Heart Touchers

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*A Dose of Good Medicine* 4/23/02

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It is my pleasure to introduce another new writer to
HeartTouchers today. Please give Karen DeLoach one
of our patented HeartTouchers.com warm welcomes!

From my family to yours,
Michael

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A Dose of Good Medicine

By Karen Harper DeLoach

It was a picture perfect Sunday morning -- bright sunshine,
dew drops on green blades of grass, fresh cool air, puffy white
clouds against a clear blue sky. I should have been humming
"This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be
glad in it?" Instead, as I walked into the foyer of my church,
I absolutely dreaded the day.

It was 9 a.m., time for Praise Team practice. Normally, I loved
singing with the Praise Team. At 9:40, Sunday School. I
relished preparing the lesson for my Young Adult Class each
week. We were in the middle of a challenging Bible study
based on Beth Moore's Breaking Free, Making Liberty in
Christ a Reality in Life, and I thoroughly enjoyed teaching
it to a wonderful group of students. Afterward, we could
all look forward to worship and ministry in the Word with the
rest of the church congregation. What's not to like?

But that morning, I couldn't think past my pain. I was having
"a bad spell," as grandma used to say. My crickety joints were
giving me a fit! Rather than looking forward to singing praises
to the Lord, I was dreading the pain of standing up through it.
And the two steps up to the stage might as well have been fifty.

Thankfully, I hadn't seen anybody since entering the church.
I know they would have read "dread" all over my face. Not a
good testimony! I took a drink from the water fountain and
then stepped into the ladies restroom. Suddenly, deja vu all
over again?

I remembered another Sunday morning many years earlier.
I was heading to the ladies room when I saw my Sunday
School teacher go in. As I waited my turn outside the door,
I heard her retch and moan and throw up, murmuring, "Lord,
help ... so sick ... so sick ... "in between retching. She
was experiencing a mid-30's pregnancy and was suffering
with morning sickness.

I walked away, not wanting her to be embarrassed by stepping
outside and finding someone standing there, listening to her
dilemma. I went on to class.

A few minutes later, she walked into the College and Career
class with a big smile on her face and a lilt to her voice as she
called out, "Good morning, everyone!" She made a funny
comment and laughed. Then she began our Bible study,
teaching with all her usual enthusiasm and insight.

As a young woman barely out of my teens, that had an impact
on me. My teacher could have called in sick that morning.
Or she could have slumped into the classroom with a totally
different demeanor which reflected how she really felt. Instead,
she chose to put on a smile, obviously depending on the Lord
to strengthen her for the task at hand. I wanted to be that kind
of Christian.

Now, thirty years later, I remembered her example. Lord, I don't
want my demeanor to divert anyone's attention from You when
I'm singing or teaching. Help me to walk in Your strength this
morning.

I couldn't do a whole lot about my limp, but I could definitely do
something about my countenance. Before I walked out of the rest
room that morning, I practiced my smile in the mirror. And as I
headed toward the sanctuary, I softly sang, "This is the day the
Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it ..."

The Word says "A merry heart does good, like medicine?"
(Proverbs 17:22). Thank God for a teacher who taught me how
to take a dose, even on the worst of mornings.

Karen Harper DeLoach, copyright 2002
kdeloach@frontiernet.net

Write Karen and let her know your thoughts on her story!
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Karen is the author of "Thirty-one Years and a Stumble," a story
that offers inspiration and hope in the testimony of God's healing
of her marriage. She is scheduled to have her story
"Remembering" published in God Allows U-Turns -- American
Moments. She is the mother of three handsome sons and is
her husband Bill's Girl-Friday at their business in Statesboro,
Georgia. If you would like to read an excerpt from her book,
as well as other inspirational writings, please check out her
website at: http://karendeloach.tripod.com

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Heart 2, Stories for the Teen's Heart 2, Heartwarmers, God
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1918 Liberty Lane
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Reader Feedback!

Thank you, Mr. Kiser for such a thought-provoking story. I, myself,
have quite a collection of medals belonging to men who have
served our country with dignity and honor. It has always saddened
me to see these symbols of sacrifice casually discarded. You have
given me a wonderful idea and a way to honor these soldiers. With
Memorial Day just a month away, perhaps there may be others out
there who may do the same, as well. God bless you. Please
keep writing and inspiring!    ~Chris Donovan-Hayden, PrettyGBC@cs.com

I think what you did was wonderful "God Bless you!!!!!!
ps513@webtv.net

What a beautiful thing to do! I'm sure the owner of the medal watched from above and was graciously grateful! God bless you for honoring him/her that way!

Love,
Rita in Louisiana, Ractl@aol.com

Hi Roger, You did it again!! This story went straight to my heart. I wonder
who that medal belong too and why they decided to put it a good will store?
I still have my Uncle's American Flag that they put on his coffin and I
never thought about ever doing something like that. I hold that near and
dear to my heart and my son-in-law even refolded it for me. Thanks again.
Johanna Buckely, shd43@snet.net
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Thought For The Day:

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities;
an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."
--Reginald Mansell

Verse for the Day:

"If God is for us who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"If the ponies you draw don't look like everyone else's, that's good."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"The most important thing that parents can teach their children
is how to get along without them." --Frank Clark

Coach's Thought For The Day

"If you have knowledge, let others light their candle at it"
--Margaret Fuller

Writer's Thought For the Day:

"If you are a writer, you locate yourself behind a wall of silence and no matter what you are doing, driving a car or walking or doing housework, which I love, you can still be writing, because you have that space." --Joyce Carol
Oates

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Did you ever try to get the trash men to take an old trash can
away? Can't be done."

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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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