"People are like stained glass windows. They glow and sparkle when it is sunny and bright; but when the sun goes down their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." ~Unknown
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spring has sprung at Candlemart! Spring colors, scents and shapes are in bloom! Fill your home with the soothing scent of Lavender, Strawberries N' Cream, Vanilla, Apple, Pear, Citrus, & Grassy Spring! Or give yourself a visual delight with our floating daisies, water lilies, pansies and countless more fun floating candles!
http://www.qksrv.net/click-404250-55515~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is always so awe-inspiring to find such pure goodness in sometimes surprising people! Deb tells the story so perfectly and her observations are heartening to share!
"Three Wise Men"
by Deborah Simmons
Christmas sometimes comes when you least expect it--and it was one of those times that I happened upon three young men who each looked about eighteen years old--nineteen, tops. They were dressed in khaki shorts and tee shirts--one of them sported a baseball cap--and they were probably college freshmen. I didn't notice them right away, because I was busy scouting out the competition in the "Inspirational" book section of Barnes and Noble. But before long, I had worked my way down the shelves in their direction and when I finally noticed them, we were only about six inches apart.
The aisle we stood in was flanked by two stacks of books; my side held the inspirational titles, theirs displayed a wide variety of Bibles and other religious books. I didn't pay much attention to them at first, although I was careful not to bump into any of them with my head since the books I wanted to look through were (of course) on the bottom shelf. Being so close, however, it wasn't difficult to hear what they were saying and I soon found myself looking less and listening more.
One of them took a Bible off the shelf, leafed through it and commented, "This is just like one I used to have, but I wore the cover off."
Number Two replied, "Yeah, that happens. Get a Bible cover; that helps."
Number three added, "I had a paperback Bible once and it didn't last long. Do you think she'll want a paperback or should we get her one with a leather cover?"
"Leather's better."
"How about this one?
"Yeah, that's good, but it'll cost us a bunch. Maybe we should shoot for the leather look, instead of the real thing."
Their conversation continued for the next five or six minutes. Slowly and carefully, they examined several volumes--some large, others small; there were paperbacks and leather-covered volumes; some were black or white or pink or of different translations. They opened each one and named off its advantages.
"This one has a concordance."
"Hey, these are great maps."
"I like the print on this one."
On and on they spoke, carefully researching what by now I had determined would be a gift for a female. Whether she was a friend, mother, sister or classmate, I couldn't tell. But she was apparently either very young or a new Christian and it appeared they were buying her a very important Bible--her first.
I didn't see what they finally decided on. We were so close to one another that their backs hid their final choice from my prying eyes. I was so tempted to say something to them, but I let the moment pass. Discussing how they were going to pay for it ("I've got cash," "Credit card," "Hope they take checks"), they ambled off to the cashier and made their purchase.
Instantly, I regretted my reluctance to ask for whom they were buying this present and for what occasion, and to compliment them not only on their choice of gifts, but for their refreshing behavior and outlook on life. I searched the store, but they were gone and with them went my chance to let three remarkable young men know they had restored my faith in today's youth and our nation's future.
I know they're not the only decent, God-loving and wholesome young people out there today. Common sense tells me that. But they were the only ones I had run across--up close and personal--in quite a while. With my own children all grown up now with families of their own, I've lost track of the latest generation of teens and young adults. And to my shame, I've allowed the movie industry, sensationalized television stories, and horrific headlines to form my opinion of the kids who will become US in just a few years. I've let the body-pierced, purple-haired, mouthy kids I've seen running around the malls these days color my view of ALL kids. I've allowed the hideous stories of youngsters planting bombs, children using alcohol or drugs and killing themselves (or others) in the process, and kids shooting other kids to harden my heart against those who don't fit into those grim and grisly categories.
And there are many.
In fact, there must be an incalculable number of good kids out there - kids who don't smoke, drink, do drugs, commit felonies or kill innocent people. They don't garner the national headlines or the top news story of the day because what they do is subdued, tasteful, and unassuming. (And of course, no one makes movies about them. Too dull and boring, I guess.)
Evil, as long as this world exists, will live among us. But it will not triumph over us. We, the good, compassionate and God-fearing ones, will outnumber, outwork and outsmart those who practice evil until the end of time. Their deeds steal our attention because they're so foul, but even those abhorrent acts cannot steal away from us the fact that we're on the winning team--and they aren't.
So, like another three men who brought gifts so long ago, those young men performed a similar deed that day by buying a Bible for someone they loved and giving me back my faith in the human race.
I guess you could call it an early Christmas present.
Deborah Dee Simmons copyright 2001
simmons@pathwaynet.comDeb is a wonderful, extremely gifted writer and poet! She has written some of our best-loved stories for 2TheHeart, as well as fairly sweeping our poetry contest last summer! She also writes for Dayspring greeting cards, which is an amazing achievement and I am proud to call her one of our family and a very dear friend. See her profile on our Writer's Hall of Fame page! (Please write to Deb - she could use a bit of sunshine in her life right now!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Letter Box:
2theheart,
I enjoyed Marsha Jordan's story and the weaving of scripture
throughout. What an edifying piece to read this morning. I want to say a great big THANK YOU for my friend Hope who received many birthday wishes from the 2theheart family. She was very touched and happy and so was I!
Cathy Haddad
Susan,
I actually found this website 3 or 4 mo. ago by typing "good news" in the search engine. A couple of weeks ago I decided to sign up for the stories and I have to tell you that I have become quite attached to them. Keep up the good work, sister! May God bless you each and every day.
Janet Yates
Rusjany888@cs.comHey Sooz,
I ordered through your advertiser - Candlemart and wanted to say that it was a GREAT experience from start to finish! My candles came three days later! You can't beat that! And since they were for my sisters easter baskets, they were all the fun easter candles and scents. Thanks so much for sending this my way! I will definitely recommend everyone to try this if they like candles! My sisters and my sister in law all went crazy for their candles!
Love,
Bea
Susan,
I want to thank everyone for the lovely birthday greetings. The
2theheart family is such a loveing group of people and you all really
made my special day, on Easter Sunday, even more special. Thank you for creating this opportunity, Susan, and God Bless you and 'the family'.
Jeannie Campbell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.2theheart.com/Making a difference, one story at a time!
NEW SPRING AD SPECIAL!
www.2theheart.com/advertisingFree eCards:
www.2theheart.com/ecards
