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*Lesson for a Lifetime*
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Well, I finally got around to making a few banners for our list and website. A number of you have asked me to do this over the years so you could share the banner on your own web site to get the word out.
Take a moment to visit: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/grab_a_banner and then let me know what you think!
From my family to yours,
Michael
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A Lesson for a Lifetime
By Janet Seever
When I arrived at 6 a.m. in the large hospital kitchen, Rose was already checking name tags on the trays against the patient roster. Stainless steel shelves held rows of breakfast trays which we would soon be serving.
"Hi, I'm Janet." I tried to sound cheerful, although I already knew Rose's reputation for being impossible to work with. "I'm scheduled to work with you this week."
Rose, a middle-aged woman with graying hair, stopped what she was doing and peered over her reading glasses. I could tell from her expression she wasn't pleased to see a student worker.
"What do you want me to do? Start the coffee?"
Rose sullenly nodded and went back to checking name tags.
I filled the 40-cup pot with cold water and began making the coffee when Rose gruffly snapped, "That's not the way to make coffee." She stepped in and took over.
"I was just doing it the way our supervisor showed us to do it," I said in astonishment.
"The patients like the coffee better the way I do it," she replied curtly.
Nothing I did pleased her. All morning her eagle eyes missed nothing and her sharp words stung. She literally trailed me around the kitchen.
Later, after breakfast had been served and the dishes had been washed, I set up my share of trays for the next meal. Then I busied myself cleaning the sink. Certainly Rose couldn't criticize the way I did that.
When I turned around, there stood Rose, rearranging all of the trays I had just set up!
Totally exhausted, I trudged the six blocks home from the University of Minnesota Hospital late that June afternoon. As a third year university student working my way through school, I had never before encountered anyone like Rose.
Fighting back tears, I wrestled with my dilemma alone in my room. "Lord, what do you want me to do? I can't take much more of Rose."
I turned the possibilities over in my mind. Should I see if my supervisor would switch me to work with someone else? Scheduling was fairly flexible.
On the other hand, I didn't want to be a quitter. I knew my older co-workers were watching to see if my actions matched my words.
The answer to my prayer caught me completely by surprise -- I needed to love Rose.
Love her? No way! Tolerate, yes, but loving her was impossible.
"Lord, I can't love Rose. You'll have to do it through me."
Working with Rose the next morning, I ignored the barbs thrown in my direction and did things Rose's way as much as possible to avoid friction. As I worked, I silently began to surround Rose with a warm blanket of prayers. "Lord, help me love Rose. Lord, bless Rose."
Over the next few days an amazing thing began to happen. As I prayed for this irritating woman, my focus shifted from what she was doing to me, and I started seeing Rose as the hurting person she was. The icy tension began to melt away.
Throughout the rest of the summer, we had numerous opportunities to work together. Each time she seemed genuinely happy to see me. As I worked with this lonely woman, I listened to her--something no one else had done.
I learned that she was burdened by elderly parents who needed her care, her own health problems, and an alcoholic husband she was thinking of leaving.
The days slipped by quickly as I finished the last several weeks of my summer job. Leaves were starting to turn yellow and red, and there was a cool, crispness in the air. I soon would be returning as a full-time university student.
One day, while I was working alone in one of the hospital kitchens, Rose entered the room. Instead of her blue uniform, she was wearing street clothes.
I looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you working today?"
"I got me another job and won't be working here no more," she said as she walked over and gave me a quick hug. "I just came to say good-bye." Then she turned abruptly and walked out the door.
Although I never saw Rose again, I still remember her vividly. That summer I learned a lesson I've never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose--irritating, demanding, unlovable--yet hurting inside. I've found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend.
© 2002 Janet Seever
jseever1@shaw.ca
Email Janet and let her know your thoughts on her story!
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Janet Seever, the mother of two adult children, lives with her husband in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she is a writer for Word Alive magazine. Her articles have previously appeared in a variety publications and Web sites, including HeartTouchers. A short story of hers was published last year in The Essence Collection: Celebrating the Season. "A Lesson for a Lifetime" took place in 1966.
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REQUESTS:
Please pray for a special young couple (Kent and Rachel Martin) who are youth leaders in our youth ministry. Rachel had a miscarriage. Would you please lift them up as you pray this week? Thanks... Michael
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From Jaye Lewis
jlewis@smyth.net
Diane's Howard's daughter-in-law, Carol Young has been recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Please pray for Carol, her husband Tim and their children. And please pray for Diane. If you wish to send an encouraging email to Carol and Tim, you may contact them through Diane Howard at diandbob@chartertn.net
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Thought For The Day:
"One-half the trouble of this life can traced to saying yes too quick, and not saying no soon enough."
Verse for the Day:
"Do you see a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool thank of him." --Proverbs 29:20
Kid's Thought for the day:
"Make the rules up as you go along."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"When I would come home from work, stressed out and possibly depressed from the dreams in my life that seem so far out of reach, two words could always bring those hopes within my grasp: "Daddy's Home!" -- Michael T. Powers
Coach's Thought For The Day
"My best team will be the one that that grows closer together as a family throughout the season. Not the one who wins the most games." -- Michael T. Powers
Writer's Thought For the Day
"Writing has caught me up in its magical flame, and there is a burning inside that demands attention whether I have time for it or not." -- Michael T. Powers
Deep Thought For The Day:
"Borrow money from pessimists. They don't expect to get it back!"
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Reading Books, Changing Lives!
For those of you who love to read or love to give out books as gifts...
You can now order a number of different autographed best-selling inspirational books for the same price you would get them in the store, the shipping to you is paid for, and you are helping change the lives of teenagers and those they come in contact with! And best of all, every penny from the book sales are going to youth ministry to help pay for a life-changing winter retreat and a missions trip to Guatemala this summer!
If you love to read inspirational stories, these books are most likely those you will eventually buy anyway. And how cool would it be to be able to buy books like those in the Chicken Soup series for your friends and family with a personalized autographed message by one of the contributing authors! How's that for a unique gift! Not only are you changing lives through supporting a youth ministry, but every book included on our website has the power to make a difference in the lives of those you give the books to. Check out this link to find out more!
http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books
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MICHAEL T. POWERS
www.HeartTouchers.com
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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The copyrights to the stories that appear in HeartTouchers.com are owned by the authors and are used with their permission. We refuse to run stories without the author's permission and contact info listed after the story. We also refuse to publish stories listed as "author unknown." (All of which violates Copyright Law and the rights of the authors.) This e-mail may be forwarded in its entirety, but please do not cut and paste the stories to be used elsewhere unless you have contacted and been given permission by the individual writer. Thank you so much for honoring the rights of those writers who graciously share their stories with us!
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Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business
Dear Michael,
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me! It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful. My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours was filled with moments to be treasured forever! Love, Trisha
Silverhill, AL
Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/
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Would you like to see your story in HeartTouchers.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/guidelines/
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Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm
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Can't get enough inspirational stories in your life? Would you like to send a unique gift to your friends and family? Then order a copy of the inspirational book: Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" by Michael T. Powers for only $13.95.
http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html
You can preview this book by visiting:
http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_powers
