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______________________________________ If you enjoy this free weekly e-mail 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 a blank e-mail to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past stories in our archives at: http://www.HeartTouchers.com Be sure to check out our brand new inspirational list just for teenagers! Heart4Teens.com To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com or visit: This weekly list contains Heart-touching stories, quotes, links to uplifting web sites, and humor geared towards the teenage crowd. However, parents of teens, grandparents, college students, youth pastors, teachers, coaches, and anyone who just can't read enough inspirational stories will also benefit! What are you waiting for?! Subscribe today to receive your weekly encouragement! _________________________________________ Hey all you writers out there! Here is another opportunity to have your story published in a Chicken Soup book! I received this the other day and wanted to pass it along to all of you. As a videographer who has videotaped hundreds of weddings, I can tell you that there are few days more emotional and touching than a bride's wedding day. Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul will be an incredible success and you can be a part of it... Keep writing! ********* Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul, stories of love, laughter and commitment to last a lifetime. Share with us your precious memories, heartwarming, inspiring and humorous true tales that celebrate weddings and the true meaning of marriage. Chapter topics include: How you met, unique proposals, wedding day moments, daddy's little girl, keepsakes and time-honored traditions, powerful moments of healing, bridal party memories, in-laws and family, embarrassing moments, adjusting to married life, second chances, keeping the love alive and anniversaries. Visit www.bridesoul.com to submit your story. Maria Nickless _____________________________________________________ A LIFE WELL LOVED by Jaye Lewis
I know the pattern of the wallpaper. I know the color of the rug. I've sat against the baseboard, and I've cried my eyes out, believing that life just wasn't worth living. I have felt the fear of hopelessness, and I have felt the loss of faith, in God, my family, and myself. My life came crashing down, and within 24 hours, I found myself inside a psychiatric ward, staring out at the world through unbreakable, reinforced glass. I can remember clearly that my life was in control -- I was sure of it -- until the very last straw. When I felt the weight of that last insignificant event, I just splintered into a million pieces. I hit bottom. This joyous season is the time of the year that often defeats the lonely and the lost. While the rest of the world is celebrating, they are going through the motions, with a sense of hopelessness that literally saps every ounce of their strength. I've been there. I've sat staring at a bottle of pills, trying to come up with a list of reasons not to swallow the whole bottle. It didn't help that I had a loving husband or that I had adolescent children who needed me. It didn't even help that I came from a strong faith; that I had loved or dreamed or prayed. I was now living in a valley of shadows. That was nearly 15 years ago. I had choices. I could give up, or I could begin again. I chose to begin. It did not matter that the light at the end of the tunnel appeared to be an oncoming train. It was a light, and I chose to follow. A sense of humor helped. Trust me, there is a lot to laugh about on the inside of a psychiatric ward. The end of the year doesn't have to be the end of your life. There are so many people especially at this time of the year, who believe that they have no future, and I want you to know that you do. As Billy Crystal would say, Life is a do-over. I promise you that it really is. I'm not talking about a change of diet or fashion. I'm talking about a change of heart. Start over. If you feel that life has taken everything away, GIVE. Take the focus off yourself, and focus on someone who is in need. There are soup kitchens, food pantries, and orphanages where everything you do will make a difference in someone else's life. Start where you are, but don't stop there. I began to understand the joy of unconditional love in a psychiatric ward. A young woman who had been battered by life and disease was about to give up. She had never had a birthday party, so, in secret, with the help of my husband and children, we threw her one. The best part was in remaining anonymous! Beginning with very small steps, I began to grow and to heal. At this time of the year, if life seems unlivable, get professional counseling. See a priest or minister or rabbi. Don't give up. As we used to say in the psychiatric ward, the worst time to attempt suicide, is when you're depressed! No matter what hurts, don't do it. Don't take the pills. Don't do anything that will end your life, and don't ever believe that your life is not worth living. It is! I have been through that dark valley. Since then, I have seen the sun rise thousands of times. I have watched the rainbows paint a hundred skies. I have seen my children grow up and become responsible, loving women. I am growing old with the love of my life! I am not beautiful. I am not slim. I am not young. But I still find each day a gift, and I thank God for the ability to see, to feel, to touch, to smell, and to love. You see, a life well loved is the greatest life of all. Jaye Lewis Write Jaye and let her know your thoughts on her story! ***** _________________________________________ Can't get enough inspirational stories in your life? Then order a copy of the inspirational book: Straight From the Heart "A Celebration of Life" by Michael T. Powers for only $13.95. Click here: http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/michaeltpowers01.html You can preview his book by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com/michael_powers REQUESTS: Dear Friends and Family, _________________________________________ Thought For The Day: "It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent."
"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1,2
"It's more fun to color outside the lines."
If you keep telling your child something is wrong with him, sooner or later he'll believe it. Follow every, "that's wrong," by saying what's right.
"To get the true measure of any athlete, note how much more they do than is required of them." Writer's Thought for the Day: "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader." --Robert Frost
"Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else." MICHAEL T. POWERS "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 by faith in 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! __________________________________________ 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! The 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 Let me make you a video from your photos! Check out my video production business by visiting: http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery/ ___________________________________________ 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/ ___________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm |
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Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
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