The Buzzard, The Bat and The Bumblebee

(Author Unknown)

If you put a BUZZARD in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary BAT that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A BUMBLEBEE, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the BUZZARD, the BAT, and the BEE. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there…”above” them…

Have a wonderful day and Don’t forget to look UP!!

Three Yellow Roses

(Author Unknown)

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn’t hungry.  The pain of losing my husbnd of 37 years was still too raw.  And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

Rudy often came with me and almost every time he’d pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I’d always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands. Rudy knew I loved yellow roses.

With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since Rudy had passed on. Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how Rudy had loved his steak. Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blond, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large pack of T-bones, dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. “My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don’t know.” I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes. “My husband passed away eight days ago,” I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. “Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together.” She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream section near the front of the store. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone. I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front.

I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking towards me, her eyes holding mine. As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes.

“These are for you,” she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms.”When you go through the line, they’ll know these are paid for.” She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again.

I wanted to tell her what she’d done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away, tears clouding my vision. I looked down at the beautiful roses nestledin the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn’t alone.

“Oh, Rudy, you haven’t forgotten me, have you?” I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Angel on the Highway

 (Author Unknown)

I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends. Here it is:

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and my car started to choke and sputter and died.

I barely managed to coast, cruising, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn’t even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the “quickie mart” building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump! So I got out to see if she was okay.

When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen. She was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying “I don’t want my kids to see me crying,” so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now.

So, I asked, “And you were praying?” That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, “He heard you, and He sent me.”

I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald’s and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.

She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn’t have money to pay the rent January 1st, and finally, in desperation, had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in
California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.

So, she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, “So, are you like an angel or something?”

This definitely made me cry. I said, “Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people.”

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else’s miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I’ll put it in the shop tomorrow for a check, but I suspect the mechanic won’t find anything wrong.

The Pink Dress

(Author Unknown) 

     There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park.  Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. 
 
     Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. 
 
     She never tried to speak. She never said a word. 
 
     Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. 
 
     The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the e little girl would still be there. 
 
     Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. 
 
     Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl.  For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. 
 
     As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl’s dress.  It was grotesquely shaped.       I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. 

     As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. 
 
     As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. 
 
     She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. 
 
     I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. 
 
     I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, “Hello.” The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a “hi”; after a long stare into my eyes. 
 
     I smiled and she shyly smiled back. 
 
     We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.       I asked the girl why she was so sad. 
 
     The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, “Because, I’m different.” 
 
     I immediately said, “That you are!”; and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, “I know.” 
 
     “Little girl,” I said, “you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent.”      She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said,  “Really?”  “Yes, you’re like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by.” 
 
     She nodded her head yes, and smiled. 
 
     With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said “I am.” 
 
      “I’m your Guardian Angel,” with a twinkle in her eye.   I was speechless — sure I was seeing things. 
 
     She said, “For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job here is done”. 
 
     I got to my feet and said, “Wait, why did no one stop to help an Angel?” 
 
     She looked at me, smiled, and said, “You’re the only one that could see me,” and then she was gone. 
 
     And with that, my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you’re all you have, remember, your angel is Always watching over you