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WITandWISDOM(tm) - June 6, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: If all our problems were clothes on a line, you'd run for yours and I'd run for mine." Source: Dave's Daily Chuckle, http://www.Daily-Chuckle.com Subjects: Problems ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: A PRECIOUS GIFT By Sheryl Simons It was so much easier when they were little. Cries in the night, or tears after a tumble seem like such easy things to respond to -- now. I helped them learn to ride a bike, now they are driving cars. I helped them learn to read, now they are writing term papers. I took them to countless sports events and practices, made hundreds of pizzas. I've kissed them good-bye as they left for school hundreds of time. But now, my youngest is 16. My, how times have changed. For a while, it wasn't cool to take hugs from Mom. We've weathered that, and now I occasionally feel their long, strong arms reach around me. I treasure those moments. But now I have big worries. They aren't doing drugs or smoking pot. They don't drink or smoke. My main concern is sex, at this point. Several weeks ago as I spoke with a young coworker and a college student, I mentioned that my 21 year old daughter has taken a vow of chastity until she marries. They laughed at first, thinking she had pulled the wool over my eyes, until I continued. "She has a chance to have a honeymoon like not many others. She will be, for the first time, with her husband-to-be, a gift to him, and only him. She will not be hindered by thoughts of how it was before, she will be fresh and pure, just for him, and hopefully him for her." The younger girl responded with all honesty, "Wow, I wish I could be a virgin again." My son, now has a girlfriend for the first time. She has been "gone" on him for a couple years, but he adamantly denied that he liked her. Now things have changed. They think they are "in love". I know they don't have the faintest idea what 'real love' even is. Real love isn't just passionate lovemaking, that's only a small part. Real love is my grandfather taking care of my grandmother at home until she had to be placed in a nursing home. He cared for her when she didn't know him, and until his own health was in question. Real love is saying "I'll get up with the baby this time, honey, you get some rest." Real love is saving the last piece of cake for your lover. Real love is working two jobs so your partner can finish college. Real love is making the coffee in the morning. Real love is changing the toilet paper roll when it runs out. Real love is fixing the taillight on 'her' car. Real love is cleaning up after someone has been sick. Real love is cooking his favorite meal, or cooking dinner for her after a long day. Real love happens when you don't expect anything in return. I care so much about these two young people, at the very beginning of the rest of their lives. Both of their families have been divorced, but maybe they can be different. And last night I told them. I told them both how much I love them. I told them that on their honeymoon, no matter who their partner is, that that night will be a gift to the person they love. The most precious gift you can give someone, (especially in these days) their purity. I told them that the more physically involved they become is like seeing how close you can drive to the edge of a cliff. Maybe they can focus on being friends. Getting to know themselves and not just their feelings for each other. I probably did not tell them in the most eloquent of words, but one thing they will never wonder about is if I love them. Maybe they will still be in love 75 years from now. Maybe I will dance at their wedding. Maybe they won't have a child before a wedding. I will be praying for them --'cuz I'm his mom! Sheryl Simons mailto:s_simons@hotmail.com Sheryl works part-time at a domestic violence shelter in Michigan and is a weekly columnist of "The Simple Life" in several area newspapers. She loves gardening, homemaking, and sunsets. Sheryl and her husband Richard attend antique car shows together. Pizza night and putt-putt golf is a favorite family activity when the kids are around. Her life's ministry is to heal families before they break apart. She is recent chairman of the local Christian Women's Club and loves speaking to women's groups and writing. She is working on a book about domestic violence. Source: Heart Touchers, http://www.hearttouchers.com Subjects: Love, Marriage ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: All I wanted to do was advertise my lawnmower for sale. You'd think that would be quite straightforward. But noooooo, not with The unAustralian. "Can I take your ad?" the cheerful typist answered when I called the hotline. "Ah, yes, I want to sell my lawnmower," I said. "In the Wanted to Sell section? Certainly, sir. What do you want to say?" she said. fingers obviously ready at her keyboard. "Um, what about "Lawnmower for sale, and then my phone number?" I said. I sensed her apprehension and I heard no typing. "Too much information?" I asked. "No, er, sir...actually, you need probably a few more details to attract prospective buyers," she said. "Concentrate on some of the selling points" "Like what?" I asked. "Well, sir, perhaps you could say what kind of a lawnmower it is." "It's an orange one, or at least it was when I bought it nine years ago. You can still see some bits of orange though between the caked-up dry grass." "No, I'm not sure the color, or even the color it used to be, is all that relevant," she said. "How about telling me what make of lawnmower it is?" "I dunno," I said. "There use to be a model number on the side. I know they don't make them anymore. It's probably still there under all the dried crud, but I can't see it." "Um, let's see," she said. "Maybe you can tell me if it is a two-stroke or a four-stroke engine. Prospective buyers probably would want to know that. "It's neither," I said. "It used to be electric." "Used to be? How do you mean sir?" she asked. "I think the engine is shot," I said. "All it does now is go rrrrrrrrrr and blows one of the house fuses." "Oh, that doesn't sound very good," she said. "I know," I said. "I took it to the repair shop, and they said it would cost just as much to fix it as to buy a new one. That's why I want to sell it." "I see," she said. "Perhaps a handyman will buy it and do it up more cheaply than the repair shop can." "Yeah, that's what I reckoned," I said. "I just hope they can fix the wheels too though." "The wheels?" the typist said. "What's wrong with the wheels?" "Nothing," I said. "They're nearly as good as the day I bought the lawnmower. Good tires and they go round and round and round, no worries." "But you said you hoped the buyer could fix them?" she said. "Yeah well, they keep falling off, that's all," I said. "They're good wheels though. If someone fixed them on really tight, they go round and round and round, no worries. Unless of course, the engine is burnt out. The wheels just seem to sit there as the lawnmower goes rrrrrrrrr and blows a house fuse. Could be worse though. The lawnmower engine could suddenly start, unexpectedly, roar into life and you could accidentally run over the power cord and electrocute yourself and short the power circuit at the same time. Then your wife would really have some mess to clean up." "I see," said the typist. "And....er....how much do you want to ask for it?" "As much as I can get, or the nearest offer," I said. How much will this ad cost me? I better factor that in." "Ten dollars a line," she said. "So, what do you reckon I should say in the ad?" I asked, hoping to get some expert advice. "Oh dear, let's see," she said. She coughed. It sounded a bit like a suppressed laughter. "How about just..."Lawnmower for sale" and your phone number?" Source: Kitty's Daily Mews, Copyright (c) 1997-2002 All rights reserved worldwide, http://www.katscratch.com/ Subjects: Advertising, Lawnmower ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Charles H. Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, was emphasizing to his budding preacher's class the importance of making one's facial expression harmonize with one's speech. "When you speak of Heaven," he said, "let your face light up, let it be irradiated with a heavenly gleam, let your eyes shine with reflected glory. But when you speak of hell - well, then your ordinary face will do!" Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright 2002, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm Subjects: Appearance, Speaking, Preaching ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: "Long after becoming a multimillionaire John D. Rockefeller gave his sons a weekly allowance of fifteen cents. They were given this under the condition that one nickel be placed in the church offering, one nickel saved in the bank, and with the rest they could really live it up!" From: The Wesleyan Advocate Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) August 1986, Pacific Press, http://www.pacificpress.com/signs Submitted by Dale Galusha Subjects: Allowance, Offerings |