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May 22, 2003 - "Higher" & "Unlikely Friend" Welcome to 2TheHeart!
"You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us." ~ Nelson Mandella
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The 2TheHeart online Summertime Boutique is under construction! Ads placed for the Summertime Boutique will go up this week and remain up through the end of August! Over three months of advertising your business, web site or product for only $10! This is a great (and cheap!) way to get the word out about your business in time for graduation, Father's Day and teacher thank you gifts! To see the current Boutique page (in transition), click here: www.2theheart.com/boutique . Email me at xoxosooz@yahoo.com to get in on the boutique!
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Because I was working on my computer problems yesterday, I am sending you TWO terrific "Guy Week" writings today! The first is a very moving poem by Steve Manchester and the second is a story of an unusual and life-changing friendship by John Gaudet. Both of these talented men are Writers of the Month and you can read more about them here: www.2theheart.com/heartwriters
PS! - CONGRATULATIONS to Jon Tun and his wife, Kathy on their brand new baby! Send them congratulations emails! jwtun@tva.gov
"Higher"
by Steve Manchester
A pair of wide-eyes search the unfamiliar playground,
as the giggle of captivating innocence turns to a squeal.
Seated upon a swing, a young boy looks back, begging,
"Push me higher Daddy!"
With only a few pumps of his legs and a set of strong,
but gentle hands behind him, his fears are conquered
and he steps into the sky.
A pair of eager legs march into adolescence,
tripping on the discovery that the world can be unkind.
Again, looking back, those same eyes betray his silent plea,
"Push me higher Dad!"
The labored hands of love take his desperate grip
and lead him on his chosen path.
Still, the sky is within reach.
A pair of old, tired arms long for a hug that has died,
as two feeble legs buckle at the knees.
With weary eyes, he looks toward heaven and whispers,
"Push me higher Father!"
A pair of stronger, more loving hands lift him up
and carry him home.
For eternity, that sky shall be his carpet.
Steve Manchester copyright 2003
Steve is the prolific author of many wonderful books. His latest "The Rockin' Chair" is absolutely stunning! I am lucky to have read it and can't wait to see it on bookshelves everywhere! Steve wrote "He Sat Alone" & "Letters From the Front" in our archives.
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"Unlikely Friend"
by John Gaudet
How do we define a friend? Is he someone who treats you with respect? Will he be there for you through thick and thin? does he know when you are feeling low and try to cheer you up? I suppose all these things and more make a friend. But what about the people who disagree with you? The ones who can't seem to see eye to eye with you. These people are often disregarded as rude or unfriendly, but it was one of these types of people who taught my daughter something very special.
There tenuous relationship began about four years ago when "Marvin" moved into an apartment at my best friends building. My friend "Bud" lives in an apartment building for seniors and as such the residents tended to spend many hours in the front "common area" chatting and playing board games to pass the time.
Marvin spent many hours up front opening the door for the elderly residents and helping people carry there groceries and such in. My daughter Charisa met him the day after he moved in and immediately went to ask him if he liked the doll she was carrying. He replied that it was an ugly doll and he only liked boy toys. She was shocked as this was the first adult that didn't pretend to fawn over her and who didn't really seem interested in what she was saying. She came to buds apartment with a glint in her eyes I never seen before. "Daddy," she said "that man up front is mean".
"What man?" Bud and I replied in unison.
"The man up front with glasses." She pouted.
"Well she must mean Marvin he just moved in yesterday and he seems a bit crusty." Bud said with a grimace.
"Well honey just stay away from him and it will be no problem, okay?" I told her as we ate dinner that night.
Over the next few years she began a relationship with Marvin that was always changing. He challenged her on her opinions. He argued that her ideas were not valid and he fought with her to the bitter end on trivial matters. With all this going on she would stop talking to him for several weeks at a time, silently walking past him with her little nose in the air as we entered the building.
At first I thought about confronting him on these things but they seemed trivial when I put them into words so I just let things take there course hoping that she would be able to handle his jests with grace. However as time marched on I began to notice a positive difference in her. She seemed more confident and sure of herself. She could debate ideas logically with an adult and she seemed to feel that she wasn't "just a kid" but that her ideas mattered if she presented them with conviction.
Her personality was blooming before my eyes and she was becoming a strong, smart, and clever young lady. She still "fought" with Marvin, all though I was beginning to see that these weren't real fights.
She enjoyed the taunts and false jabs he gave her because it gave her the chance to go one on one with a real adult who really challenged her opinions and who wouldn't patronize her because of her looks or age.
She started spending more and more time out in the front while I would visit Bud in his little apartment, chatting with her "arch enemy" as she once called him.
Well, as time passes it takes people and places with it and one day we were informed that old Marvin had passed away. It was with a heavy heart that I told my little girl that her old "arch enemy" had died. She teared up and sadly said that sometimes "your worst enemy can be your best friend".
The family came to make the arrangements and clean Marvin's place when they found Charisa's picture on his wall. They asked the residents if they knew who this little girl was and they replied that they knew her very well. The family then gave one of them a small gift of some hair ribbons to give her when they saw her next as they thought she must have been important to their father because he had her picture on his wall.
She was very sad when she received this gift and I could tell it bothered her for days as she grieved in the ways of an eight year old. However the real gifts her "arch enemy" gave her were much more substantial.
He gave her the gift of a strong voice when he challenged her. He taught her it was ok to say no and disagree with an adult. He taught her to be herself and stay true to her beliefs.
In his death he also was the first person she lost that she was conscious of (her grandfather died when she was very young ). This taught her that friendship and family are truly fleeting gifts and as such we should treasure every moment as they are all to quickly turned to memories past.
Marvin may not have been a friend in the strictest definition of the word but what he gave my daughter in her first few years of life will stick with her forever and I think for that he will always be our "friend".
John Gaudet copyright 2003
drmrjohn@sasktel.net
John is known for his tear-jerking stories and much loved on 2theheart! Some of his previous stories on 2theheart are "The Eraser", "Dad's Belt", "Bag of Kindness", & "The Picture".
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AND THAT'S A WRAP! Graduation, wedding, birthday coming up? Personalized candy wrappers will make it an unforgettable event! Visit http://www.andthatsawrap.com/ to 'wrap up' the perfect idea for a cherished day!
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The Letter Box:
Dear Mike Collins,
Your "Oasis" story was really inspiring! I would like to share it with my men's group at church if you don't mind. I will of course give your name and email as author. I have enjoyed all your stories on 2TheHeart. God bless, Michael G.
Dear Susan,
I would like to congratulate all the winners of the poetry contest. Thank you for penning those heartfelt rhymes. And to the judges, who must have had an extremely hard job with this contest!
God Bless you all!
Annettee Budzban
To: Susan, Maria Harden, Jenn Borjeson, Marty Fahncke and Anne Goodrich,
Thank you all SO MUCH for selecting three of my poems to be in the poetry contest finalists! It was a lot of fun just being able to submit the poems, and then the weeks of anticipation and hopes that at least one would make it to the finals were building up as the time of announcements drew nearer! So... you can just imagine how excited I was when I opened yesterday's email to read that some of my poetry had been selected as winners! I give God all the Glory! I couldn't have done it without Him... He speaks through me on all my writings!
God Bless You All... and again Thanks So Much! Kathy Norris
Dear Susan,
My sincere thanks to you and the judges of the poetry contest for your generosity in selecting my poetry for a number of the "winning" categories. I felt both lucky and blessed because there were so many entries, and I am doubly grateful to you all for your time and talent given to read all those poems.
I am enjoying reading the poems on the wonderful 2theHeart 2003 Poetry Contest Winners page. Once again, I feel a deep sense of joy and appreciation for the inspiration of shared fellowship with the 2theHeart writers and readers.
Susan, you are doing a great work for writers and a great witness for religious faith and heart truths. Many thanks!
Hugs and blessings, Mary-Ellen Grisham
Dear Sooz,
I am overwhelmed. When you get up and running please thank all those involved. Three thousand plus! It sounds like you have founded another institution!
Love
Ronnie Bray
quill@libby.org
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