{Straight From the Heart}   *The Apology*  11/30/99
                                                                                                                        

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My thanks to Cara for sharing this poem with us.  Look for more of her writing 
in the future!  Today's poem touches on something all of us can work on.........

The Apology

A fallen tear and shaken heart
Connections now are torn apart
Feelings gone and turned away
Caring less for every day
No stopping ends or wanting change
And in the end all take some blame
As I did not see clearly when
I’d argue, meddle, betray a friend
And wanting too much from some lives
I should’ve let go many times
But motives never were contrite
I always thought that I was right
Just never thought I’d hurt someone
I only saw the hurt I’d won

I’m staying now within my lane
And from these deeds will I refrain
To build amends with change in style
Through honesty, no more denial
And I ask nothing in return
My gift is grace that I have learned
And that you all should wash your pain
If any from me should remain

For in my heart there is a truth
To comfort, love and then to soothe
To try to leave a better place
At least to not leave hurt, disgrace

But I am human, imperfect scarred
Just like all of the other hearts
And through my fear, anguish too
I shudder at the things I do:
When I let thoughts betray my truth
Forgetting love and forgiveness

Admission made, amended style
Awareness wakens past denial
Forgive myself releasing pain
Concentrate on what I’ve gained
And know that next time I am wronged
I’ll have compassion for the one
As I have seen what I have done
When fear made me forget the love

 Cara Schwarzkopf

Email Cara and let her now what you thought of her writing:
clscls@hotmail.com 

A little bit about Cara:

I live in New York.  I was a banker a long time.  Have taken time away and 
this year after much study received my M.A. in child development and was 
ordained an Interfaith Minister.  I know those reading your list will 
understand when I say that the most important job I have is coming to know 
love and trust, in other words, coming to know God.

_.·´¯`·._.†._.·´¯`·._._.·´¯`·._.†._.·´¯`·._._.·´¯`·._.†._.·´¯`·._._.·´¯`·._.†._.·´¯`·._._.

REQUEST:

From:	shaley@telusplanet.net (Ellie Braun-Haley)

   I will ask you to please find time this day to pray for a 57 year old
man. Though I am not married to him, I was at one time. Jay Braun and I
were married many years. We had three children together. For the past
three years he has suffered with cancer. For the past month his health
has been getting progressively worse. My daughters Debbie and Laurie are
heart sick for they love their father very much as does our son Jason
who is in HEAVEN.

My daughter has just called and she is feeling such apprehension over
her dad.

He is a good man and has suffered much in his life.

His new wife is busy and not as supportive as a wife or friend or
companion should be (in my humble opinion). That leaves this poor man
very much alone and I know that God would be kind to him no matter what,
but still I ask of you to please send up a prayer for him. I do not know
God's plan in this matter. I only know that HE loves us and we must
always touch his very being when we call upon HIM to give special
attention to another of his children.

Please call upon GOD , our LORD,  OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,  to ease the pain
and burdens of Jay Braun.

I am so grateful for your friendship, for your support, for your
letters, and for all your caring!!
BLESSINGS
Ellie

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Thought For The Day:

"A man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't 
read them."

Verse for the Day:

"Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge."
Proverbs 23:12

Kid's Thought For The day:

"Just because you can't spell doesn't mean you can't write a good story."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"As a mother, my job is to take care of the possible and trust God with the impossible."
(Ruth Bell Graham)

Coach's Thought For The Day

"Competition is the spice of sports, but if you make spice the whole meal, you'll 
get sick."
(George Leonard)

Deep Thought For The Day:

"Where in the nursery rhyme does it say Humpty Dumpty is an egg?"


  _
/_/\/\    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