Happy National Day Of Prayer And Mother's Day... :) Shangy! >Here are the details on our ShangyFunList: Group Web Site: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/ShangyFunList.html Group email address: bcrsystems@earthlink.net ================ *~* Please Consider Giving To ShangralaFamilyFun.com :) The cost of the website has gone up dramatically due to the ever increasingly wonderful pages and photos being added each week to entertain you and our fellow Christian families. If every one would chip in $25 or more, we'd be good for the whole year! So Please - I need your help today! "We are each of us angels with but one wing, and can only fly by embracing each other" -Luciano Decrescenzo ~ CALLING ALL CARING ANGELS ~ *~* WE NEED CARING And SHARING Angels *~* >Do You Want To Be A Shangrala Angel? If you'd like to help and be counted as a Shangrala Angel, the easiest way to do that is through online giving. It is easy to use, and most of all, it is secure. Please visit the site, scroll down and click on the donate button. A Secure PAYPAL form page comes up. NOTE: Paypal will generate a 'Quantity 1' and 'Price per item' form. Just ignore the price per item and put whatever it is you desire to give in there. With Paypal, you will have your normal receipt for your 'payment' donation in USD (United States Dollars). You can put a memo in there if you'd like. Any amount is greatly appreciated and needed! PLEASE Visit Shangrala to Help: http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/index.html OR If you'd rather send us a donation, Please MAIL it here: Elrhea Bigham 502 S. Harrison Van Wert, OH 45891 *~* THANK YOU! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR GIFT! ================ *~* A REMINDER: PLEASE Send me sweet, interesting, funny, inspiring, family type forwards ANY TIME here... bcrsystems@earthlink.net I Need them, Love them, Use them, and Share them! THANK YOU!! AND For Facebook Users: Please Like Me here... http://tinyurl.com/cma6all AND Please Share This email with All Your Friends And Family! ^~^ May God SUPER BLESS You As You Do! THANK YOU! -<>- * NOTE: An easy way to adjust the size of print in email or any page is to hold down the Ctrl tab while moving the scroll button on the mouse. You can also use the keyboard to change the font size in your web browser or emails. Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the + key for larger text or the - key for smaller text! ================ *~* Wishing You A Happy, Safe And Blessed Mother's Day Weekend! :) .=.A.=. __.=./\ / \ /\.=.__ (-.'-; | | ;-'.-) \ `\/ \/` / ; `\ /` ; | | | | ;,"-.-"-.-",; \\/^\ /^\// \ ` / jgs ',___,' \\V// ||| ||| ||| >-->2 HOT Off The 'Shangy' Press :) Our 1st piping hot new page is from our friends WilmaP and LouiseAu. It is one that will give you plenty of laughs for your day. Just when you thought you had seen it all, along comes this to surprise and amuse you... Radical Room Decor http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/radicaldecor.html --- ...LOL! Amazing! Thanks Ladies! Our 2nd smoking hot new page is from our friend MariT. It is for all our bird lovers out there. Our backyard friends were captured up close enjoying a woman's generosity. They amazed her so much she set up her own little 'feeder cam' and got some excellent shots of them! Be sure to check this and the interesting video out here... _.----._ ,'.::.--..:._ /::/_,-;._.:._.;,-=_(.-' __ `._ ,;' _..-(((('' .,-'' `-._ _,'<.-'' _..``'.'`-'`. ` _.-((((_..--'' \ \ `.`. -' _.``' \ ` SSt ,' Bird Feeder Birds! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/birdfeeder.html --- ...Wow! Simply stunning photos! Thanks Mari! -<>- *~* We Had A Fabulous Month Of Caring And Sharing Last Month! ,.%` ,;%%', __%%%;, ,%%%\___/%%% ' % \ %% _ %_-%% %%,' %/%%% \,%%%%;%_/%% ,%/% '%%;\%%% ;%, `;' `%-\_\ \%;_%/% ,,%_/%\|\%%`% %,%%|\%\,' `%% |-%%\%\%%% | %-_\%\`_', | '%`%'% | ,%%%%%, _____O_____ ,%%%` /\_________/\ /\/ \/\ /\/ ~;@;~ \/\ /\/ .-_-. \/\ /\/ : ('< : \/\ /\/ '.(_).' \/\ \/: :\/ \ ~;@;~ o ~;@;~ / '. .' '._______.' lc Be Sure To Visit And SHARE These With Your Friends and Family: Aging With Grace! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/aging.html Vivacious Exotic Flowers! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/vivaciousflowers.html You Are Blessed! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blessed.html Right Angle Photography 8! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/anglephoto8.html In The Wild With Hannes Lochner! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/inthewild2.html Largest Redwood Carving! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/largestcarving.html Got A Nanosecond 11? http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/nano11.html Thoughts Into Action 13! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/action13.html Little Known Things! http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/littleknown.html ___ / _ \\ ,, /=(_)=\\// \ =(_) (O} \_____\\ .--. Jonathon R. Oglesbee /=(_)\\\ .'_\/_'. \____/// '. /\ .' aka JRO ()) "||" || /\ /\ ||//\) (/\\||/ ____________\||/________________________________ * May God Abundantly Bless All Our Sweet Contributors! * =========================================================== >-->From Heartwarmers: "A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done." Happy Mother's Day! (Is it our imagination, or did the holiday seem to sneak up on us this year?) Sherry was faced with hardships, but finally got her miracle. You'll enjoy today's hopeful story. __ Happy Mother's Day \_/ ((6} Relax and smell --(_)-- )( some roses. / \ \(\) \.'-b____q <@l> <@l><@l> ;;---------;; \)/ \(/ \(/ """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""ldb >FINALLY, A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY by Sherry A. Smith I am sitting here still sometimes pinching myself, still awed over my miracle. Often overwhelmed with happiness over my miracle. Mother's Day this year is finally going to be a happy day. For many years it wasn't. When I was 22 years old, I found out I was pregnant. I was SO happy. I made so many plans, saw my doctor, ate well and did everything I was supposed to do. But then, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, I lost my baby. I was just 21 weeks pregnant when my little boy, Robert, was born way too soon for unknown reasons. He held on for 50 minutes and then died in my arms. It was the most devastating loss I'd ever been through. That was in 1991. Mother's Day was always especially difficult because it reminded me more of the future I'd lost with my baby than any other holiday. I always felt like something was missing from my life and though I have nieces and nephews that I love very much, it just wasn't the same as having a baby of my own. I tried to get pregnant again but it just didn't happen. Then, I found out a few years later that I have Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and the doctors said I'd never get pregnant again. It took a long time but I eventually accepted this, dealt with the loss of my son the best I could, and got on with life. In 1995, I met my current husband, Kenny, whom I've been married to for more than 13 years now. On January 21, 2009, I went to my doctor because I just hadn't felt well for a month. I got a big surprise. My doctor said, "You're pregnant!" Kenny and I were shocked to say the least. I was also VERY worried that something would go wrong and I'd lose this baby too, but I did everything I could, had a lot of special tests and throughout my pregnancy things went fine, for the most part. I kept hoping and praying this baby, whom I learned at 16 weeks was a boy, would live because I knew that at age 40 and with both PCOS and type 2 diabetes, this was my last chance to have a baby of my own. I also didn't think I could handle losing another baby. On September 10, 2009 at 5:17pm, our beautiful baby was born. At age 56, Kenny became a father and at almost 41 years old I became a mother. What a joy it was to hear his first cries and to know that he was healthy and alive! His name is also Kenny and he's a beautiful baby and other than having congenital cataracts and needing 5 eye surgeries, he is doing very well. I so look forward to celebrating Mother's Day this year and am so thankful for my little miracle. It is my hope and prayer that other couples that have been told they'll never have a baby will one day get their miracle, even if it happens later in life. -- Sherry A. Smith __________________________________________________ Sherry say, "I live in Maryland, with my husband, Kenny, my son, Kenny and several cats. I like to write and especially enjoy pen-palling the old fashioned (snail mail) way." Here is the link to Baby Kenny's web site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/babykenny -<>- _.--. ;.-'i.`._.--, {(;{} y`-.`,_`--. <`~;`-( _.'`.~`.' \ \ `i.' ` Y },-,) .j~. | ; / _j\ <_ `! ;_.'( / >-, `---.,' .'-j / `. ,<_ ( `. \ `=-j\ `-ALWAYS BY MY SIDE by James Colasanti Jr. "Hey Mom, I'm on my way." The florist had your Mother's Day bouquet of white roses ready for me -- bundled in bright blue tissue paper. I will put them in water immediately when I arrive. I know they are your favorite and these are especially grand. I picked them out myself. And you know, there's nothing quite like the sweet scent of rose petals perfuming the car as I drive. I can remember our house at 15 South Chase Street being the showplace of our neighborhood. The tall three-story house with gray asphalt shingles and white painted trim was kept immaculate by you and Dad. Tulips of various colors bloomed early every spring -- tall gladiolas were in blossom during the summer, and patches of big brightly-colored orange pumpkins filled the side yard in the fall. People would slow down to a crawl in their cars and sometimes stop just to get an eyefull of the splendor. And they would always see you out there with your scissors, cutting a fresh bouquet for the house. Every Sunday afternoon I would sit with you and Aunt Tina in the kitchen eating lemons -- still one of my favorite fruits. It was always a calming and reflective time when we would talk about the problems in the world and we would then devise a plan to solve them. Often a simple solution would be found for what we thought was an insurmountable problem. And you would often tell me, "There is not a problem that doesn't have a solution." Do you remember the Dracula cape you made for me for Halloween when I was 12? Your best friend, Minnie, helped you cut it out, fit it, and sew it up for me in our dining room/sewing room two weeks before the day I was to wear it to school. The black satin lining on that cape looked especially scary during trick or treat. I can still wear it but the collar is too small for my neck without an extender. And then there was the time I was the mummy in third grade and my bandages unraveled long before the school day had finished. That ancient Singer sewing machine cranked out a slew of costumes for me, dresses for you, and shirts, coats, and even a tie or two for Dad. Halloween was always one of my favorite holiday occasions with Christmas being the first. And you always did your best to make them special for us. And who could forget the Halloween night that Karl and I spent sleeping in the Johnstown Cemetery with my first dog, Butchy. I don't think two guys and a dog have ever been more scared. But most of all, Mom, I remember the food. The great Sicilian country-style meatballs with the cheese centers that oozed in your mouth when you bit into them. The many, many layers of lasagna stuffed with different meats and cheeses and smothered with homemade tomato sauce. I miss the pickled pepper salad, also homemade, with hot peppers, cauliflowers, carrots, broccoli, and celery stalks -- all freshly picked for our backyard garden. It was the fitting appetizer to any meal you served. I miss the melt-in-your-mouth breaded veal cutlets as well as your hazelnut canoli-cream cake. My mouth is beginning to water just thinking about them. But most of all, I miss the "culinary smells." I miss the pungent aroma of garlic wafting under my bedroom door early on Sunday mornings; the tangy steam of freshly-made tomato sauce bubbling on the stove; and the hearty smokiness of meats and bacon roasting in the oven. Over the years, all of these have made an indelible impression on my mealtime memories. I can remember the day I left for Syracuse University. I was the only one in our family to ever attend college. You took me aside and whispered in my ear, "Everything you do is a self-portrait of the person doing it. Make it a picture you'll want to hang in your gallery forever." Thank you for sharing that, and I want you to know that I have always tried to live up to your expectations. And Mom, I know I have told you this many times before, "Thank you for getting me Butchy." She was the best dog a fella could ever have. She was my big sister, my best friend, and a companion like no other. I always cherished the moments growing up with her. She was always by my side -- my guardian and my shadow. I waved to Mr. Parker as I pulled into the drive. It's good to see he is still here taking care of the place for you. He does a wonderful job keeping the grounds manicured neatly with everything in its place. I am always impressed every time I come here. He has left some water in your vase so I can quickly unbundle your roses and freshen them up. I know they will shimmer and sparkle against the cool gray granite headstone. It has been so many years since I last saw you but every time I'm here I get that uplifting feeling of joy as though I had just been talking with you and solving any problems that I might have had when I arrived. And Mom, I'm sure you really do know what I mean when I say, "I miss you and your love will be in my heart forever. Thanks, Mom, thanks." -- James Colasanti Jr. __________________________________________________ James is the recipient of the Maxwell Medallion given by the Dog Writers Association of America for the Best Essay for 2010. A past president of the Animal Rescue & Foster Program of Greensboro, NC., James shares his home with a housemate and 9 dogs. He is a lead clerk with Barnes & Noble Booksellers. His stories have appeared in Cesar's Way Magazine and many others including the archives of Petwarmer and Heartwarmers. =========================================================== >-->From Daily Encounter: _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ >P.R.A.Y. “Pray without ceasing."1 Prayer. It is the way we communicate with God. It sounds simple enough, until we sit down (or kneel) and try it ourselves. If we’ve never prayed before, we might find ourselves reciting familiar scripture: “Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thine name..." or “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want...". Which in themselves are wonderful examples of prayer. But how can we make our prayers personal and meaningful? The Apostle Paul challenged us to “Pray without ceasing" - Don’t stop praying! But what if I run out of things to say? A simple pattern to follow is in the acronym P.R.A.Y: P-Praise, R-Repent, A-Ask, Y-Yield. P - Praise God for all He has done in your life and the life of those around you. God has done so much for each one of us that once we start praising Him you just might find that the words will begin to flow. "...into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Ps.100:4R - Repent of any sins you have; the wrongs that need to be made right or the good things you should have done but didn’t. Light cannot reside where darkness dwells, so let's make sure that we cleanse our hearts allowing Christ to shine through. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 Jn.1:9A - Ask God to give you an understanding of His will for your life. Ask for His will to be done in the life of others. Ask Him for opportunities to bless others in Jesus Chriost’s name. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11 Y - Yield everything to God. Give yourself, in full surrender, to His will and His way. God wants to give us a full and abundant life which can only happen if we are willing to allow Him to work in and through us. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6 Suggested Prayer: Dear God, you are the Almighty King, yet you are loving and merciful to a sinner like me. Please forgive my sins and cleanse my heart so that it will be an adequate dwelling place for you. Help me to understand that your plans for me are greater than I can imagine. Use me to bless others and allow others to see you alive in me. I surrender all my worldly desires to you so that you might have your perfect way in me. In Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. -<>- .---. .---. ,';' `.';' `.. f :Bo. ` d88: `\ /d88P' `\ ; /d888P' `. ',d8&8P' : ;d8&7' | :8: | qx >The Beauty of Unity “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!"1 The huge redwood trees in California are considered the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are over 300 feet high and over 2,500 years old. It’s amazing to think that some of these trees may have already been around when Jesus walked the earth! One would think that trees so large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. However,the redwoods have a very shallow system of roots. So how do they get so big and stand so long? Although it’s a shallow root system; they all intertwine; they are locked to each other. So, when the storms come and the winds blow, the redwoods stand. And it’s because they don’t stand alone, for all the trees support and protect each other. This is a beautiful image of the unity God calls us to have with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all different and have different opinions, but God has made us one through His Son, Jesus. He has given us each other to learn from one another and, together, stand strong against the attacks Satan may try to use against us. If we are standing alone, it will be easy to fall under the pressures of this world. However, when we lock arms with each other, pray for one another, and encourage one another, we will stand tall just like the beautiful redwood trees. “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"2 Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for bringing me into your family and allowing me to share life with all the brothers and sisters I have through Christ. Allow me to live humbly and always be willing to learn from others, and help me be a presence of peace even during conflict. I pray you would allow us to encourage one another so that, together, we can stand strong in You. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen." 1. Romans 12:16 (NLT). 2. Psalm 133:1. When copying or forwarding include the following: "Daily Encounter by Richard (Dick) Innes (c) 2016 ACTS International. --- _ _|_|_ ,|_| |_|_ || | | |_| || | | | | || | | | | _|| | | | | ||)\ ^ ^ ^ | || | | || | | || | | \\ | \\ / ejm )\ ( / \ \ / \ \ \ \ ...Thursday, May 6, 2021 is National Day of Prayer May God Pour His Blessings Upon You! National Day of Prayer calls on all people of different faiths in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders. It is held on the first Thursday of May each year. Visit Here to see how you can Participate: https://www.nationaldayofprayer.org/ Biden declares National Day of Prayer, omits any reference to ‘God’ in lengthy proclamation. https://tinyurl.com/53amny93 =========================================================== >-->From Archives InspiredBuffalo: ,"=-. / _),`'". ( /a( ), ) ) C = = ?/ ( )) (_ o-< ) ( `-' \; ( \_ ( | \ ) )| \_/} \ \ \(_;/-|_) )/) `._,--/ / / `!__!! ( (_o)) ---`-._, )--- ------( / |---- | ( | :__/|\_; \ |/ )(\_ /_)--` gpyy \_! >Before I was a Mom Before I was a Mom I made and ate hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone. Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted. And never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday. Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body and all my feelings. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important. Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was OK. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much...... ......before I was a Mom. - Author Unknown And remember that behind every successful mother...... Is a basket full of Pride and Joy and dirty laundry. -<>- _ /' `\ k___y th j /`Y'\ .,--,. \___/ ... ,' __ ', _ ||| j /' `\ t f | t j f | | j t_| T j \ / t Y| | ', `--' ,' || U '~--~' LJ kth >Breakfast at McDonald's This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally. Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. -<>- ,ae, ,88888e ,a888b.9888888i 888888888888888 88888888888888Y '8888888888888' "S888888888" unknown "7888888Y "e88j "Y >Love Lessons From a Mother's Heart By Lorraine V. Murray I remember my first clumsy efforts at cutting hearts from red paper to create a valentine for the person I loved most in the world, my mom. No matter how crooked the edges, she always praised my efforts as if they were priceless pieces of artwork. Although my mom died over 20 years ago, each Valentine's Day I recall all the lessons about love that she taught me. When I was an infant, my mother revealed her soul of tenderness, as I perched in the bathroom sink and she ran a soapy washcloth over my tiny body, all the while telling me stories and singing to me. In elementary school, she told me it was all right to be different, and I really needed to hear those words because I didn't fit in anywhere. I was a fat, awkward little girl and always the last chosen for teams. While other girls boasted of boyfriends who slipped them valentines, my mailbox was conspicuously empty. In high school, when all my friends were spinning elaborate fantasies about the senior prom, I was heartbroken because I didn't have a date. I remember standing on the front steps with my mom, a big Miami moon smiling down at us, as I confessed my certainty that no man would ever love me. And I remember the way she took me in her arms and assured me that sweethearts would come in time. She taught me that you stick by the people you love, no matter what. My dad had a gambling problem, and the money he earned as a cabdriver had a way of slipping through his fingers at the racetrack. In the days before gambling was recognized as an addiction, my mom simply did what had to be done. She got a job to keep the family financial ship afloat, but she never pointed an accusing finger at my dad. I learned from my mom that people you love sometimes are so vexing that you have to take dramatic measures to get them to toe the line. When my sister and I were toddlers, we sometimes were so rambunctious that my mom would quietly pack a small suitcase, climb into Annabelle, our old black Chrysler, and drive around the block a few times, leaving my dad to contend with the chaos. We always knew she would return, but the gesture shook us back into obedience. My mom taught me that love is deeper than blood. She cherished her best friend, whom we called Aunt Madeline, with the same fervor she bestowed on her two sisters. That lesson rings in my heart today, when my best friend's little children, who call me Aunt Lorraine, reach for my hand as we cross the street. She also taught me that love transcends time. I remember walking into the kitchen one morning and seeing her weeping as she was making a batch of cookies from her mother's recipe. When she told me the tears were for her mom, I was at first baffled. Her mother had died 25 years earlier, and it took me a while to understand that the bond between mother and child is eternal, and whether a child is 10 or 50, memories of mom always tug at the heart. One memory is engraved on my soul forever. I see myself pulling out of the driveway of her Fort Lauderdale home, heading back to college, and there she is, standing in the driveway in one of those flowery cotton shifts and waving, until my car disappears from her view. More than anything, though, my mom taught me about compassion. When she was in the final stages of cancer, I rushed home from college to see her at the hospital. When she noticed that I was coughing and sneezing, she pressed her lips to my forehead in a way that was infinitely familiar and declared weakly that I had a fever. I wanted to stay with her in the hospital, but she insisted that my dad take me home so I could get a good night's sleep. For the rest of my life I will remember that on the night she died, my mother's deepest concern was for me. I still miss her, especially on Valentine's Day, but I believe she's in heaven, and I believe it's a blissful place where she can peek into my life now and again and nudge me gently in the right direction. And this Valentine's Day, I will give my mom the most precious thing I have, the same gift I gave her as a child. I will give her my heart. -<>- ) ( ( ( ) ) " ( ) " | | | (( )) | )) )) ) // )) ( ) / / ( ( ( | .( \ \ ( ( ( ) ) ) )) ( ( ) '.' '. " .' / ( \ ) \ .' '._.' '._ ) ) : '' _.oooooo._ _.oooooo._ '' / ) .odOOOOOOOObo.odOOOOOOOObo. | / dOOOY dOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOb ( OOOY dOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO \ dOOY dOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOb OOO dOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOO YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOOb OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY YOObdOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOxXY "YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOxXY" "YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAoS" YOOOOOOOOOOOOOxXXXY "YOOOOOOOOOxXXXY" AoS "YOOOXXXXY" ""Y"" >LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS By Gail Rodgers (edited) Have you listened lately to the words you use when you speak to those nearest and dearest to you? Sometimes in the hurried flurry of our day we simply overlook the way we are communicating. We excuse our hasty words and harsh tones because we are tired or stressed. God's Word reminds us that our words are very important. We need to take responsibility for what comes out of our mouths. Listen to these wise words... "Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18). Our sharp words have the ability to cut the people around us. A wise person will consider what their words are doing and will seek to communicate in a way that brings healing rather than hurt. We know that our communication is made up of words, tone and body language. * Our words only make up about 7% of our communication. * Our tones make up 38%. * Our body language makes up the remaining 55%. Take note today of what your communication sounds and looks like. It may surprise you. Ask God to remind you to be wise in your speech and gentle in your tones and body language. The world out there is filled with sharp words of sarcasm, criticism, negativity, hate and worry. Go against the flow and ask God to help you bring a calm and gentle spirit to your home and workplace today through the way you communicate. Hearts all around us are hurting. You have a unique opportunity today to be a person of wisdom in the way you communicate. With God's help bring encouragement and healing through your words, tones and body language. -<>- >Links for Your Enjoyment :) Pay It Forward!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/payitforward.html Lean On Me!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/poems/leanonme.html The Blue Ribbon!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/blueribbon.html HERO!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/hero.html World's Fastest Cars http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/fastcars.html Thoughts For Today http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thoughts.html Real Fantasy Trees!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/trees.html Real Pencil Art!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/pencil.html HOW TO QUIT SMOKING!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/quitsmoking.html Akiane Child Prodigy!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html Thank You Lord!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/thanks.html A Kairos Moment!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/kairosmoment.html Are Angels Real?- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/angelsreal.html Never Give Up!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/nevergiveup.html Animal Friends 3!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/animalfriends3.html Rescued Squirrel!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/rsquirrel.html Maria The Goose!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/goose.html Value What You Have!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/valuewyh.html Attitude Is Everything!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/attitude.html Kisses Sweeter Than Honey!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/kisses.html The Sacred Secret!- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/BibleStudy/secret.html Military Motivational Posters!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/military.html You Are The Only You God Has!- http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/BibleStudy/onlyyougodhas.html Mother's Day Animated Images http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/agifs_p-t.html Mother's Index http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/momsanddadsindex.html -<>- For your better understanding of the word 'adoption' used in the bible: FAQ: I know that as Christians we are “born again of incorruptible seed” (1 Pet. 1:23). Why then do several places in the Church Epistles speak of our being “adopted” by God? Adopted by God http://www.truthortradition.com/articles/adopted-by-god -<>- Psalm 23 http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/psalm23.html Absolute Bible study Index http://www.absolutebiblestudy.com/Contents.htm -<>- >In The News: VA News:Free Guitar & Lessons, Military Appreciation Month Discounts, VA Refinance Loans https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVA/bulletins/2d7ca59 Trump endorses Rep. Elise Stefanik as Republican leaders move to oust Liz Cheney https://tinyurl.com/49x8za53 The Secret Battle Fought By Many Moms https://mommyunderground.com/the-secret-battle-fought-by-many-moms/ Latest From Reliable News: https://reliablenewsnow.com/ Latest From Deep State Journal: https://deepstatejournal.com/ Latest From 2020 Conservative: http://2020conservative.com/ Latest From Independent Minute: https://independentminute.com/ Latest From TPN News: https://threepercenternation.com/ Latest From AFA: http://tinyurl.com/j7lakqw Students For Life https://tinyurl.com/yd5nxmu6 Latest From OperationRescue: http://www.operationrescue.org/ Latest Product Alert: Recall Alert: Chips, Pizza, Chocolate http://www.emergencyemail.org/products/?fmt=text Latest Health Alert: http://www.emergencyemail.org/health/?fmt=text Click to Give Free https://tinyurl.com/y2abb8d2 -<>- >From Our Friend LouiseAu :) I watched this whole video in a kind of stunned silence, and I'm pretty sure you will, too. Most of the photographs from immediately after the end of WWII are in black and white. But this video footage from the ruins of Berlin in July 1945 is in color. It's a stunning, sobering, fascinating glimpse back in time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5i9k7s9X_A&feature=player_embedded --- ...Wow! Thanks LouiseAu! -<>- Revising... >From Our Friend PatDeE :) He sent us one we have here Better get back to the Crayons http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/crayolaart.html And here... http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/crayolaart2.html --- ...Awesome! Thanks PatDeE! Visit Melissa's Online Store You can get anything you want (except for Melissa ) at the online store http://pdhomes.net/mall/babylissa/mySTORES/ISELL4.html ========================================================== ..--------------------.. |``--------------------''| | | | ,,,;;;;;;,,, | | ,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;, | | ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; | | ;;;;;;;;;''' _ '';;; | | _'''_ _ (_' | ` | | |_) |_ |_) ._) | | | .| |_ | ..... | | :::.. ...::::::::: | | :::::::::::::::::::: | | '::::::::::::::::' | | '''::::::''' | | | | | ';----..............----;' '--------------------' unknown >Add That to the Soda, Please Story Editor: Quinn Joyce Schowalter Colorado, USA My friend Tammy works from home, rarely traveling more than walking distance from her downtown Denver, Colorado apartment -- let alone outside the city. During the late 2002 holiday season, Tammy's Aunt Jess, who lives on the far eastern edge of town, got pneumonia. Though not elderly, she has asthma. She didn't ask for help until her doctor ordered her to stay home and relax. Jess wasn't sick enough to hospitalize, but the doctor wouldn't let her leave his office until he knew someone would be at home to care for her. Tammy's brother picked Jess up, but neither he nor Tammy's sisters could leave work for days. Tammy was the only relative with the freedom to stay with her aunt. James stayed with Jess until Tammy arrived, but he had to leave almost immediately. Since Jess had been feeling bad for a while, and there was almost no food in the house, Tammy decided a shopping trip was in order. She made a careful list so that she wouldn't have to be gone longer than necessary. The grocery store was close, and she made great time, getting the groceries in fifteen minutes. After digging around in her purse at the checkout stand, Tammy realized she'd left her wallet on the table... back in her apartment. Everything was already checked out and there was a line behind her, so she was absolutely mortified as she apologized to the cashier and explained the situation. The cashier began to clear the order, but the gentleman behind Tammy spoke up. He looked at the total, handed the cashier his credit card with the bread and soda he was holding, and told her to add Tammy's groceries -- over $100 worth -- to his tiny purchase. When everything was checked through, the man pulled his soda and bread from the cart and walked away. Tammy snapped out of her shock and asked for his name and address to pay him back. He told her not to worry, he could tell she wasn't having a good day, and he was glad to help. He just kept walking. Tammy couldn't catch him, so she just went back to take care of Jess. A couple of weeks later when Jess was better Tammy remembered her grocery store savior. The only thing she knew about him was where he got groceries, so every chance she got, she took the one-hour drive back out to the store. She worked on her laptop in a cafe nearby and watched for him. It took a week and a half of "staking out" the grocery store before she saw him again. She stopped him as he was coming out of the store, and asked if she could buy him dinner to repay his favor. She told me she wasn't sure which was nicer: being able to repay his favor, or the surprise on his face at seeing her again! =======HeroicStories======= >-->From CupO'Cheer: , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >THE REVIVAL WE NEED Written by Bob & Debby Gass 'Love never fails...' 1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV Fourth, a revival of love. The Bible says, 'Love never fails.' Stop and think about that for a moment. Just about everything else in life fails, but love doesn't. There's a cute story about a lady who said to her husband, 'Will you love me when I'm old?' He replied, 'Yes, dear.' She said, 'But will you love me when my hair is grey?' He replied, 'Yes, dear, I've loved you through seven different shades already, why would I change my mind when you're grey?' You can score points for having high morals and have all your theological ducks in a row, but if you don't love people - in every circumstance of life - you've failed where it counts most. Paul writes: 'If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing... Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance' (vv2-7 NLT). It took a lot of commitment to be a Pharisee. Living according to the law of Moses demanded incredible discipline and dedication. Why did Jesus condemn the Pharisees so often? Because they had light in their heads but no love in their hearts! When we, the church, experience a revival of love we won't need to advertise; people will break down the doors to get in. SoulFood: Jer 14-17, Mark 1:21-34, Ps 43, Pr 10:10 as seen in The Word For Today -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >EVERYTHING IN ITS TIME AND PLACE Gordon Dahl wrote this insightful paragraph several years ago: "Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship. As a result, their meanings and values are distorted. Their relationships disintegrate faster than they can keep them in repair, and their lifestyles resemble a cast of characters in search of a plot." Worshiping work? Lots of us are guilty here. Too many hours beyond what is necessary or reasonable cut us off from the people in our lives. It communicates their lack of importance in relation to company, career, or money. Working at play? Ever see somebody play golf or tennis "to relax" only to fight the course, throw her racquet, or otherwise create a greater need for something to relax him? Know anyone who built his life around sports? The relaxing and regenerative power of play gets lost in that sort of intensity. Playing at worship? From simply being present for a worship assembly to taking time for private Bible reading and prayer, it seems all too easy to drop God in order to save time for other things. That says something about how important - or unimportant - God was from the very start, doesn't it? If your life is a story "in search of a plot," a good strategy is to get these three elements in proper balance. Yes, you need to work. But you don't have to get so consumed with it that you neglect the significant people God has put in your life. But it will also help to remember that fatigue is not next to godliness. That brings us to play. It really isn't necessary to be quite so competitive. Enjoy tennis or the lake without having to do something better than someone else. Maybe you should just watch a sunset, take a walk, or put your feet up and listen to a favorite piece of music - without feeling guilty for doing so. Then, when the time for worship comes, be thankful. Thank God for allowing you to be productive without being obsessive, to take pleasure in his creation without being consumed by it. Acknowledge him as the giver of every good gift that has come your way in life. "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 NIV) There is a time for everything, so long as everything is kept in its place. as seen in The Fax of Life -<>- , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >A LEGACY OF FAITH (Part 2) by Lori Ciccanti Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV) Last year, upon learning the fascinating ancestral background of my friend Parise Arakelian, I became interested in discovering more about the Armenian people -- their culture, religious history, and beautiful land, including Mount Ararat, where it is believed that Noah's ark still rests. According to ancient boundaries, this mountain is situated in the very heart of Armenia. So, with this sentiment in mind, I began a search to find a rare book published in 1939 entitled Under a New Banner, a narrative which tells the life story of Parise's father, Armen John Arakelian, who was a young survivor of the Armenian genocide which took place in Turkey during the year 1915. Fortunately for me, my library in southern Delaware was able to locate the book on the west coast in Fresno, California, USA. During the course of my reading, I closely traced the path that God prepared in leading Armen out of danger: from Neshver, Turkey, across the Syrian Desert to the ancient city of Mosul in northern Iraq, then toward the beautiful metropolis of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), before finally arriving at the port of liberty -- Ellis Island, New York, USA. Following his steps, I was inspired by the divine trail of people, places, and events that God put forward in order to save Armen's life. Consequently, I wrote one of my first short stories, called Journey to Freedom, based on this miraculous story. Indeed, it was an incredible journey to experience. I could not help but marvel at the extraordinary measures God provided in helping His child reach safety. For instance, the Lord even supplied the enemy's camel as a means of transportation. Amazingly, Armen hid for days in a huge bag of foul-smelling camel hides, hanging from the camel's back. Nevertheless, despite tragedy and loss, some situations were quite endearing and light-hearted, reminding me that God never gives us any more than we are able to bear. Lastly, after much hardship and grief, God's plan for Armen was to go to America where he was called for ministry; as a result, many have been blessed by his legacy of faith. Years have come and gone since the Armenian genocide, yet, as if it were yesterday, I was deeply moved by this amazing testimony. Furthermore, as I considered the spiritual parallels in my own life, I thought about the various people who have crossed my path, places that have affected my journey, as well as certain events God has ordained for a specific time and purpose. Therefore, may we, too, be encouraged to follow the path that God has laid out for our lives, as we trust in His awesome power to deliver us from any harm. Regardless of our circumstances, let us continue to watch as His plan unfolds in ways that we could never imagine. Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for always keeping our best interests at heart. We acknowledge that it is Your will to guide us safely through our earthly journey until our work for Christ has been fulfilled. We praise You for Your awesome power and tender care. Open our ears to Your Spirit's leading so that we may experience Your good and perfect will for our lives. Help us today to take another step of faith toward Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose precious name, we pray. Amen. Lori Ciccanti Ocean View, Delaware, USA as seen in PCCWeb Daily Devotional -<>- ___ ____ ___ ____( \ .-' `-. / )____ (____ \_____ / (O O) \ _____/ ____) (____ `-----( ) )-----' ____) (____ _____________\ .____. /_____________ ____) (______/ Joe Reiss `-.____.-' \______) >LETTER OF THANKS Dear Friend, I'm writing to say thanks. I wish I could thank you personally, but I don't know where you are. I wish I could call you, but I don't know your name. If I knew your appearance, I'd look for you, but your face is fuzzy in my memory. But I'll never forget what you did. There you were, leaning against your pickup in the West Texas oil field. An engineer of some sort. A supervisor on the job. Your khakis and clean shirt set you apart from us roustabouts. In the oil field pecking order, we were at the bottom. You were the boss. We were the workers. You read the blueprints. We dug the ditches. You inspected the pipe. We laid it. You ate with the bosses in the shed. We ate with each other in the shade. Except that day. I remember wondering why you did it. We weren't much to look at. What wasn't sweaty was oily. Faces burnt from the sun; skin black from the grease. Didn't bother me, though. I was there only for the summer. A high-school boy earning good money laying pipe. We weren't much to listen to, either. Our language was sandpaper coarse. After lunch, we'd light the cigarettes and begin the jokes. Someone always had a deck of cards with lacy-clad girls on the back. For thirty minutes in the heat of the day, the oil patch became Las Vegas—replete with foul language, dirty stories, blackjack, and barstools that doubled as lunch pails. In the middle of such a game, you approached us. I thought you had a job for us that couldn't wait another few minutes. Like the others, I groaned when I saw you coming. You were nervous. You shifted your weight from one leg to the other as you began to speak. "Uh, fellows," you started. We turned and looked up at you. "I, uh, I just wanted, uh, to invite … " You were way out of your comfort zone. I had no idea what you might be about to say, but I knew that it had nothing to do with work. "I just wanted to tell you that, uh, our church is having a service tonight and, uh... " "What?" I couldn't believe it. "He's talking church? Out here? With us?" "I wanted to invite any of you to come along." Silence. Screaming silence. Several guys stared at the dirt. A few shot glances at the others. Snickers rose just inches from the surface. "Well, that's it. Uh, if any of you want to go... uh, let me know." After you turned and left, we turned and laughed. We called you "reverend," "preacher," and "the pope." We poked fun at each other, daring one another to go. You became the butt of the day's jokes. I'm sure you knew that. I'm sure you went back to your truck knowing the only good you'd done was to make a good fool out of yourself. If that's what you thought, then you were wrong. That's the reason for this letter. Some five years later, a college sophomore was struggling with a decision. He had drifted from the faith given to him by his parents. He wanted to come back. He wanted to come home. But the price was high. His friends might laugh. His habits would have to change. His reputation would have to be overcome. Could he do it? Did he have the courage? That's when I thought of you. As I sat in my dorm room late one night, looking for the guts to do what I knew was right, I thought of you. I thought of how your love for God had been greater than your love for your reputation. I thought of how your obedience had been greater than your common sense. I remembered how you had cared more about making disciples than about making a good first impression. And when I thought of you, your memory became my motivation. So I came home. I've told your story dozens of times to thousands of people. Each time the reaction is the same: The audience becomes a sea of smiles, and heads bob in understanding. Some smile because they think of the "clean-shirted engineers" in their lives. They remember the neighbor who brought the cake, the aunt who wrote the letter, the teacher who listened... Others smile because they have done what you did. And they, too, wonder if their "lunchtime loyalty" was worth the effort. You wondered that. What you did that day wasn't much. And I'm sure you walked away that day thinking that your efforts had been wasted. They weren't. So I'm writing to say thanks. Thanks for the example. Thanks for the courage. Thanks for giving your lunch to God. He did something with it; it became the Bread of Life for me. Gratefully, Max P.S. If by some remarkable coincidence you read this and remember that day, please give me a call. I owe you lunch. From In the Eye of the Storm Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1997) Max Lucado To SUBSCRIBE: Send an e-mail with SUBSCRIBE CUP O'CHEER in the subject line to cheer316@sc.rr.com. ========================================================== >-->From LaughAndLift: "God manages perfectly, day and night, year in and year out, the movements of the stars, the wheeling of the planets, the staggering coordination of events that goes on the molecular level in order to hold things together. There is no doubt that He can manage the timing of my days and weeks." - Elisabeth Elliot , , /////| ///// | ///// | |~~~| | | |===| |/| | B |/| | | I | | | | B | | | | L | / | E | / |===|/ jgs '---' >God NEVER Gives Up! by Max Lucado (edited) Throughout time, though God's people often forgot their God, God didn't forget them. He kept his word. God didn't give up. He never gives up. When Joseph was dropped into a pit by his own brothers, God didn't give up. When Moses said, "Here I am, send Aaron," God didn't give up. When the delivered Israelites wanted Egyptian slavery instead of milk and honey, God didn't give up. When Aaron was making a false god at the very moment Moses was with the true God, God didn't give up. When only two of the ten spies thought the Creator was powerful enough to deliver the created, God didn't give up. When Samson whispered to Delilah, when Saul roared after David, when David schemed against Uriah, God didn't give up. When God's word lay forgotten and man's idols stood glistening, God didn't give up. When the children of Israel were taken into captivity, God didn't give up. He could have given up. He could have turned his back. He could have walked away from the wretched mess, but he didn't. God didn't give up. When God's only-begotten Son was born and was the victim of an assassination attempt before he was two years old, God didn't give up. When the people from Jesus' own home town tried to push him over a cliff; God didn't give up. When Jesus' brothers ridiculed him, God didn't give up. When Jesus was accused of blaspheming God by people who didn't fear God, God didn't give up. When Peter worshiped him at the supper and cursed him at the fire, God didn't give up. When people spat in Jesus' face, he didn't spit back. When the bystanders slapped him, he didn't slap them. When a whip ripped his sides, he didn't turn and command the awaiting angels to stuff that whip down that soldier's throat. And when human hands fastened the divine Son's hands to a cross with spikes, it wasn't the soldiers who held the hands of Jesus steady. It was God who held them steady. For those wounded hands were the same invisible hands that had carried the firepot and the torch two thousand years earlier. They were the same hands that had brought light into Abram's thick and dreadful darkness. They had come to do it again. So, the next time doubt walks in, escort him out. Out to the hill. Out to Calvary. Out to the cross where, with holy blood, the hand that carried the flame wrote the promise, "God would give up his only-gotten son before he'd give up on you." -<>- "Integrity is keeping my commitment(s) even if the circumstances when I made the commitment(s) have changed." - David Jeremiah ((((\\\ 9_9 3)) \= (( __) (__ ,' \_/ `. / :|: \ / / :|: \ \ \ \..:|:../ / `._\_, __/_.' .-)\\-///-. || L || || ^ || |/-->&<--\| | (._.) | | ( @ ) | | /|`"'|\ | //(_\___/_)\\ \\_()___()_// `+---I---+' |\(_)|(_)/| _|j"""""""|j_ | |_______| | |_| |_| hjw >The History of Mother's Day (By Ron Friedrich) If you were to research the history of Mother's Day in the United States, you would see the names of three women who played a prominent role in the creation of the national day of recognition. Julia Ward Howe was an ardent abolitionist in the days of the Civil War. Both she and her husband, Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, devoted their lives to social reform. Dr. Howe established the Perkins School for the Blind, later made famous by a student named Helen Keller. After the Howes met President Lincoln at the White House in 1861, Julia wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which became the theme song of the Union army. When you read the words of Julia Howe's hymn, you would never guess that she was a pacifist. Not only did she oppose slavery, she opposed war even more. Julia organized women's groups to advocate an end to military conflict worldwide and to fight for women's rights. In 1870 Julia Howe's name became synonymous with the cause to establish a national Mother's Day when she published her Mother's Day Proclamation. Her proclamation had nothing to do with gratitude to mothers. Rather, it was an appeal to "convene a general conference of women" to take up the cause of military disarmament. "Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause," she wrote. "As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel." Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis also lived during the Civil War. She organized women's associations in Virginia churches, which she called "Mother's Day Work Clubs," for the purpose of promoting community health and safety, women's rights, an end to war, and care for wounded soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Throughout her life, Mrs. Jarvis was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a teacher in the church school. Once when she taught a lesson on mothers in the Bible, she ended the lesson with a prayer which included this wish: "I hope that someone, sometime will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it." One student in that class who never forgot her prayer was Ann's twelve-year old daughter... Anna Jarvis. In 1905, at her mother's graveside, Anna remember that prayer. There she vowed, "...by the grace of God you shall have that Mother's Day." Anna campaigned vigorously to have the second Sunday in May designated as Mother's Day. She advocated commemorating the day with carnations -- her own mother's favorite flower -- white carnations to honor mothers who have died and red to honor the living. Anna's cause received a boost with support from a prominent Christian retail businessman, John Wannamaker. The movement finally caught on in city governments. Eventually governors of several states offered Mother's Day proclamations. Finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson gave official national recognition to Mother's Day. In later years when Anna Jarvis saw the commercialism that became associated with Mother's Day, she regretted having started the tradition. She felt that merchandisers were detracting from the original purpose of the day. Anna, her mother, and Julia Howe all understood that it takes more than a dinner, a card, and some flowers one day out of a year to give mothers the sincere recognition that they are due. Our true appreciation is seen in what we say and do on the other 364 days of the year. SUBSCRIBE INFO Want to receive a Christian inspirational item AND great clean humor in an email to you each day of the week? It's easy and FREE! Read all about Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com ========================================================== ,,,,, ////""\ . (((/ m m -|- __ )))c = ) | (__) ////-./~` . [] (((( `.`\ :: [] )))`\ \)).-;.' .------, [] (() `._.-'` _( )[] )/ `. | .'`^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^))\`.----'`[] jgs ( \' { ~ - ~~ _ ~ - ~~ - ~ - (( | | [] .-.--\ \ { )) | | [] |_;_._`\ |{ ((__|_|-----[] | ; ``` ;{ )) [] | /``-.____/ `~~~[]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'-' [] `' (__) (__) >-->REMIND ME, GOD When I am feeling lonely and Perhaps I feel despair, Let not my ailing heart forget That You hear every prayer. . . Remind me that no matter what I do or fail to do, There still is hope for as long As I have Faith in You. . . Let not my eyes be blinded By some folly I commit; But help me to regret my wrong And make amends for it. Inspire me to put my fears Upon a hidden shelf, And in the future Try not to feel sorry for myself. Give me the restful sleep I need Before another dawn, And bless me in the morning with "The Courage To Go On." Written by: BJ Morbitzer ©2005 >Updated FUN STUFF URLS - Oh Yeah Shangy! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/urls.html FUN URLS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->ShangyFunList AD RATES: $25 will get your a message (of up to 40 words) out to all web site list readers. Email me to secure dates. Ad Request ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->FULL LENGTH - FREE On line AUDIO MP3 Christian Foundational Class http://www.truthortradition.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=61 NEW LIFE IN CHRIST! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -->This is for all you who love food and DARE to make it at home Yep. You guessed it - Recipes. These are Tried and True, Yummy to the Tummy, good old fashioned home cooking recipes that are EASY to do Visit Shangy's Easy-Does-It Home Recipes: http://www.ShangralaFamilyFun.com/easy.html Home Recipes >Got A good Recipe? SHARE IT HERE: Share A Recipe **********************************************************************