shawn asked My answer was the same as before. I honestly did not know why I was crying. By the time we arrived at the house we both came to the same conclusion. I was overworked and the stress was causing a burn out. Parts of me were starting to close down in protest. I was soon to discover just how tough it is to function when your brain and memory seem separated or disconnected. I would turn on water and walk away completely forgetting it. I must say that the laundry room floor was constantly cleaned by the many times that I flooded that room! It got especially clean one day when we drove into town and while we were shopping I suddenly remembered I had left water running! I had to write down everything because my memory had almost completely closed down. The next six weeks were a trying time for someone who thrives on being busy. I was so fortunate to have the support and understanding of my husband. He had also done one other loving thing. He had gone out and ordered a new watch for me. Not long after that day, the one where I just cried for no apparent reason, Shawn came home with a new watch for me. The track club coach would not accept any money for the new watch. It was another gift, in memory of my son. I still had the broken watch in my hand bag and I reached in to get it and put it somewhere. I knew I would be unable to throw it away, so I intended on setting it safely into a drawer. The watch was running! I looked at it and felt a bit of a jolt followed by a warm rush of happiness. I looked skyward, "Oh God, you knew how much this watch meant and you gave it back to me. Oh thank you so much!" It was a ray of sunshine during a time when I really needed a lift. The watch continued to work through out July and into August. I remember sometime in mid August thinking, "Wow, I think my mind and brain are working together again.!" I could accomplish more than one thing a day and I was feeling quite good. Well the day that I decided that I was truly recuperated, the watch stopped. I knew it would not run again and I knew then that it had been given back to me at a time when I just needed a little ray of light, a little burst of sunshine in a tear filled, confusing time. I smiled, grateful for that gift. I knew that God had sent his angels to start it up for me. It was something I needed at that time. I smiled, and was grateful Ellie Braun-Haley shaley @ telusplanet.net 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. Postscript: I find it is funny that one of the things that was overloading me at the time of my burn out was a training course I was taking. When I experienced my own burnout, don't you just think it is hilarious that I was on the chapter that teaches about stress and burn out? Ellie has three children, Debbie, Laurie and Jason (who is in heaven). Ellie says writing is more than a hobby to her. She sees it as a way of helping others. She laughs as she says, “I’d starve to death though, if I had to live on what I make from my writing!” Letters From Our Readers Kathy Whirity's "Forever Young At Heart" definitely struck a note of harmony in my own life. It IS true! After turning 50 this year, I too, have found myself scanning over the obituaries in the morning paper ... half anticipating to find a familiar face or name – and sighing with relief when I don't. Thanks Kathy, for the tug at reality, the pause in time to remember the tunes of youth, and the affirmation of a life to live. This was a gracefully written story. Ginger Boda - Rhymerbabe @ aol.com http://www.daily-blessings.com/bless392.htm/What Counts Forever Young at Heart by Kathy Whirity was so well done. I am sure it brought many memories of first loves to most of her readers. I, too, have been married to the love of my life for 27 years (Friday, August 13th-we were married on a Friday too!) but every once in awhile a thought will flit across a corner of my memory of that one I once thought was the only one. Some of the memories are bittersweet--maybe that's a story that I should write someday too. Thanks for the memories, Kathy. 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 Robert Henderson David Habighurst 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 Copyright © 2004, Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. 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