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{Straight From the Heart} *The Matchless Gift!* 6/30/00
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Welcome to "Straight From the Heart!"
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Today I introduce Stephanie Brown, a new writer to Straight From the
Heart. If you enjoy her touching story today, I encourage you to
email her a quick note and let her know. This list has been known
for it's feedback to writers and I am hoping that it continues to be
so. Believe me, the encouragement is wonderful and makes an author
want to keep writing from their heart. So if you are touched in some
way by the stories here, let the writers know. And who knows, you may
start a wonderful long distance relationship with someone!
Michael
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THE MATCHLESS GIFT
By: Stephanie Ray Brown
After my 21 second graders completed reciting the Pledge of
Allegiance, my students settled back in their seats.
But Duane remained standing. Duane was an exceptionally bright and
lovable student. However his home life was far from perfect. His mother
was a single parent who had so many problems, such as drinking, that she
had difficulty being a good parent.
Duane and his three younger sisters were often taken out of the home
until social services thought that it was safe for them to return. Thinking
that maybe he had had a bad night, I walked over to him to see what was the
matter.
As he looked up at me with his dark brown eyes, I could see his hurt
and disappointment.
"Mrs. Brown, aren't you going to open my present?", he asked. "I put
it on your desk."
As I looked at my desk, all I could see was an avalanche of papers,
stickers, and books. Seeing my puzzled look, Duane went to the front of
the room and retrieved his gift from my desk. As he handed it to me, I
noticed the wrapping paper was a napkin from the lunchroom. Carefully
removing the napkin, my gift appeared to be a matchbox.
Although I had only been a teacher for three months, I had learned the
important lesson of asking a child to explain a picture or, in this case, a
gift, instead of disappointing him with a wrong guess. So I asked Duane to
tell me about his gift.
First of all, Duane instructed that I had to use my imagination before
opening my gift. He then began to tell me that this wasn't really a
matchbox but a jewelry box. Inside, if I would use my imagination, I would
find two precious gems. As I opened my jewelry box, I was surprised by the
sight and the smell of two beer caps. Duane informed me that instead of
beer caps they were really two precious silver earrings. He had noticed
that I never wore earrings and wanted me to have some pretty ones.
As my eyes began to tear, I was touched by his creativity and the
thoughtfulness of Duane's precious gift. Since birth, one of my ears was
slightly deformed. Fearing that wearing earrings might draw attention to
the ear, I never wore them. But how could I not wear these precious
earrings given by this special child?
As I placed the earrings on my ears with masking tape, my class
clapped, and Duane stood proudly beside me.
Every year after that, the matchbox remained on my desk. It reminded
me of Duane's act of kindness and of the lessons he taught me. Although his
situation at home was not the best, Duane continued to see the good in
life. The beer caps were an ugly reminder of some problems at home, but
Duane had made them into something beautiful - two precious gems.
Although my ear was deformed, Duane still wanted me to have pretty
earrings. Although Duane did not have much money, he still wanted to give.
Whenever I see Duane's gift on my desk, it encourages me. If I am having
trouble reaching a student, I try to be like Duane and give that student a
piece of my heart.
Out of the good heart of a second-grade boy, one teacher will always
have a gift to treasure. School years come and go, but the memory of my
matchbox gift never will fail to warm my heart, or be extinguished from my
mind.
Stephanie Ray Brown
Savvysdad@aol.com
Send Stephanie an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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A little bit about Stephanie:
Stephanie Ray Brown is a stay at home mom to her 2 children Savannah age 5
and Cameron age 2. She has happily been married to her high school
sweetheart Terry for 13 years and they reside in Kentucky.
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REQUESTS
From: shell@MNSi.Net (Michelle)
Hi Michael
I just wanted to drop you a little note. I wanted to let you know
about my cousin. The one that had his prostate removed because of
the cancer in it.
Well, he went to the doctors yesterday. The doctor told him that they
did remove all the cancer. He doesn't have to have radiation. He still
has to have his kidneys checked but everything looks great.
Thank you very much for all your prayers.
Michelle
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Thought For The Day:
"A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience."
(Doug Larson)
Verse for the Day:
"And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of
offense toward God, and toward men."
Acts 24:16
Kid's Thought For The day:
"Wishing you knew how to jump rope isn't enough."
Parent's Thought For The Day
"A child is someone who stands halfway between an adult and a TV set."
Coach's Thought For The Day
"The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the
broken places."
(Ernest Hemingway)
Deep Thought For The Day:
If your last name is "Horse," it is probably a bad idea to wear a
pony tail.
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "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
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 suprised 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 (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html