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WITandWISDOM(tm) - October 18, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: If all the misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart. - Socrates Source: Inspire, http://www.inspirelist.com/ ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: A newspaper article tells about two teenage boys in a swimming accident. Apparently, two male friends became over-heated from an unexpected warm spring day where temperatures rose to the mid-eighties, and since the boys were near a large lake, they decided to go for a swim. The water felt refreshing, although it was still very cool from winter. Upon attempting to swim across the massive lake, hypothermia began to hit, and as the boys began to fight the weakness of their muscles, they suddenly realized how serious the situation now was. While the one boy had more weight on his body to keep him in less critical shape, the thinner boy had no protection from the cold water which robbed him of his ability to breathe and swim properly. After a few desperate screams for help, the thin teen sunk below the water, but surfaced in time to cough up water which had now entered his lungs. As the teen slid back in to a watery grave, as if out of no where, a man reached down and grabbed him, pulling him to safety. Both boys were brought to dry land, although the teen who had swallowed water needed to be transported to a hospital. His lips were blue, skin pale, and body shivering uncontrollably. As it turns out, the man who saved the teens just happened to be getting ready to test a new jet ski he bought. He heard the cries for help in the distance and rushed immediately to the boys assistance. Had this man not been at the right place at the right time, I have no doubt some poor mother and father would have received the most devastating news of their life. That mother would have been me. You see, the above story is real, and the teen who nearly drowned was my son. Its pain is still very real. While driving to the emergency room in a frantic state, unsure if our son was living or dead, I realized just how much I love him. Sure, we say we love our kids, but do we fully understand the depth of this love until something life-threatening like this happens? In the blink of an eye, our heart can be torn in two, and a piece of our self lost forever. At that moment, I knew I would easily give my life for my child to live. It wasn't necessary for me to offer my life that day, but as my tears turned to shouts of praise to God for allowing my son to live, I could not help but think about Christ's sacrifice on the cross so that we, too, may truly live. Not only did Christ allow himself to be used as a living sacrifice, but God the Father offered His Son for you and for me. Such a thought is almost incomprehensible! What a magnificent love God must have to offer mankind such a gift! Let us not let life and love go unappreciated. Embrace all the beauty life has to offer, and invite God in to your life so that you may know His all-encompassing love. By Melanie Schurr, Copyright (c) 1998 http://www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: True Crime By Robert Byron I bolted upright in the bed as I was awakened abruptly by the absence of the telephone ringing. I checked on the children only to find that they were all safe in their beds and there was no reason for me to worry. It was then that I knew that my worst nightmare had not been realized. I didn't hear any strange noises so I went downstairs without caution. I must say I was not in the least bit afraid, as I had no anticipation of running into trouble. It was just yesterday that I didn't buy a weapon for just such an occasion as this and now I was glad that I didn't. I flipped on the light in the kitchen to find everything in its place except for the butcher knife. It was in the dishwasher. Why was the butcher knife in the dishwasher and who had put it there? Was it clean or dirty? I opened the dishwasher and carefully examined the knife but was unable to answer my questions. While firmly gripping the knife in my hand, I slowly opened the refrigerator door and looked inside. No surprises there. I removed a large slab of roast beef and before I knew it, I was uncontrollably hacking at it with the butcher knife. The meat lay before me in a crumpled heap. What had I done? I began to panic. I knew I would have to destroy the evidence and would need to do so quickly. My adrenaline was pumping as I reached for a loaf of bread. With the accuracy of a French chef, I piled the meat onto a slice of bread. "Okay," I thought. "I'm almost there. Nobody will ever suspect a thing." I knew I must hurry or risk being caught. As I reopened the door to the refrigerator my heart jumped to my throat. "Where is it?" I thought. With much haste I rummaged through the icebox but to no avail. "What am I going to do now?" I was horrified. The jig was up. We were out of Miracle Whip. Copyright (c) 2002 Robert Byron All Rights Reserved Source: Absolute Humor, http://AbsoluteRobeo.com ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Antiques are things one generation buys, the next generation gets rid off, and the following generation buys at auction at amazing prices. Source: Gentle Humor, mailto:words@netcarrier.com?subject=GHSubscribe ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Dr. W. E. Sangster once told an unusual story. He said a woman in England found a basket on her doorstep. When she opened the basket she found a pigeon with a note tied on its leg. The note demanded that money be fastened to the pigeon's leg, otherwise her house would be burned that evening. She immediately notified the police, who came, tied streaming ribbons on the bird, loosed it, and followed it by plane through the air. After considerable flight the pigeon alighted on the barn where its owners were waiting. It was an easy matter for the police to make the arrest. By Gaston Foote Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) August 3, 1954, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com Submitted by Dale Galusha |