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*No Easy Way Outs* 4/25/02 _________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________ Are you looking for the perfect gift to give for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Graduation? Then check out Michael's Video Production business: Video Imagery! You can transfer your photos over to videotape, or even DVD, all set to music that will make your images come alive! The cost is only $1 per photo, which means no matter what your budget is, you can give the most meaningful gift you have ever given because you determine how many photos you transfer, and therefore, how much you spend! Want to make Mom, Dad, or your favorite graduating senior cry happy tears? Then check out all Michael has to offer at the following web site: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/video_imagery AOL Users click here: Video Imagery "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 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 _________________________________________ No Easy Way Outs By Dee Ann E. L. Horvath I feel having children spread out over so many years gives me a wonderful opportunity to observe a child's changing views on all aspects of life. It is interesting to see how their ideas and perceptions transform as they develop. It seems my children found everything new and exciting when they are young but as they moved into their teens and beyond they seemed to become more practical as they learned more about the world around them and what it would take to live their dreams. There is nothing wrong with that but I wonder if they are selling themselves short or are just plain inert. I wonder if somewhere along the line my husband and I, the society they grew up in, or a little of both can failed them in some way. My youngest daughter, Elizabeth who is seven, has so many professions she would like to pursue. Everything from working at a gas station, because she likes the smell of gasoline to becoming a horse trainer, even though we don't own any horses and she has never been around them much. She wanted to be a dancer but became apathetic towards tap and ballet classes when she discovered it took a lot of practice. Right now she loves girl scouts and really enjoys it. Seven year olds are not practical and shouldn't be at this age. They should test the waters and try any venue that is appealing to them. Be it through hands on experience or educating themselves through reading and other media. As parents even though we may not always have the finances to aid them in their callings but we can give them with our support and check all possible ways so that they can get an idea what that occupation entails. My middle daughter Katie, who is almost 15, is all consumed with being a teenager accompanied by the impending driver's license just around the corner. When she was Elizabeth's age she wanted to be a marine biologist and work with the whales and dolphins but she hated taking care of the pets we had at home. I told her that that she wouldn't be able to work and train sea mammals if they were being starved to death and their habitats were dirty. " Yeah right Mom!" was what I got. As soon as Katie started high school her counselors were asking her what she wanted to be. I realize she has time but if you have taken a look at high school curriculum lately you will find it is now more like college. She tells me she feels pressured and is grasping at careers that will take as little amount of schooling and money as possible. So I guess marine biologist is off her list. Katie is beautiful but not tall enough to be a runway model. There are other avenues she could pursue in that line of work but one rejection was all she could handle. Right now she is considering flower arranging and a veterinarians assistant. Again the aspect of animal care comes in to play. Mari Ann, my oldest daughter, just turned twenty and got married at nineteen. She loved to dance and still does but she stopped lessons in middle school. She always loved organizing and heading projects. By the time she got into high school she announced she wanted to become a professional tourist. I asked her how she would finance her travels and she answered me with, "I'll take pictures Mom!" Mari Ann never seemed interested in photography and never took one photography class in high school. I should have bit my tongue but I had to inform her that magazines and newspapers want more than disposable camera snapshots. After graduating she was eager to get a taste of adulthood and decided to wait before starting college. She tried a number of jobs and wound up as an assistant manager at a discount card store and seems relatively happy. Mari Ann also feels that any career that requires a college degree and pays less that $25,000 a year is not worth the amount of time and money spent. On the other hand, I feel that if an occupation is something you will enjoy doing for the rest of your life then it is worth it. I guess Mari Ann is more practical than me. Our children were taught that once they started something they had to finish it. They are not quitters but they have become non-joiners. Deep down inside we all know the easy way out is not the best way ninety-nine percent of the time and anything really worthwhile takes hard work and devotion. Then why are so many people taking the quick fix more and more? Reflecting back on it now I see there are many factors that have come into play. The fast paced and instant gratification society that we all live in is truly taking its toll on children and adults alike. If you are hungry there is fast food. If you want to buy something there are credit cards. If you are sick of looking at your spouse's face there is no fault divorce. It has become a way of life even if you as parents have tried your best to instill commitment, dedication and good hard work ethics. The "have to have it and get it now" mentality is very appealing on the surface. However, in the long run it leaves you feeling unfulfilled, fat and financially over extended. No wonder why people feel so depressed about their lives. In some ways it seems like a million years ago and in other ways it seems like it was just a blink of an eye that I held each one of my girls in my arms. Newborns are so sweet and innocent with the whole world lying at their feet. I remember asking myself what would their special contributions to the world be or in other words what would they do with their lives? Where would their individual likes and dislikes take them and how would their father and myself guide them on their journeys? Maybe if material things weren't becoming easier and easier to acquire the wrong way then perhaps the spiritual side of life would own its rightful appointment in the scheme of life. I want my children to learn that everything has a price and eventually it will have to be paid. There are no easy way outs in life. When they fully understand that then this Mom won't be so worried about her children's vocations in life. Dee Ann E. L. Horvath Ambereye3@aol.com Write Dee Ann and let her know your thoughts on her story! _____________________________________ Born in Chicago Illinois in 1955. Raised partially in Wisconsin and then returned to the Chicago suburbs in 1965 where I have remained ever since. Married to my high school sweet heart for over 26 years and we have three wonderful daughters together. I enjoy life and meeting people. To me every person is a novel waiting to be read. Some are better reading than others are but there is always something to be learned. I now have 2 columns on the net: Another Place, Another Time http://www.heartswithsoul.com/anotherplace.htm Storms and Rainbows http://www.ewgpresents.com/rainbows.htm Links to other published works Thunder & Steel free e-books http://members.tripod.com/~Wildchild_7/e-books.html Lake Of Dreams http://hometown.aol.com/ambereye3/ 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 it is expressly prohibited to cut and paste the stories from here 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! _________________________________________ 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, Creating Emotionally Safe Schools, and in the upcoming books: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Story Collection and The Miracle of Boys. 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.) ____________________________________________ Reader Feedback! Thank you for the beautiful story. I truly believe that in difficult circumstances our friends and faith are our guardian angels. Here's to all good and true friendships! Continue to shine on! With love: Mary Steeneveldt, zoenks1@yahoo.com Dear Michael, Your story on Caleb (Batman) really strikes home something that has been one of my uppermost considerations in recent times, and that is the need to spend quality time with my children. I'm sure the Lord must be drawing my attention to this area at this time. In today's world where parents are outside the home for the whole day pursuing means of livelihood, this does not appear possible as most of the time, the children are already in bed by the time you are back form work, or are not yet up when you are leaving for work in ther morning(in a town like Lagos, Nigeria to beat the traffic). What we parents need is a conscious making out of time to spend with these children. It really makes for their stability in the years ahead. I had to leave my job in the Bank because of this fact and right now work as a Church Administrator, even though sometimes I wonder if it is not equally time consuming (9 to 6). The children themselves actually crave the companionship of their parents and we need to reach out more to them, so that as you noted,in future we will not have moments of regret wishing we could turn back the clock to spend more time with our children. God bless you Eme Ibitayo (Lagos, Nigeria) deborah_bee62@hotmail.com _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "One man that has a mind and knows it can always beat ten men who haven't and don't." (George Bernard Shaw) Verse for the Day: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Kid's Thought For The Day: "Kittens are cute, but they have sharp teeth." Parent's Thought For The Day "If you want to bring your family closer together, buy a smaller car." Coach's Thought For The Day "Self discipline is when your conscience tells you to do something and you don't talk back." (W. K. Hope) Writer's Thought For the Day: "I can't stress enough the importance of revision. That first draft is wonderful and exciting -- that's when you fall in love. The revision is more like the marriage. You take what you love and come to terms with the practical, domestic life." --Jill McCorkle Deep Thought For The Day: "I'm really glad the guy who invented the Ray Gun was named Ray. Being shot with a Fred gun just wouldn't sound as cool." ___________________________________________ _ /_/\/\ 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 ___________________________________________ 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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