|
______________________________________
*Real Hero* ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of many! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, join the thousands of HeartTouchers.com readers around the world by sending a blank e-mail to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Archives Be sure to check out our brand new inspirational list just for teenagers! Heart4Teens.com To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com or visit: http://www.Heart4Teens.com _________________________________________ Good Morning HeartTouchers.com readers! As we remember those who have served our country with their blood, sweat, and tears, I am asking all of you for a favor. Could you join me and take the time to write a note of encouragement to one of our soldiers serving in IRAQ? Michael Young is a close friend of mine whom I used to work with during my time with the USPS. I have never met a more fun loving guy! His national guard unit was called to active duty this past December and I wanted to encourage him as he is serving his country. Would you take some time to send a short note, postcard, or card to him in the mail at the address below? Let him know that there are people whom he has never met who appreciate what he is doing and whom will be praying for him. You can write to him at: E6 Michael Young CoB, 118th Medical BN. APO-AE09342-1260 Be sure to let him know that Michael Powers says "Hi!" and that he is sorely missed! "Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Michael _______________________________________ Real Hero By Jaye Lewis I only noticed him out of the corner of my eye. I knew he was a Marine from the cut of his uniform, with it's tightly pressed military creases. Then I heard him, speaking low with a kind of hiss. He was not speaking to me. He was speaking to my Sergeant, who was the Non Commissioned Officer, in charge of the Military Information Booth, at San Francisco International Airport, where I served as a Navy WAVE, during the Vietnam War. I heard his tortured attempt to speak. "Hep nee, peesss!" (Help me, please!) He struggled with every word. I was grabbing my purse to take a much needed break, but I was caught by his struggle to make himself understood. I could hear the irritation in the sergeant's voice, as she demanded that he "speak up!" I paused, as he began again, "I-nee-to-change-ny-tickek!" I understood every painful word he said. He needed to change his ticket. What was wrong with my NCO? "I CAN'T understand you!" She said, irritated. "Speak up!" How rude! I thought. I turned, putting down my purse, and I looked at him, again beginning his struggle to speak. And, no wonder. There stood a tall, strong Marine Officer, perfect in his pristine uniform, missing half his jaw! My God, I thought! What is she thinking?! "Excuse me, Sir. I can help you." Without thinking, I shoved my Sergeant aside and maneuvered my way in front of her. I could see the man's teeth through the wire that held his face together. I was of no importance, a lowly seaman apprentice, but I knew what this man needed. Someone, who cared enough to listen. I studied his eyes. I saw the pain, and I felt his humiliation. Soul to soul, I knew what to do. I smiled. A big, welcoming smile. "Yes Sir! How can I help you?" Painfully.slowly.words, tortured and slurred, escaped from his wired mouth. I listened with all my heart, and I watched his eyes. Dear God, help me to understand! I prayed. And I did understand him, more than I can express. I gave him the directions he needed, and his eyes smiled his thanks. When he walked away, I called a friend at United Airlines, who adopted him immediately, taking great care with his situation. I thanked God for this opportunity to help a real hero. However, I also knew I was in trouble. I looked at my Sergeant, feeling anger rise in me, at her rudeness and total lack of sensitivity. She stared at me, and she said, "I could put you on report." Her eyes narrowed. Without thinking, I blurted out, "...and, I could put YOU on report, Sergeant, for insubordination to an officer!" My eyes spit fire, as I hurtled the stack of report chits towards her. "Be my guest!" I said, as I grabbed my purse. "I'll be on break." And I left. I went on to supper, as I knew it would be a long night. I was troubled, however, now that my "dander" was down, at the thought of going to Captain's Mast, for my insubordination to an NCO. I was certain it would be very unpleasant. As I neared the United Airlines counter, I saw him again. His luggage was being checked, and his back was towards me. Then, as though someone had told him where I was, he turned, and he looked at me. Our eyes met, for an eternity. Then I smiled. This soldier and hero, in the United States Marine Corps, pulled himself up to his full height, and with all the military perfection in his being, he gave me a sharp, military salute! I was thrilled! WAVES did not salute indoors, especially, when they were not wearing their cover (hat), but I pulled myself to attention and returned that salute. Moving on to the cafeteria, I walked a little taller, and I felt more like a lady than I ever had before, in my whole life! And...just a little bit...I felt like a hero. Jaye Lewis, © 2002 jlewis@smyth.net Write Jaye and let her know what you thought of her story! ***** As we approach Memorial Day, I wonder does he remember? I've asked myself that question for thirty-five years! I was twenty-one years old. My Sergeant never did put me on report. Now, I'm a retired Navy wife and Vietnam Era Veteran, who hopes we remember, in our present war, that the Marines of the United States Navy, and all our Special Forces, hit the ground running, so that we don't have to. Jaye Lewis is an award-winning writer who celebrates life from a unique perspective. Jaye lives with her family in the beautiful southern highlands of southwestern Virginia. Jaye is writing her first book, entitled "Entertaining Angels," which illustrates the spiritual, and even the miraculous, in her life. _________________________________________ FALLEN HEROES by Freda Fullerton They gave up all their tomorrows, For the freedom we enjoy today. They gave up their hopes and dreams That we might have a better way. They marched across this nation, With freedom in their breast. They sailed across the ocean To meet each and every test. They fell at Valley Forge. They marched through Tennessee. They bled and died at Gettysburg, So that we might live free. They fought oppression in the Forest of Argonne, Battled beneath the Verdun sky, As they fought the war of wars, Where so many were to die. They stood on Iwo Jima And raised Ole Glory way up high, As cries of fallen comrades Reached far into the sky. In the battle of the Bulge, Were young men, brave and true. They stumbled upon distant beach heads, Trying to make it through. They were there to aid Korea Some, not knowing why? Only knowing, that it was ordered And some would surely die. They fought in Vietnam, Not knowing friend or foe, With peers, at home protesting, Wailing sad, sad, songs of woe. They showed up in Croatia, Were there in Desert Storm, Brought freedom to Afghanistan, Protecting Iraq was just the norm. They had plans for the future. They had loved ones left behind, They were sacrificed for others, Heroes... the very valiant kind. Freda Fullerton Fjful@aol.com Write Freda and let her know your thoughts on her poem! Freda has been writing poetry for over thirty years and has had some of her work published. She is a mother of three and grandmother of six. She and her husband Jim celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in January. One of their grandsons, Russell Walker, is in the Navy, aboard the Stennis. They left the port of San Diego Monday for a four month mission. She also has a daily inspirational that she sends out. You can visit her website at: http://www.shcoc.org _______________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "Personality has the power to open doors, but character keeps them open." Verse for the Day: "The righteous shall never be removed." --Proverbs 10:30 Kid's Thought for the day: "You are only little until someone littler comes along." Parent's Thought For The Day: "Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said; after marriage, he'll fall asleep before you finish saying it."--Helen Rowland Coach's Thought For The Day: "Winners do the things that losers don't like to do." Writer's Thought For The Day: "Nouns are the bones that give a sentence body. But verbs are the muscles that make it go." --Mervin Block Deep Thought For The Day: "I just got skylights put in my place, the people who live above me are furious."--Stephen Wright _________________________________________ Have you been to the HeartTouchers.com website lately? If you like what you see and would like to have your own professional looking website, visit the link below. Bizstudio has been a wonderful service for HeartTouchers.com and with 400,000 visitors in the past three years, the website has been a tremendous tool in helping us to "Touch Lives, One Email at a Time." Although I had no prior experience building a website, I was able to create and build the HeartTouchers.com site easily utilizing Bizstudio's online editor. It includes an Online Site Editor, Unlimited Updates, Unlimited Pages, Professional Themes, Pre-Programmed Features, E-mail Accounts, and free Search Engine Submission. If I could do it with no prior experience you can too! Check it out at this link: http://www.bizstudio.com/main/home.htm?bpn=A16435 _________________________________________ 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 __________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________ 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/ __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm _________________________________________ 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! ___________________________________________ Reading Books, Changing Lives! For those of you who would like to purchase the books from the HeartTouchers.com bookstore via your credit card, you can now do so! 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! http://www.HeartTouchers.com/books _________________________________________________ A number of people have written to us asking what an EBook is, since our book is being offered in both print and EBook versions. An EBook is a book that can be downloaded and read right on your computer. The advantage of ordering the EBook is that is costs less, $6.95 (No other charges), as compared to $13.95 + shipping and handling for the print book. Plus you can download the EBook and begin reading the stories in a few minutes! EBooks are read via Acrobat Reader, which is software that most of you already have on your computer. And if for some reason you don't, it can be downloaded free of charge at the web site. So for those of you who don't want to wait for the print book to be delivered, check out this web site to order the EBook version of Heart Touchers. http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html |
 |
|
Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
|