Heart Touchers

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*Celebrate the Gift* 3/28/02

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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
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1918 Liberty Lane
Janesville, WI 53545

(Please allow about 2 weeks for delivery.)

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It is my pleasure to welcome another new writer
to HeartTouchers.com today. Be sure to give Eunice
Loecher a warm welcome as she shares from her
heart today about the loss of her husband...

From my family to yours,
Michael

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Celebrate the Gift

By Eunice Loecher

My husband had been dead less than two weeks. Each time a
wave of grief washed over me, the words, "Celebrate The Gift,"
came with it. This continued for three days. I felt as though
God was shouting those words over and over again in my ear,
victoriously, triumphantly. "Celebrate The Gift!"

Immediately, my mind would be flooded with wonderful memories,
memories that replaced the numbing sorrow. My husband had
truly been God's gift to me. Over thirty years of incredible
memories. "Celebrate The Gift!"

This happened the week before Easter. I began to realize, God had
a deeper message for my heart. The questions came. Had I ever
really mourned the suffering and death of Christ? Have I grieved
for His lost days, weeks and years? Time that could have been
filled with miracles and great teachings.

My answer, "No." Each Easter I simply celebrated the Gift, God's
promise of eternal life, a promise of resurrection. These are the
gifts that bring peace to my pain and hope to my heart, gifts that
I cling to.

I continue each day to celebrate the many gifts God brings into my
life. The wonderful relationship evolving between my eighty-nine

year old mother and myself. We spend time together each
day, first as mother and daughter and now as friends. We share the
common experience of widowhood. All these parts bind us together
in a unique way.

The gift of time with my mother has allowed me to learn many new
things about her family. I treasure the stories and share them
with my grandchildren. My grandmother lived past her hundred and
first birthday.

As a young woman she sang opera. The stories of Mom's love for
dancing. A cherished family history.

The gifts that come with tragedy bind our hearts together. My
youngest daughter took a leave of absence from her job
while her father was ill. She came willingly to help me care for
him at home during his final weeks. Emotionally and physically it
would have been beyond my strength to care for him alone. A bond
of understanding exists because of what we endured together. We
are able to celebrate this special gift of love we shared for a
husband and father.

My gifts come quietly in sunrises and sunsets. Occasionally they
are a mixture of joy and sadness as with my grandson's
first birthday. My husband and father lived to celebrate his birth
but neither of them lived to celebrate his first birthday. The
gifts surprise with the joy they bring as I witness my grandson's
first steps, or the day my granddaughter lost her first tooth.

Most precious of all, the whispered promise, "Celebrate the Gift."
Now, one day at a time, I'm learning to do just that.

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord."
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
� Eunice Loecher
crafty2@newnorth.net

Write Eunice and let her know your thoughts on her story!
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Eunice Loecher lives in Woodruff, Wisconsin. Her husband died in
1998. She is the full time caregiver for her two grandchildren and
her eight-nine year old mother. Eunice enjoys writing and
celebrating the gifts the Lord brings into her life each day. Her
stories currently appear in volumes one and two of God Allows
U-Turns.

Note from Michael: Exactly four years ago this morning, Eunice's
husband passed away. Be sure to write to Eunice and let her know
your thoughts and feelings as you read her story...

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Reader Feedback!

I was sent the story of Father McKeever. What a wonderful story. I was like Nancy when I was growing up little self esteem, developing faster than the rest of girls in my class, and very low vision, if I couldn't see the snickers, etc., I could hear them, but Praise God He has always been my strength.

Thank you, Karen

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Thought For The Day:

"The man who sings his own praises always gets the wrong pitch."

Verse for the Day:

"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." --Proverbs 27:2

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Squeeze the tube slowly, because once the toothpaste is out it's hard to get it back in."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"No need to worry about your teenagers when they're not at home. A national survey revealed that they all go to the same place --'out'-- and they all do the same thing -'nothing'." --Bruce Lansky

Coach's Thought For The Day

Too often we forget it is the players who do the competing. You never heard the word "I" so much as when coaches get together. Our challenge is to keep the focus off ourselves and work towards developing a cohesive team. We're all important to the overall effort, but none of us is irreplaceable. --Denny Raarup

Writer's Thought For The Day:

"Forget the room of one's own -- write in the kitchen, lock yourself up in the bathroom. Write on the bus or the welfare line, on the job or during meals, between sleeping or waking. While you wash the floor or clothes listen to the words chanting in your body." --Gloria Anzaldua

Deep Thought For The Day:

If it's such a "beautiful day in the neighborhood," then why is Mr.
Rogers always wearing a sweater?

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_
/_/\/\    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
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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
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