The Fall

THE FALL

A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day, when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and to his horror saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet.

He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff. So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something.

HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? "HELP!"

He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice. Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"

"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"

"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"

"Yes, but who are you, and where are you?

"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."

"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"

"That's Me."

"God, please help me! I promise if, you'll get me down from here, I'll stop sinning. I'll be a really good person. I'll serve You for the rest of my life."

"Easy on the promises, Jack. Let's get you off from there; then we can talk."

"Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully."

"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."

"Okay. Let go of the branch.""What?" "I said, let go of the branch. Just trust Me. Let go."

There was a long silence.

Finally Jack yelled, "HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?"

The Shoe Man

The Shoe Man

I showered and shaved............... I adjusted my tie.
>
> I got there and sat.............. In a pew just in time.
>
> Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes.
>
> I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.
>
> With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, "Why
>
> must our soles touch?"
>
> It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't
>
> bother him much.
>
>
> A prayer began: "Our Father"............. I thought, "This
>
> man with the shoes.. has no pride.
>
> They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the
>side!
>
>
> "Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on.
>
> The shoe man said............... a quiet "Amen."
>
> I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were
>
> on his shoes again
>
> Aren't we supposed to look our best.. When walking through that door?
>
> "Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought, Glancing toward the floor.
>
> Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began.
>
> The shoe man was certainly loud...... Sounding proud as he sang.
>
> His voice lifted the rafters......... His hands were raised high.
>
> The Lord could surely hear.. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
>
> It was time for the offering......... And what I threw in was steep.
>
> I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.
>
> I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.
>
> Then I heard a soft "clink" . as when silver hits tin.
>
> The sermon really bored me.......... To tears, and that's no lie
>
> It was the same for the shoe man..... For tears fell from his eyes.
>
> At the end of the service........ As is the custom here
>
> We must greet new visitors.. And show them all good cheer.
>
> But I felt moved somehow............. And wanted to meet the shoe man
>
> So after the closing prayer.......... I reached over and shook his hand.
>
> He was old and his skin was dark..... And his hair was truly a mess
>
> But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.
>
> He said, "My names' Charlie.......... I'm glad to meet you, my friend."
>
> There were tears in his eyes......... But he had a large, wide grin
>
> "Let me explain," he said........... Wiping tears from his eyes.
>
> "I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.'"
>
> "I know that my appearance........."Is not like all the rest
>
> "But I really do try................."To always look my best."
>
> "I always clean and polish my shoes.."Before my very long walk.
>
> "But by the time I get here........."They're dirty and dusty, like
>chalk."
>
> My heart filled with pain............ and I swallowed to hide my tears
>
> As he continued to apologize......... For daring to sit so near.
>
> He said, "When I get here..........."I know I must look a sight.
>
> "But I thought if I could touch you.."Then maybe our souls might unite."
>
> I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said
>
> Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.
>
> "Oh, you've touched me," I said......"And taught me, in part;
>
> "That the best of any man............"Is what is found in his heart."
>
> The rest, I thought,................. This shoe man will never know.
>
> Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe touched my
>soul
>
>
> You are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
>
> I respect you, and truly cherish you my blog friends. Send this to your friends,
>
> No matter how often you talk, Or how close you are, >

Let old friends know you haven't forgotten them, and tell
>
> new friends you never will.
>
> Remember, everyone needs a friend.
>
> Someday you might feel like you have no friends at all. Just remember
>this story and take comfort in knowing that
>
> someone out there cares about you..... and always will.
>
> Just Me

Winter of Life

The Winter of Life...

You youngun's read all the way to the end!!

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.


It seems just yesterday that I was a young girl, just married and embarking on my new life with my husband.


And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...


But, here it is...the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise....How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go?


I remember well...seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...


But, here it is...married to my high school sweetheart after 30 years and he's really getting gray...he moves slower and I see an older man now. He's in much better shape than me...but, I see the great change...


Not the one I knew in high school who was dark and young and strong... but, like me, his age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.


Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore...it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will...I just fall asleep where I sit!


And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things.


But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...This I know, that when it's over...I will enjoy the Spring in the arms of my loving Father...and wait for my loved ones to come when their winter is over too...


So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!


For remember that scripture?...our life is but a vapor, it vanishes away...So, do what you can today, because you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!


You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for the Lord today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...