Halloween Humor

As an administrator, I was required to attend Law Conferences.  Boring?  Not at all.  Every year several attorneys spoke to us about educational law.  Each had a delightful sense of humor, but one shined above the rest.  This account of his Halloween antics is an example of his humor.

One year, the attorney decided to go 'all out' for Halloween.  Two weeks before Halloween, he decorated the front of his house to resemble a Haunted House.  On the front porch, he placed a life size stuffed Grim reaper sitting in a chair beside the front door.  There was a huge black cauldron on his lap.  Every night the attorney turned on colored lights to emphasize the scene.

On Halloween, he arrived home early and removed the stuffed figure from the front porch.  He redressed himself in the clothing, filled the cauldron with expensive candy with a sign that said, 'On Your Honor, Please Take Only One'.  Then he went on the porch, sat down in the chair and placed the cauldron on his lap.  He sat very still and waited for 'Trick or Treaters'.   

Please try to visualize this scene as you read.  The first customer--victim--was a small child accompanied by her father.  The child, who was old enough to begin reading, read the sign and took one piece of candy.  Her father immediately said, "Oh no.  Let me show you how this is done."  He reached his huge hand into the cauldron and grabbed a handful of candy.  As he was pulling his hand out, the attorney--grim reaper-- reached out and grabbed his wrist.  The man became so frightened and pulled away with such force that he fell off the porch.  The attorney continued the charade all evening and according to him was one of the best times he had ever had.



Interviewing Becky From Lonely Hearts

Hello Readers,

Lonely Hearts

During the time we have been together, I have introduced you to different authors.  I love interviewing authors, but today I am going to introduce you to a character in a book.  The Character is Becky and she is the main character in the book Lonely Hearts by Amanda Stephan.  I was enthralled with book and captivated by Becky.  Please allow me to introduce her to you.

Theresa:  Good morning Becky.  I’m so glad you could take time to meet with us today.

Becky: Well thank you for asking me.

T: Amanda did a great job of allowing the reader to get to know you.  Do you think she described you well?

B:  Yes, pretty much.  At first I thought she was portraying me as a softy, but she showed my true self in the scene where I was teaching my children.

T:  Oh that’s right.  You home-schooled your children.

B.  Yes, I did.

T.  Why did you do that?

B:  Well after my husband died, the sole responsibility of raising my children fell to me.  When you are raising children alone, you want to make sure they are being taught what is appropriate and will be beneficial to them as adults.  So I decided to home-school my children.  That way I can make sure they know how to make appropriate decisions.

T:  Wasn’t that difficult?

B:  Yes it was, but I enjoyed it.

T:  At the beginning of Lonely Hearts, you are a widow with two children and moving to a new town that you have never seen.  You also have never seen the house you rented.  I must say, you do have spunk.

B: (laughing) Thank you.  I’m not sure it is spunk.  It might be a lack of wisdom.

T:  Well it turned out great in Lonely Hearts.  It was a good move.

B:  Yes, once I got the animals out of the house.  Then repaired the house.  Then trimmed the overgrown weeds. 

T:  Yes, but don’t forget about the chicken coop.

B:  Oh, I forgot about building the chicken coop.

T:  What on earth possessed you to raise chickens?

B:  I get these ideas sometimes and then I don’t know what to do with them.

T:  We’ve talked about you as a mother, teacher, and all-around handy-woman.  Now let’s talk about you as a heart breaker.

B:  Heart breaker?  Me?  I don’t think so.

T:  Oh, if I remember correctly there were three bachelors vying for your attention.

B:  For a short time, maybe.  But I hadn’t dated since my husband died.

T:  I’m sure you had offers.

B:  Well even if there were, I wouldn’t have accepted them.  My world pretty much ended the day my husband died, except for my children.  He was the love of my life.

T:  How old were your children when he died?

B:  They were toddlers, basically.

T:  They were certainly ready for you to begin dating in Lonely Hearts.

B:  Yes, they were pretty good match-makers.  The problem came when each was rooting for a different bachelor. 

T:  So which one did you pick?

B:  Now Theresa, I can’t tell you that.  You have to read the book.

T:  I did read the book.  I wanted you to tell my readers.

B:  Your readers need to read the book to find out.

T:  Alright, alright.  But I have to say that for a while it looked like everything was going to fall apart and no bachelor would get your attention.

B:  Yes it did.  Even I was worried for a while.  I kept think Come on Amanda.  Give me some answers. 

T:  So were you pleased with the outcome?

B:  I was happy.  Did you like the outcome?

T:  I loved it.  But if it had gone another way, I would still have loved this book.

B:  I read your review.  It did appear that you enjoyed the book.

T:  I devoured this book. 

B:  Maybe your readers would like to read the review you wrote.

T:  Oh great idea.  They can go to http://theresa-thebookmama.blogspot.com and read about it. 

Lessons From a Nissan

Ryan was young, energetic and the apple of his father’s eye.  They did everything together.  Mr. Fields had grown up poor as the child of migrant workers.  The family followed the crops and Anthony Fields was forced to attend three or four different schools every year.  There were gaps in his education on graduation day, but he was determined to overcome his difficult beginning. 

The week before graduation, Anthony Fields was hired as a custodian at an engineering firm.  He started the job the Monday after graduation.  He was assigned the evening shift, working from 5:00 p.m. until the offices had been cleaned and made ready for the following workday.  On his breaks, Anthony read in the many engineering books in the different offices.

One evening, an engineering team was working late to meet a timeline for a client.  Anthony made it a point to hang around outside the conference room and listen to their conversation as much as possible.  He was surprised that he understood some of the verbiage used among the team.  Eventually one by one, the engineers began to go home, leaving Mr. Trahan alone to complete the project.

Soon Anthony heard Mr. Trahan using language, indicating frustration.  Anthony took a deep breath and entered the conference room.  “Is something wrong, sir?”  He asked with deep humiliation.

“I spilled my coffee on these copies.  Now I’ll have to run new copies and start my final check all over again.”

“May I help you?”

Mr. Trahan gave Anthony several small tasks to complete.  Anthony made a point of doing each job to the best of his ability.  By the end of the evening, Mr. Trahan had taken a special interest in Anthony.  The following week he requested that Anthony be hired as his assistant.  The engineering firm recognized Anthony’s intelligence and helped him with a college education followed by a well paying job after graduation.

Before he even had children, Anthony Fields determined that his children would have the finer things in life that had been denied him because of low economic status.  His family now lived in a beautiful house, wore designer clothes, and drove expensive cars.  Anthony was proud of the way he was able to provide for his family.

On Ryan’s eighteenth birthday and against the advice of his wife, Anthony presented him with a brand new Nissan GT-R.  The car was sleek with its silver paint job and chrome wheels.  It had the fastest engine on the market and would do 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds. 

“Now son, this is an expensive automobile.  You need to treat it well and take good care of it.  Owning a car like this is a responsibility.  I am trusting that you are up to the challenge.”

“I am, Dad.  I’ll take good care of the car.”

The first time Anthony found a scratch on the car, he looked like he was going to explode.  “How dare you treat this car like that?  Do you know what I paid for this?  When I was your age, I would have done anything to have an old junk car, much less a car like this.”

“I’m sorry Dad.  It was an accident. I’ll buff the scratch out.”  Ryan made good on his promise and the car looked like new again.

Every night Anthony asked Ryan about the car.  “How’s the car, son?”  “Is the car running alright?”  “Tell me about the car.  Anything I should know?”

It wasn’t long before Ryan began to believe the car was more important to his dad than he was.  Ryan loved that car, but there were times when he wished he had a clunker so he didn’t have to worry what happened to it. 

One Friday night, Ryan met up with a group of old friends.  They hung out at the pizza parlor, ate way too much, and talked even more. 

“How fast is your car, Ryan?”  Terry asked.

“It will do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Well you can believe what you want.  I’m telling you that my Nissan will do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.”

“I’d like to see that.” Daniel whooped.

“Yeah, me too.” Chase chimed in.

“You are going to have to prove that to me.”  Terry challenged.

“Let’s try it out.  We can go out to Old Cemetery Road and watch.  We can time it as Ryan drives.”

“Oh, great idea.”

“Let’s go.”

Ryan knew better than to let himself get caught up in their enthusiasm and tried to squelch the game.  “Guys, I’m not sure that is such a great idea.  What if something happened?”

“Nothing’s going to happen, man.”

“Why, you chicken?”

“No, I’m not chicken.  My dad has been on my case about the car and I don’t want to make him angry.”

“Come on Ryan.  Don’t wimp out on us now.”

“I don’t want any of you to get hurt.”  Daniel tried again.

“We won’t get hurt.  We’ll stay in our cars away from you.  We can communicate by the walkie-talkies on our phones.  That way everyone is safe and we can all hear the signal to start.  We’ll start the timers on our phones.”

“Yeah, that’s a safe idea.  Come on Ryan.  Do it, man.”

“Alright, but no one rides with me. Understood?”

“Got it.  Don’t worry about us.”

“Yeah, we’ll be happy to stand on the sidelines and watch.”

“No standing on the sidelines.  You must all be in a car or no deal.”

“It was just a figure of speech, Bub.  Sheesh.  Lighten up man.”

The group drove out to Old Cemetery Road, parking on the side of the road to give Ryan plenty of room.  They stood in front of the first car’s lights to make sure everyone’s phone was working correctly.  Terry assigned himself the job of official time-keeper.  When everyone could hear Terry’s voice on their phones, they got back in the cars and listened to his instructions. 

Ryan got in his car, started the motor, and revved the engine.  It sounded great.  He checked all the safety features of the car.  Seat belt was tight around his hips; airbag was on and ready to operate if needed.  Then he heard Terry’s voice.

“Ryan, are you ready?”

“Ready.”

“I’m counting down from five.  Here we go, 5-4-3-2-1-go.”

Ryan hit the accelerator as hard as he could.  He felt the pedal go all the way to the floor.  The G force was exhilarating.  He blinked once and felt the back tires hit gravel, sliding the entire rear end of the car to the right.  He turned the steering wheel to get back on the road.  All four wheels left the pavement.

The other boys sat in their cars, stunned from what was happening.  They watched their friend’s car lift off the ground and roll three times, coming to a stop upside down in the ditch.  The boys jumped out of their cars as soon as Ryan’s came to a stop.  They all ran to him, shouting orders, asking questions, and using language that would embarrass their mothers.

Terry started to open the car door.  “Don’t do that man.”  Daniel yelled.

“Someone call 911.”  Chase yelled.

In a very short time, the dark and otherwise, ominous road was lit up like a Christmas from the red, blue, and yellow lights of the different emergency vehicles. One police officer spoke to each boy individually and took statements.  He also lectured the boys as a group.  They were let off with a warning this time, but warned that if they were found in the area again, warrants would be issued.

Eventually the boys were dismissed and ordered to go straight home.  No one had to be told twice. 

Anthony Fields was in a deep sleep when the doorbell rang.  Mrs. Fields shook him.  “Tony, wake up.  Someone is at the front door.”

Slowly the realization of what was happening beckoned him from slumber.   Walking to the front door, he could see reflections of emergency lights flashing through the window and knew something was wrong.  Where is Ryan?  He took a deep breath before opening the door prepared to see Ryan in handcuffs, but found a lone officer standing on the other side.

“Are you Anthony Fields?” the officer asked.

“Yes I am.”

“Do you have a son named Ryan Fields?”

“Yes, is he alright?”

“Your son was in an accident tonight.  You will need to go to St. Luke’s Hospital immediately.”

“Is he going to be alright?”

“I really don’t know.  You just need to go to the hospital.  Would you like a police escort?”

“That would be helpful.  Thank you, officer.”

When Anthony returned to the bedroom, his wife was dressing.  “I heard what he said.  I’ll be ready in just a minute.”

Anthony began dressing as quickly as he could.  He followed the police car to the hospital, grateful for the assistance.  There were more emergency vehicles in the hospital parking lot.  Anthony and his wife hurried into the emergency room and asked for Ryan.

A police officer walked up to them and introduced himself.  “I’m Officer Smith.  We were called after the accident.  Several boys decided to challenge your son about the speed of his car, so they went out to Old Cemetery Road for the proof.  Your son’s car hit gravel and went airborne, rolling three times before coming to a stop upside down in the ditch.”

“Is he alive?”

“Yes, he is alive.  The doctor is examining him now.  Mr. Fields, this is a dangerous sport.  Please caution your son about any encore performances.”

“I will.  Thank you, Officer.”

A man in green scrubs approached the couple.  “I’m Dr. Gray.  Your son is in stable condition, but lucky to be alive.  He will require a couple of surgeries and physical therapy, but should recover with no lasting effects.”

“May we see him?”

Ryan’s parents were lead into a small room where they saw what appeared to be a very small little boy covered with a white sheet.  He looks a lot bigger in his own bed.  The couple walked closer to their son. 

Ryan opened his eyes.  “Dad, I think I totaled the car.  I’m so sorry.” He said in a weak voice.

Anthony could no longer prevent the tears from spilling from his eyes.  “I’m not worried about the car, Son.  It is nothing but metal, nuts, and bolts.  As long as you are alright, I’m happy.  I can buy another car.  I can’t get another Ryan.  Please get well, Son.  Your mother and I love you more than you can imagine.”

Negativity

Negaholics No More!

I was doing some extra work for a local school district yesterday.  In the office, I found a book called Negaholics No More.  It is a teaching series designed to show people how to overcome negativity in themselves and the work environment.   I asked the assistant principal, who is also a friend, about the series.  He didn't know anything about it, but asked why I needed it.  He said, "You've never suffered from negativity.  You are like 'yes, we can do that.  I don't know how, but we can do it'." 

I started thinking about how a negative attitude must appear to God.  We are so blessed.  How must He feel when He hears us complain?  It is no different than we feel when we hear our children complain.  We have worked so hard to give them good things in life and they complain about something minor.  Complaining does not honor or glorify God.  

Several years ago, my husband and I taught the College and Career class in Sunday School.  One Sunday morning a student walked in and complained that she didn't get any sleep the night before because she had to sleep on the floor.  Her grandparents were visiting and her parents had insisted that she give her bed to them.  "So I had no choice but to sleep on the floor."

I asked, "You didn't have any other place to go?"

"Yes, I could have gone to my aunt's house, but I didn't want to do that."

I said, "Then you had a choice.  You just didn't like the consequences."

Most of the time, we have a choice in life.  With every decision comes consequences.  What right do we have to complain and be negative when we made the decision, which in turn means we chose the consequences?

Likewise, we have a choice about being negative or discouraging.  Here is what the Bible says about being discouraging.
Then the officials said to the king, “This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.” Jeremiah 38:4 NIV

The officials were requesting that a man be put to death for discouraging others (being negative).  I challenge you today to be encouraging to someone.  Be positive about your life and your choices.  Chose this day to bring honor and glory to God through a positive and encouraging attitude.

Try Before You Buy

Have you ever purchased a book and wished you'd bought a latte instead?  I have.  There are a number of books on my bookshelf partially read.  They may have been only $5.00 each, but I would have enjoyed a Caramel Frappe' much more.

I want to share an opportunity with you today.  Our John 3:16 Network Marketing group is going to publish a book in e-format.  Fifty authors have been invited to submit the first chapter of their book to be published in one book.  A reader will be able to read the first chapter of 50 books FREE.  Then if you want to read the rest of the book, you will be given a link to purchase it online.  Below are some of the details from our fearless Lorilyn.  Please click on the blue John 3:16 banner at the bottom of the page for more details.

Our first e-book, Fifty First Chapters From Christian Authors, a New Way to Sample Christian Books, will be released on December 15 (or sooner). To receive your free copy, all you need to do is sign up to receive our e-zine. Enjoy reading the first chapter of fifty books by fifty authors AT NO COST. Nothing like beginning a new book that whets your appetite for more. You won’t have to travel to a book store or surf the web to find the kind of book you want. We have made it easy for you to sample a large assortment of all kinds of books while drinking your latte at Starbucks, at home curled up on the sofa, or during your lunch break at work.

Our John 3:16 Marketing Network authors are known and unknown, young and old, first-time published and multi-published, standard-industry published, self-published, and Print-On-Demand published. Our goal is to glorify God in our writings and help each other to promote books with a Christian worldview. If you are interested, please sign up for our mailing list. On December 15 (maybe earlier), you will be emailed a coupon to get your free copy. We will also be posting previews of chapters ahead of the launch at http://john316mn.blogspot.com. More information will be forthcoming.

The Real Meaning of Real Estate Advertisement

We sold our home quicker than originally planned and must rent a house for a few months until we are able to move permanently.  I have been searching for temporary housing and have learned much about wording in Real Estate Ads.  Please allow me to educate you.

The word luxury in the name of the apartment complex does not mean that the apartment is luxurious, just the price.

The word spacious means that you will be able to walk between your bed and the wall—barely.

Historic means old, dilapidated, falling down, nothing works—and doesn’t have to because it is historic.

Cottage means small rooms packed tightly together.

Cute means large enough for a good sized playhouse.

New Orleans style charm means they didn’t how else to describe it.

To the right family means no one else has applied.

Efficiency means one room and all four walls can be touched while standing in the same spot.

If the ad specifies a school district, it means the neighborhood is undesirable.

Option to buy means it has been for sale too long.

Great location means right on a noisy highway.

Craftsman means broken.

I’m sure you get the picture.  I know we need to emphasize the positive, but really?  Does that apply to real estate?

High School Mom

Stephanie sat in her chair with attached desk in US History class.  In front of her was a test with 80 questions.  The teacher wanted to know about the Constitutional Convention and James Madison’s Virginia Plan.  These were things that happened over 200 years ago.  What did it have to do with today?

Stephanie placed her hand on her back to ease the pain.  Her feet and hands were swollen.  Her midsection already touched the desk and she had another month before the baby was born.  She wouldn’t be going to the football game Friday night because it was too difficult to climb the bleachers.  The baby’s father would be playing in the game. 

Last year at this time, she sat in the stands and pretended to watch the game.  Actually she watched only him.  There may have been 22 young men on the field, but she saw only one hunk.  They weren’t dating then, but she could dream.  He didn’t seem to notice her until after football season was over.  They started dating in January and were seeing each other exclusively by February.  Her mother cautioned her about going too fast, but as usual Stephanie ‘did her own thing’. 

Stephanie had never been one to follow the rules unless she saw the need.  In this case, she didn’t see the need.  She only saw Bryce, the tall, broad shouldered, football player who took her breath away every time she looked at him.  Of course she wasn’t the only one who mooned over him.  He was the catch of the school.  His parents were well established in the community and he was an honor student.

By June, she could no longer deny that something was wrong with her.  She went to the store, bought a pregnancy test and took it while her mother was at work.  The blue line was unmistakable proof that she was indeed pregnant.  She called Bryce.  “Can we go out tonight?  I need to talk to you.”

“Sure.  Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s just go to the drive-in so we can talk.”

“Great.  Pick you up at 7:00.”

Stephanie took extra care with her appearance.  She wanted to look her best when she told Bryce they were pregnant.  She pulled her long hair up in a ponytail, because he liked to take it down.  She wore red because it was his favorite color on her.  Her excitement was undeniable. 

Bryce showed up right before 7:00.  He was always punctual, one of the things she liked about him.  He smiled and let out a low whistle when he saw her.  Her head felt a little dizzy.  She wasn’t sure if it was his pride in her or the pregnancy.  She smiled and took his arm as they walked to his car.

At the drive-in he ordered French fries and drinks for the two of them.  That was their tradition.  When they had something to talk about they ordered French fries and drinks and took their time eating, drinking and gazing into each other’s eyes.

Bryce smiled as he watched Stephanie eat the first fry.  She wasn’t one of those girls who pretended not to be hungry.  She enjoyed eating and he enjoyed sharing food with her.  She took a drink of her cola and then took a deep breath and smiled.

“Bryce, we are pregnant.”

Instantly the smile disappeared from his face.  “What do you mean ‘WE’ are pregnant?”

“What kind of question is that?  We did everything else together.  Why wouldn’t we be pregnant?

“Because I have a chance at a football scholarship this year.  I can’t be pregnant.”

“That is a stupid statement.  A football scholarship is not a contraceptive.  Football scholarship or not, we are pregnant.  Now we need to make plans.”

“We are through.  That is the plan.”  Bryce said as he got up from the table and walked away, leaving Stephanie sitting alone in a booth with no way home.

Stephanie sat there crying and looking at cold, stale French fries.  She wasn’t sure she would ever eat them again.  How could he do that to me?  Everything was fine when we were in the back seat of his car.  Now we are through.  How am I going to tell my mother?

A couple of hours later, Noah and Brittany came in the drive-in.  “Stephanie, are you alright?”  Brittany asked.

“Yes, I’ll be alright.”

“Is there anything we can do for you?”

“Can you take me home?”

“Sure.  We’ll get our order to go.”

Stephanie walked into the house and found her mother in the kitchen.  “Mom, can we talk?”

Her mother turned and saw the tear streaked face of her child.  “Of course we can talk.  What is wrong?  Why are you crying?”

“I’m not sure.  I know what happened, but I’m not sure why I’m crying.”

“Tell me what happened.  Maybe we can figure it out together.”

Stephanie told her mother about being pregnant and Bryce’s reaction.  She wasn’t sure which was harder to tell.  By the time she was finished with the news, her mother was crying also.  “Let’s sleep on this and make our plans tomorrow.  Right now I need time to digest this.”

“Are you angry with me?”

“No, not angry, but very disappointed.  This will impact your life.  We will have to decide what the impact will be.  Now please go to your room and give me some alone-time.”

Stephanie went to her room and lay on the bed with her cell phone right beside her.  She still hoped that Bryce would call.  Maybe he just needs time to think about it.

The next morning Stephanie’s mother told her they needed to meet with Bryce and his parents to make a plan.

“He won’t meet with us.  He doesn’t want anything to do with me or the baby.”

“He may not want to meet with us, but he will.  He can meet with us in the living room or the courtroom, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“No Mom.  Please don’t make this worse than it is.  Can’t we handle it by ourselves?”

“Yes, we can, but we won’t.  Stephanie, since the beginning of time, boys have avoided the consequences of sex.  Just because his body is not supporting the child, does not make it any less his child.  We will not help him avoid the consequences of his behavior.  I will call his parents and make arrangements to meet.”

“I’m begging you, Mom.”

“Stephanie, this discussion is over.  We are meeting with his parents.”

Bryce and his parents came to the house that evening.  Stephanie’s mother took the lead in the conversation.  She explained that Stephanie was pregnant and decisions needed to be made.

“Well, I’m sorry about Stephanie being pregnant.  That’s unfortunate.  But why are we here?”  Bryce’s mother asked.

“I asked you here because the baby belongs to Bryce.”

“I don’t think so.  And even if it does, it is Stephanie’s responsibility.  Everyone knows it is the girl’s responsibility to control the situation on a date.  Boys simply do not have the control to stop.  Stephanie should not have allowed the situation to get out of control.  I’m sure you can make arrangements.  Bryce has a chance at a football scholarship and we will not allow this to interfere with his plans for the future.”

“What about Stephanie’s plans for the future?”

“Well, apparently they will change now.  I’m sorry about that, but there is no reason for us to ruin two young lives because one girl couldn’t keep her knees together.”

“Excuse me?  My daughter is not a slut.”

“I didn’t say she was, but now that you mention it…”

“Get out.  Get out of my house right now.  We will see you in court.”

“We will demand a paternity test before we will help in any way.”

“And we will be glad to pay for the test.”  Stephanie’s mother yelled as Bryce and his parents walked out of the house.

“Mom, calm down.  I didn’t know you would get so worked up about it.  You are more upset than I am.”

“Yes, I’m upset.  Their son has a good time with my daughter and they take a ‘boys will be boys’ attitude.  Oh they are going to be so sorry they did not cooperate with me.”

“Mom, this is not a contest to see who is the strongest or even who is right.  It’s a baby.  A living baby.  We need to make a decision about what is best for the baby.”

“I’m sorry Stephanie.  I guess I let my temper get in the way again, didn’t I?”

“That’s alright, Mom.  I know you mean well.  Now that you are calm, what do we do?”

“Our options are to keep the baby and sue for child support or give the baby up for adoption.”

“I don’t want to give my baby up for adoption.  I don’t know that I can stand not being able to see my baby.”

“Well, if you keep the baby, it means changing your life completely.  I will not raise this child for you.  If you want to be a mother then you accept all the responsibility that goes with it.  Mothers don’t go shopping with girlfriends anytime they want.  They don’t go on dates every Saturday night.  They don’t attend football games every Friday night.  You see, before they can do anything fun, they must see that their child is cared for.  They hire babysitters to allow themselves a little free time.  And what about college?  Who will care for the baby while you are in college?  Can you afford to pay for daycare so you can plan for a career?  If you don’t plan for a career, can you raise this child on minimum wage?”

“Mom, you’re talking about all the bad things.  There are some good things.”

“Yes, Stephanie.  There are many good things about having a baby.   But you must face reality.  The reality is that this baby will now be a priority in your life.  You will no longer be the center of your universe.  This baby will.  Every decision you make from now on, will be for the baby.  You don’t get to decide what Stephanie wants to do.  You can only decide ‘what is best for the baby’.  Are you ready for that much responsibility?”

“Aren’t there some other options?”

“No there isn’t.  You made an adult decision to engage in unprotected sex and now you must accept the adult responsibilities that go with that decision.  And you will make the decisions.  I will not make them for you and then hear later that I forced you to do something.  I will stand by your decision, but you will accept the responsibility of the decision and the consequences.  Is that understood?”

“Yes, I understand.”

“You don’t have to make that decision tonight.  You really need to think about it a while and be very sure of what you want to do.”

“It would be hard to give up my baby.”

“It would be hard to keep your baby.  There is no easy decision about this.  You should have thought of that when you made the decision to have sex with Bryce.”

Now months later, Stephanie walked down the hallway like a walrus and Bryce was dating one of the cheerleaders.  It had been hard on Stephanie to see them together at the beginning of the year, but it was easier now.  Now Stephanie saw Bryce for what he was—a shallow, self-centered individual in a pretty package.

Stephanie and her mother had seen a lawyer and made arrangements for adoption.  Bryce and his parents had been served papers demanding assistance with medical expenses.  Of course, Bryce’s parents demanded a paternity test, which would be done as soon as the baby was born.  Stephanie had helped decide which family would receive her baby and they had agreed to an open adoption.  That meant that Stephanie would have limited visitation rights.  Bryce would have none unless he petitioned the court.

Stephanie sat in class amazed at some of the concerns her classmates had.  Had she been that silly?  Did she worry about such trivial things?  What changed her?  She had been forced into an adult situation and had to grow up fast.  Her life would never be the same.  She had always heard a saying about everyone needs their 15 minutes of fame.  Well it might not have been fame, but 15 minutes sure changed her life.

The Book of Ruth- A Story of Redemption

The Book of Ruth-A Story of Redemption by Deborah Bateman is a daily Bible reading story of the book of Ruth.  It is broken up into eight chapters beginning with the loss of Naomi's husband and sons.  Deborah relates the story of Ruth in modern language and the reader is invited to travel with Naomi and Ruth on their journey to Bethleham. 

Each chapter of the book contains the story in modern language, the scripture reading, and a prayer.  Deborah wrote this as a devotional book for women to study individually on a daily basis.  However, I can see the book being used as a study guide in a women's Bible study group.  The lessons are short and could be done in six weeks if desired.  I can see the women discussing the issues that Naomi and Ruth faced and giving their personal input to the situation.  The leader of one of these groups needs to be prepared for some heated discussions.  I can see it now:

Group Leader:  "Would you follow your mother-in-law to a new country?"

Pollyanna:  "I would be glad to follow my mother-in-law anywhere."

Jezebel:  "I wouldn't follow my mother-in-law to the bathroom much less another country."

Pollyanna:  "Don't talk like that.  You should pray for your mother-in-law."

Jezebel:  "I do, but I won't tell you what I pray."

 You get the picture.  Now, seriously.  This book would make a great women's group Bible study.  I would recommend it for group or individual study.

Dating Violence Sequel

Last week I posted about dating violence.  I had watched Downsized, a show about a family struggling during economic issues.  The 17 year old daughter had been hit and verbally abused by her boyfriend.  The follow up was last night.

The family met with the boyfriend and his parents who discounted every thing the girl said.  They defended their son, refused to believe their son would abuse a girl, and blamed the girl.  "She shouldn't have been there."  The boy's best friend validated every thing the girl said.

This is typical behavior of an abuser.  They always blame the victim.  I do not know if the family will press charges.  However, I do know that they probably saved their daughter and other children from future abuse just by being proactive.  They handled the situation very well.  If your child is facing something like this, take charge.  So something.  Say something.  Be a support for your 'child' even if your 'child' is an adult.  INTERVENE!

A Blue Rose

The following story was sent to me by a friend.  As most of you know, I retired as Director of Special Education after teaching Special Education for years.  For that reason, any story about an individual with a disability touches my heart.  I hope this one touches you also.

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox. So off I went. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"
"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly. "Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve."

"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle..

"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement, because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him.

I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I said, "There are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God."

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"

Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God's garden."

She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace

of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

From an old dandelion! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.

Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did,

but people will never forget how you made them feel!" ANON.
     
 

Imprisoned Heart

Vanessa donned the black robe being careful to show it the respect it deserved. She had worked long and hard to earn the position of Family Court Judge and was both honored and humbled by the achievement. The court had been plagued with mismanagement, resulting in a backlogged schedule equaled by no other court in the district. Vanessa was determined to run the court efficiently and fairly. Since taking the oath six weeks ago, she had been able to clear cases previously scheduled for seven weeks. She was gaining ground, but there was still too much to do.

“All rise. The court of Family Law is now in session. Honorable Judge Vanessa Hart presiding.”

Vanessa took her place on the bench. “Bailiff, call the first case please.”

“Case number 68064. Johnson vs. Johnson. All parties please step forward.”

Vanessa watched as a 16 year old boy walked forward, followed by a middle aged man. The boy’s arms were tattooed and his head was shaved. What spoke to Vanessa were his eyes. They were vacant, as if there were no living creature behind them. She turned to look at the man behind the boy. Her heart skipped a beat and she audibly gasp as she recognized him.

When Richard saw Vanessa, the shock, embarrassment, and dismay registered on his face with lightning speed. It would be his luck to come up before this judge! How was he going to explain his circumstances? How could he ask her for help? Should he apologize first?

“Judge Hart, I’m coming today to ask for help with my son. Robert was a good kid, but when he turned 14 years old, everything changed. He started missing school and ignoring curfew. His grades are dropping and I am at my wit’s end as to what to do for him. I really need help. I am begging for help.”

“What is going on, Robert?”

Robert began explaining and justifying his philosophy of life, which could be summed up as ‘party, party, party’.

As Robert talked, Richard watched Vanessa. She hadn’t changed much in the last 18 years. She was still beautiful, with soft caring eyes. Richard could see the compassion as she watched Robert. He also remembered the last time he had seen her. It hadn’t ended well.

“Has there been a change in the home in the last two years?” It took a minute for Richard to realize that she was speaking to him.

“My wife died after a long battle with cancer. Her illness and death were hard on all of us. The last year of her life, she required constant care and I wasn’t able to give Robert the supervision he needed. By the time I had dealt with my grief, he was out of control.”

As Vanessa watched Richard, her mind was transported back to the last time they had spoken. She remembered the stone cold look in his eyes. She remembered the harsh words that had come out of his mouth. Mostly she remembered her broken heart. No matter what he said to her, she had answered in a soft voice. Not that she was following Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” She just kept hoping he would realize that she didn’t deserve to be spoken to in that manner. He had broken up with her. Why was he so angry with her? True, she hadn’t taken the news of the break well, but that was had been weeks ago. She had since agreed, so why was he so angry now? She desperately searched her memory in an effort to understand what she had done to warrant his behavior.

Vanessa looked across the courtroom at Richard. Many things had changed in her life, but her heart had not. It would always belong to him. Pay attention, Vanessa. You have a job to do. She thought as she mentally shook herself. What had he said?

“If we don’t do something, my son is going to be lost to me forever. Please, Your Honor. I am desperate.”

“What have you tried so far?”

“I tried punishment, love, ignoring his behavior, and counseling. The counselor thinks he is angry about his mother’s death, but I can’t help that.”

“Robert, are you angry about your mother’s death?”

“Who would I be angry with?” Robert said defiantly.

“Are you angry with your mother?”

“That is stupid. It wasn’t her fault she got sick.”

“Anger is part of grief, Robert. It is alright to be angry that she left you.”

“I’m not angry with my mother.”

“Are you angry with God?”

“I don’t believe in God.”

Immediately Vanessa looked at Richard, who hung his head in shame. “Explain that to me.”

“My wife was an atheist. I thought that she would change after we married, but she didn’t. Eventually, I got tired of attending church alone and stopped going.”

“You have raised your son in a godless home and now you wonder why he is rebelling after the death of his mother? You don’t need to hear the answers from me. You know them. The answers are in your heart. This is not your son’s problem. You have gone against what you know is right, and then saddled him with heartbreak and no support. What else did you expect to happen? You made the decision to abandon your faith. Don’t blame this boy for the consequences.”

“This is a court of law. You don’t have any right to talk to me about my faith.” Richard raised his voice in both pitch and volume making his frustration clear to everyone in the courtroom.

Richard followed the bailiff, wondering what was about to happen. He knew he had been out of line in the courtroom. He wouldn’t have spoken to any other judge like that.

As soon as he entered the judge’s chambers, he regretted his outburst. “I’m sorry Vanessa. I mean Judge Hart. You know how my temper gets me in trouble.”

“You would be correct about my right to question your faith, if you were anyone else. But I know what you once stood for. I knew your convictions and beliefs. I am shocked that you abandoned your beliefs.”

“I didn’t abandon my beliefs. I just stopped practicing them.”

“God is a jealous God. He will not be ignored by his children. He has chosen to get your attention through your son. Do you want help with this child?”

“Yes. I will do just about anything to save my boy.”

“Then get back in church. Find a fundamental, Bible believing church with a counseling pastor. Go in for some family counseling. Daniel 10:12 says, ‘Humble yourself before God.’ You not only need to humble yourself before God, but before your son. You need to apologize for raising him in a manner not pleasing to God. Then start repairing the damage. I hope it is not too late, but only God knows that.”

“Thank you, Vanessa.” Richard said as the tears rolled down his cheeks. “I needed to hear that.”

“Let me know how you are doing. I would like to see you again, but not in my courtroom.” They both laughed as Richard stood facing one he had wronged and gathered his courage to face the two he had wronged the most—his son and his God.