In my dreams,
I try to see you
and take in
your whole expanse--
from the beauty
of your smile
to the depths
of your soul
where an ocean swells.
I'm rebuilding you
out of pieces of clay,
with some illogical hope
that you'll materialize
out of the darkness.
The heart alone
can perceive these
dimly lit realities,
and trade longing
for patience.
And I'm living
on the hope
borne of these
dreams of you,
that we'll be
together soon.
"Together Soon," written and
designed by Bobette Bryan, 2002
(TOP)
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A Dozen Christmas Roses
Bobby was getting cold
sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't
like them and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few
holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in
his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come
up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift.
He shook his head as he
thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don't have
any money to spend,"
Ever since his father had
passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because
his mother didn't care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked
nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be
stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and
material things, they more
than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger
sister, who ran the house hold in their mother's absence. All three of his
sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother.
Somehow it just wasn't fair.
Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Wiping a tear from his
eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the
shops and stores were. It wasn't easy being six without a father, especially
when he needed a man to talk to.
Bobby walked from shop to
shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful and so
out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk
home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays
reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a
shiny dime. Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that
moment.
As he held his new found
treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the
first store he saw. His excitement quickly turned cold when the salesperson told
him that he couldn't buy anything with only a dime.
He saw a flower shop and
went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him,
Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's
Christmas gift.
The shop owner looked at
Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby's shoulder and
said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you."
As Bobby waited he looked at
the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and
girls liked flowers.
The sound of the door
closing as the last customer left jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the
shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid. Suddenly the shop owner came out and
moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay twelve long stem, red
roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big
silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them
gently into a long white box.
"That will be ten cents
young man," the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime.
Slowly, Bobby moved his hand
to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a
thing for his dime!
Sensing the boy's
reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale
for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?"
This time Bobby did not
hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was
true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the
shop keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son,"
As he returned inside, the
shop keeper's wife walked out. "Who were you talking to back there and where are
the roses you were fixing?"
Staring out the window, and
blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, "A strange thing happened to
me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I
heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special
gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set
them aside anyway. Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop
and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.
"When I looked at him, I saw
myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a
Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and
told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars.
"When I saw that little boy
tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best
roses." The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they
stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel cold at all.
May this story instill the
spirit of Christmas in you enough to pass this story along. Have a Joyous and
Peace-filled season. ~"Bobby's Dime" by Thomas Pucci~
(TOP)
(Back to Stories Index)
by Ronnie D. Shreve © 2002
used with permission
(TOP)
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"My Christmas List"
I have a list of folks I
know all written in a book,
And every year when
Christmas comes, I go and take a look.
And that is when I realize
that these names are a part,
Not of the book they're
written in, but of my dearest heart.
For each name stands for
someone who has crossed my path some time,
And in that meeting they've
become the rhythm in each rhyme.
And while it sounds
fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm
composed of each remembered name.
And while you may not be
aware of any special link,
Just meeting you has changed
my life a lot more than you think.
For once I've met somebody,
the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant
word or of a friendly face.
So, never think my Christmas
cards are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas
list, forgotten in between!
For when I send a Christmas
card that is addressed to you,
It's because you're on the
list of folks that I'm indebted to.
For I am but a total of the
many folks I've met
And you are one of those I
know I never will forget.
And whether I have known you
for many years or few,
In some way you have had a
part in shaping things I do.
And every year when
Christmas comes I realize anew,
The best gift life can offer
is meeting folks like you.
And may the spirit of
Christmas that forever more endures
Leave its richest blessings
in the hearts of you and yours! ~ Author Unknown ~ (TOP)
(Back to Stories Index)
A Letter To God (And My Friends!)
Dear God...
I'm writing to say I'm sorry
For being angry yesterday,
When you seemed to ignore my
prayer
And things didn't go my way,
First, my car broke down,
And I was very late for
work,
But I missed that awful
accident -
Was that your handiwork?
I found a house I loved
But others got there first,
I was angry, then relieved
When I heard the pipes had
burst!
Yesterday, I found the
perfect dress
But the color was too pale -
Today, I found a better one
And would you believe, on
sale!
I know you're watching over
me
And I'm feeling truly
blessed
For no matter what I pray
for
You always know what's best!
Now I have a lot of E-mail
friends,
Who mean the world to me,
Some days I send and send
and send,
And some days, I let them
be.
When I see each letter
download,
And read the mail they've
sent,
I know they've thought of me
that day,
With well wishes their
intent.
I am so blessed to have
these friends,
With whom I've grown so
close,
So this poem I dedicate to
them,
Because to me they are the
"Most"!
So to all my friends, I
would like to say,
Thank you for being a part
Of all my daily contacts,
And for always touching my
heart.
God bless you all in my
prayers today,
I'm honored to call you
friend,
I pray the Lord will keep
you safe,
Until we write again! ~
Author Unknown ~
(TOP)
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FAITHFUL FRIENDS
It may seem we take for
granted
As our busy days go past,
All the good and faithful
friendships
That we're counting on to
last.
But there's a special
language
Understood by you and me,
In which our words of
gratitude
Are spoken silently.
And though your heart
already knows,
Sometimes I like to say...
You've made my world more
beautiful,
I'm glad you came my way!
Thank You For Being
My Faithful Friend! ~ Author
Unknowns ~
(TOP)
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What Does Christmas Mean
Christmas lights that
twinkle,
In the cold December night;
Trees all dressed with
tinsel,
Are such a pretty sight.
Presents wrapped and
labeled,
And placed beneath the tree;
Children watch and wonder,
What they may receive.
People run here and there,
With little time to share;
Many have forgotten,
Why Christmas time is there.
So many things to purchase,
So many things to do;
Have you stopped to think,
What Christmas means to you?
For some it just means
money,
And what they can make;
To others, just a ritual,
A game of give and take.
Christmas is more than this,
A time we all should share;
God's son sent down to us,
Our sins for him to bear.
The love that he has shown,
The gift that he has given;
Should shine above all else,
At every Christmas season.
(TOP)
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