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*Father McKeever's Lesson* 3/27/02 ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free daily 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 an e-mail with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com ____________________________________________ 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 personalized autographed copy of the inspirational book: Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" by Michael T. Powers for only $13.95. And best of all, we'll pay the shipping! Michael is an award winning writer whose stories have appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines around the world and in the following books: Chicken Soup for the Sports Fan's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grandparent's Soul, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart, Stories For the Extreme Teen's Heart 2, Stories for the Teen's Heart 2, Heartwarmers, God Allows U-Turns Volumes 1, 3, and 4, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, and Creating Emotionally Safe Schools. He has signed several contracts for future Chicken Soup and other inspirational books. Still not convinced? You can preview his book by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_powers AOL Users click here! To order your autographed copy have a check or money order for $13.95 for each book made out to Michael T. Powers, and then send it to: Michael T. Powers 1918 Liberty Lane Janesville, WI 53545 (Please allow about 2 weeks for delivery.) _________________________________________ It is always wonderful to share a story from my friend Jaye Lewis. Enjoy her words of wisdom today and write to her and let her know your thoughts on her story... From my family to yours, Michael P.S. For those of you who didn't read the update on the author of yesterday's story, Mary Rachelski, and wanted to write to her about her wonderful story, her current email address is: jailbirdlady@att.net Her Birthday is this Easter Sunday too, so birthday wishes would be a good way to welcome her to HeartTouchers! _________________________________________ Father McKeever's Lesson By Jaye Lewis I remember Nancy Flurrie. It was 1953 and we were both in second grade. I was the "smart" one and she was the "dumb" one, or so I thought. I made life a living hell for that poor girl, and she just took it! Gentle and shy, Nancy was about eleven years old, and it had taken her years to reach second grade. She had difficulty reading and writing. All the kids made fun of her, especially me. Nancy would just stand there, avoiding my eyes, and the tears would roll down her cheeks. Cruel and clever, I was able to manipulate the crowd, so that the taunts of the audience would increase Nancy's misery and shame. We called her stupid, ugly, smelly, dirty -- Nancy never fought back, which was a riot to her tormentors. Then, one day, something changed. I went to a Bible class and Nancy was there, sitting by herself, in the back. The Bible story was about the trial of Jesus, who had been sent to King Herod. The story went on, and Father McKeever, who taught the class, became quite animated in his wonderful Irish fashion. He told us how the Son of God was spat on, beaten and kicked. Father McKeever made us wince as he described the crown of thorns being pushed and pounded into the flesh and bone of our Lord's skull. I could feel the nails, piercing His wrists and feet. Then Father repeated the mocking words, that had been hurled at the "Holy Innocent". Father McKeever paused for a moment, his eyes filled with tears, and he looked at Nancy, in the back of the room, all alone, her head bowed. A look of intense sorrow passed over his features. And then his steel blue eyes were on me. I felt that I was the only one in the room, and that this decent, kind, man of God was speaking -- only to me. "How would it feel to be all alone, and innocent, I wonder?" He asked, softly, in his rich Irish brogue. "How would it feel to be hauled in front of your enemies, dirty and unloved, and no one to protect you?" Tears sprung to my eyes, for when I was seven years old, I loved Jesus, only a little more than I loved Father McKeever. I understood the message, immediately! I was overwhelmed. I looked back at Nancy, in her tattered clothes, covered with dirt, that I had helped to smear on her face, and I felt shame! It seemed as though everyone else missed the point that pierced my heart, that day. I suddenly saw myself, seven years old, in Herod's courtyard, mocking and striking Jesus! In my mind's eye, I saw Him lift His head and look at me, and my seven year old heart broke! I was never the same again. I sat there stunned. Then I gathered my things, stood up, and walked to the back of the room. I pulled a chair up next to Nancy and I sat down. With hands shaking and the most incredible sorrow in my heart, I reached over and took Nancy's hand. She looked at me, her eyes round, and her mouth in the shape of an O. "Nancy," I began, my voice breaking, "I want you to be my friend -- my best friend!" Nancy looked at me for what seemed a long time. The room was silent. I noticed that Nancy's eyes were an incredible shade of blue, framed with lovely, dark lashes. Her lips moved and she smiled, framing white, perfect teeth. Why, Nancy was pretty! After that day, I tripped over myself to become Nancy's friend and protector. I spent the rest of that year with skinned knees, bruises, and a few bloody noses. We moved away the next summer, and I never saw Nancy or Father McKeever again, but both of them have lived in my heart, ever since. Nancy taught me about forgiveness, but Father McKeever taught me about redemption. Wherever you are, dear friends, thank you. Jaye Lewis jlewis@smyth.net Write Jaye and let her know your thoughts on her story! ___________________________________ Jaye says: "This is a true story from the heart of a woman who has never forgotten how it felt to have her heart transformed by the simple faith of a young Irish priest, and the forgiveness of an innocent girl. I wish I could have learned without hurting another, but I am so thankful for their lesson to me. Jaye Lewis is a writer/poet, who celebrates seeing life from a unique perspective. She writes and lives with her family in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. Jaye also shares her life with a cat, a kitten, a bird, a big "special" dog, and, of course, her constant companion, her "tweenie" dachshund, Happy Dog. _________________________________________ Reader Feedback! Dear Mary, Thanx for the story. Quite touching indeed. The moral I got is that we should be humble / forgiving as we do not know who we are dealing with in this life. Happy Birthday in advance, Mary. We share the same birth month. Mine is March 20. God bless you richly granting you wisdom and grace to do His will. Amen Sincerely, Victoria Ikon victoria_ikon@sgs.com Mary, I have only one word to say to describe your story. WOW! Thank you so much for a lovely Easter gift. Blessings to you, in God's ministry with the prisoners. And in all things, may you be truly blessed. Love in Christ. Jaye Lewis jlewis@smyth.net _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of loving-kindness. A little boy jumped up and said, "Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread that would be kindness. But if they put a little jam on it, that would be loving-kindness." Verse for the Day: "Bless the Lord, O my soul...who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things..." Psalm 103: 1,4,5 Kid's Thought For The Day: "When you've just caught the football, the tackle doesn't hurt as much." Parent's Thought For The Day "Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth." --Erma Bombeck Coach's Thought For The Day When asked about which team is the toughest team in the league, he responded with an answer all players must comprehend. He said simply that it was, "The team you are playing." --Roy Campanella Writer's Thought For the Day: "I had marked down in my notebook three characteristics a work of fiction must possess in order to be successful. It must have a precise and suspenseful plot. The author must feel a passionate urge to write it. He must have the conviction, or at least the illusion, that he is the only one who can handle this particular theme." --Isaac Bashevis Singer Deep Thought For The Day: "In dog years, I'm dead." ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS \_\ / HeartTouchers@aol.com /_/ \ "For 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 for the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ 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! __________________________________________ Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business "I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such a beautiful job! They were so surprised and so touched--they really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too! Thanks again!" Kelli-- College Station, TX Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ AOL Users click here: 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/ AOL Users click here: Writer's Guidelines ___________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" To become a HeartTouchers.com Member send an e-mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@AOL.COM Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: All you have to do is send an e-mail with the word "Unsubscribe" in the subject line to: HeartTouchers@aol.com Give it a day or two to be processed... __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm AOL Users click here: The Four Spiritual Laws __________________________________________ |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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