Skip to main content
#
HeartTouchers.com
Touching Lives Across the Globe -- One E-mail at a Time!
Archives
Hope and Encouragement For Teenagers!
Author Michael T. Powers
Author Kristi Powers
Inspired Audio
Creation News
The Most Touching, Heartfelt Gift You Can Give -- Guaranteed!
Give the Gift of Inspiration to Others... And Yourself!
Christian Nation?
Inspirational books for sale!
Heroes Among Us
Even writers need inspiration!
HeartTouchers.com readers share their hearts on this fateful day
Interviews with some of the best writers on the Internet!
HeartTouchers.com Writer's Guidelines
Ways to Help You Honor your Pastors
State Champions
IwoJima
Life Purpose
Site Map
E-Mail Help

Check out our Creation News Section!
Weekly articles, daily Q & A, and a Creation Comic!

________________________


*The Scars of Motherhood*  5/7/02

________________________


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
____________________________________________

Before we get to today's great story by Phil Ware, I have
a very special announcement to make:

Brittnia Brandl is going to get hitched!  Yes, our beloved
Brittnia Brandl got engaged this past month and Kristi and I
couldn't be happier!  Many of you remember that Brittnia is our
world famous baby-sitter, friend for life, former basketball
player, and one of the most special young people to ever live.
If you would like to read more about this special young lady you
can read a story from our book called, "And Then Some" which
can be found in our archives at:

http://www.HeartTouchers.com/022002

You may also remember Brittnia because of the missions
trip she is taking to Africa this summer as part of the Jesus
Film project.  Kristi and I wanted to thank all of the
HeartTouchers.com members who graciously sponsored her
and her trip.  Brittnia has received close to $500 dollars from
all of you and is now about half way to the $3500 she needs
to raise in order to go.  Kristi and I are so thankful to all of you
for touching this special young lady in our life with your donations.

Brittina will be giving us an update before she goes and then
I have asked if she will give us an update when she comes
back so that all of you will know how your gift touched the lives
of those in Africa through Brittnia.  You can read all about her
trip by visiting:  http://www.HeartTouchers.com/jesus_film

Although she still needs to raise money in order to go, what
she covets most is our prayers.  Keep her in mind when you
pray...

From my family to yours,
Michael
P.S. For those of you who don't have Internet access you can
sponsor her by sending a check or money order made payable to:
"The Macedonian Project" or "Brittnia Brandl".  Please send it to:
Brittnia Brandl, P.O. Box 393 Clinton, WI 53525.

_________________________________________

The Scars of Motherhood

By Phil Ware, (c) 2002
phil@heartlight.org


  I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am completing
  what remains of Christ's sufferings.

  I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.
  (Colossians 1:24; Galatians 6:17)

Easter weekend 2001 was supposed to be a great time in
the Warehouse. Our son Zach was driving home from college
with his fiancée Mandy, along with my mother and stepfather.
Donna was preparing a big meal. We were all excited. Then
we received the call.

"Dad, we've had a slight delay because of an accident
problem!" Zach informed me.

"That's okay," I said trying to understand. "Is it an accident
you are stuck behind or an accident you are in?"

"An accident we were in. I'm calling from the patrol car, but
I'm okay."

"Is everybody else okay?"

"Yes, everybody is okay, except for MiMi, she's having
some trouble breathing. They've taken everybody to the
emergency room..."

It was a head on collision at high speed. Thankfully,
everyone survived in amazingly good shape. The only one
really hurt was my mother...

Seems like that is how it has always been. No matter what has
happened in our lives, the one who has born the brunt of the
pain has been my mother. Whether it was our misbehaviors
as boys, our wounds and slights in school, our broken hearts
with girlfriends, our sports injuries, and especially our dads
long illness and death -- the one who bore the pain was
our mother.

My mother cared for her mother-in-law through her death.
She stood by my stepfather during one of his hours of
greatest pain, both of them handling an unthinkable situation
with dignity and faith. Her dad passed away when he 51.
So did her husband (my dad). Her mother battled cancer for
over two decades, and was in my mother's care when she
passed away. My mother has felt the pain of squabbles and
imperfections in her children and stepchildren. She has
enjoyed the laughter and endured the messes of her 24
grandchildren. Through all the ups and downs of life, she
has maintained and passed on her faith to her children's
children. And she has born the hurt so, as much as is
possible, we wouldn't have to.

The wounds are mostly mended from the wreck from over a
year ago. Some things, however, will never be quite the
same again. My mom will have another reminder in her
body of her desire to be with and to love her children and
her grandchildren.

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary had said to the angel
when told of Jesus' miraculous conception. So is every
mother who has committed herself to rear her children in
the Lord and carry them as offerings to the King of Kings.
In their hearts, and quite often in their bodies, they carry
the marks of that service. Unfortunately, no one can fully
appreciate those marks... except the Holy One carried
in Mary's womb and who has born the marks of our healing.
He will not forget their works of grace, sacrifices of love,
and scars of pain.

Mothers are tough.

Mothers are precious.

And in Jesus, thank God, Mothers are forever.

Thanks, Mom for bearing the marks in your body of your
love for us. They have not been forgotten. They will not be
wasted. You have helped give us all a forever family.

Phil Ware, (c) 2002
phil@heartlight.org

Write Phil and let him know your thoughts on his story!

________________________

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Westover Hills
Church of Christ in Austin, Texas. For the past five
years, he has also been coeditor of HEARTLIGHT
Magazine. Check out Heartlight Magazine at the following link:
http://www.heartlight.org

******

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!
_________________________________________


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


"My whole family wants to thank you for the wonderful job you did on the video. Time went by so fast we never got a chance to call and let you know how happy we were. We had wrapped one and put the other in the VCR. We started it and they were so surprised. My dad was speechless, which is a rare thing, and it brought tears to my mom's eyes. They loved it!! We know it was really time consuming, and we wanted to thank you and your wife also. She was always so nice whenever we called with any questions. Thanks again and have a wonderful holiday season."
The Creighton Family..........Janesville, WI

____________________________________________

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 and 4, Creating Emotionally
Safe Schools, and in the upcoming books: Don't Sweat the
Small Stuff Story Collection, Chicken Soup for the Romantic
Soul, Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul, 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!

Beautiful site ... much needed to keep the heart and soul alive in this materialistic rat race life... where we forget to feel... to share... to celebrate life..
Suchi from India
suchjo@hotmail.com
_________________________________________


Thought For The Day:

"Don't be 'consistent' but be simply true."
--Oliver Wendell Holmes


Verse for the Day:

"Simply let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'.
Anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
--Matthew 5:37


Kid's Thought For The Day:

"It doesn't count if your swing is going the highest
if you are getting pushed."


Parent's Thought For The Day

"There is no finer investment for any community
than putting milk into babies." --Winston Churchill


Coach's Thought For The Day

"Correction does much, but encouragement does more.
Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower."
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Writer's Thought For the Day:

"The bad novelist constructs his characters; he directs them and makes them speak. The true novelist listens to them and watches them act; he hears their voices even before he knows them." --Andre Gide


Deep Thought For The Day:

"He was a man of rare gifts.  He rarely gave any."

___________________________________________

  _
/_/\/\    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!

___________________________________________

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 s
end 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
__________________________________________
Transfer your photographs or old home videos over to DVD or MP4 files! Give the gift that will touch your family's heart and soul.

You can join the 15,000 followers on his Facebook Nature Photography by clicking on the link above!

Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time!
Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
Site Powered By
    BizStudio Site Manager
    Online web site design