ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

             

 

 

 

 

                          One Flaw In Women 
 

By  the time the Lord made woman,

He  was into his sixth day of working overtime.

An  angel appeared and said,

"Why  are you spending so much time on this one?"

And  the Lord answered, "Have you seen my spec sheet on her?

She  has to be completely washable, but not plastic,

have  over 200 movable parts, all replaceable

and  able to run on diet coke and leftovers,

have  a lap that can hold four children at one time,

have  a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken  heart  

-and  she will do everything

with  only two hands."

The  angel was astounded at the requirements.

"Only  two hands!? No way!

And  that's just on the standard model?

That's  too much work for one day.

Wait  until tomorrow to finish."

But  I won't," the Lord protested.

"I  am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart.  

She  already heals herself when she is sick

AND  can work 18 hour days."

The  angel moved closer and touched the woman.

"But  you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She  is soft," the Lord agreed,

"but  I have also made her tough.  

You  have no idea what she can endure or accomplish."

"Will  she be able to think?", asked the angel.

The  Lord replied,

"Not  only will she be able to think,

she  will be able to reason and negotiate."

The  angel then noticed something,

and  reaching out, touched the woman's cheek.

"Oops,  it looks like you have a leak in this model.

I  told you that you were trying to put too much into this one."  

"That's  not a leak,"

the  Lord corrected,

"that's  a tear!"

"What's  the tear for?" the angel asked.

The  Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy,

her  sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love,

her  loneliness, her grief and her pride."

The  angel was impressed.

"You  are a genius, Lord.

You  thought of everything!

Woman  is truly amazing."

And  she is!

Women  have strengths that amaze men.

They  bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but  they hold happiness,

love  and joy.

They  smile when they want to scream.

They  sing when they want to cry.

They  cry when they are happy  

and  laugh when they are nervous.

They  fight for what they believe in.

They  stand up to injustice.

They  don't take "no" for an answer

when  they believe there is a better solution.

They  go without so their family can have.

They  go to the doctor with a frightened friend.  

They  love unconditionally.

They  cry when their children excel  

and  cheer when their friends get awards.

They  are happy when they hear about

a  birth or a wedding.

Their  hearts break when a friend dies.

They  grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet  they are strong when they think there is no strength left.

They  know that a hug and a kiss

can  heal a broken heart.

Women  come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll  drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to  show how much they care about you.

The  heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.

They  bring joy, hope and love.

They  have compassion and ideals.

They  give moral support to their family and friends.

Women  have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER,  IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT  IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

THE SMALLEST FIREMAN

        Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is!

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared
down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of
terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled
with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of
determination. Like any parent, she wanted her
son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now
that was no longer possible..
The leukemia would see to that. But she still
wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took
her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever
think about what you wanted to be once you grew
up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do
with your life?"
Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up."
Mom smiled back and said, "Let! 's see if we can
make your wish come true."
Later that day she went to her local fire
department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met
Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix.
She explained her son's final wish and asked if
it might be possible to give her six-year-old son
a ride around the block on a fire engine.
Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than
that. If you'll have your son ready at seven
o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an
honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come
down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on
all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if
you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire
uniform for him, with a REAL fire hat.
One-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire
Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear
and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right
here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy,
dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him
from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and
ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the
truck and help steer it back to the fire station.
He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in
Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all
three calls. He rode in the different fire
engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car.
He was also videotaped for the local news
program. Having his dreamcome true, with all the
love and attention that was lavished upon him, so
deeply touched Billy that he lived three months
longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop
dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in
the hospice concept that no one should die alone,
began to call the family members to the hospital.

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a
fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked
if it would be possible to send a fireman in
uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he
made his transition.
The chief replied, "We can do better than that.
We'll be there in five minutes.
Will you please do me a favor?
When you hear the sirens screaming and see the
lights flashing, will you announce over the PA
system that there is not a fire? It's just the
fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time.
And will you open the window to his room?
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck
arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder
up to Billy's third floor open window
16 fire fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.
With his mother's permission, they
hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him.
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said,
"Chief, am I really a fireman now?"
"Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief
said.
With those words, Billy smiled and said,
"I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been
singing.."
He closed his eyes one last time.

Billy Graham and Oprah

 

Last year I watched Billy Graham being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey on television.  Oprah told him that in her childhood home, she use to watch him preach on a little black and white TV while sitting on a linoleum floor. 
 
She went on to the tell viewers that in his lifetime Billy has preached to twenty-million people around the world, not to mention the countless numbers who have heard him whenever his crusades are broadcast.  When she asked if he got nervous before facing a crowd, Billy replied humbly, "No, I don't get nervous before crowds, but I did today before I was going to meet with you." 
 
Oprah's show is broadcast to twenty-million people every day.  She is comfortable with famous stars and celebrities but seemed in awe of Dr.
Billy Graham. 
 
When the interview ended, she told the audience, "You don't often see this on my show, but we're going to pray."
Then she asked Billy to close in prayer.  The camera panned the studio audience as they bowed their heads and closed their eyes just like in one of his crusades. 
 
Oprah sang the first line from the song that is his hallmark "Just as I am, without a plea," misreading the line and singing off'-key, but her voice was full of emotion and almost cracked. 
 
When Billy stood up after the show, instead of hugging her guest, Oprah's usual custom, she went over and just nestled against him.  Billy wrapped his arm around her and pulled her under his shoulder.  She stood in his fatherly embrace with a look of sheer contentment.
 
I once read the book "Nestle, Don't Wrestle" by Corrie Ten Boom.  The power of nestling was evident on the TV screen that day.  Billy Graham was not the least bit condemning, distant, or hesitant to embrace a public personality who may not fit the evangelistic mold.  His grace and courage are sometimes stunning. 
 
In an interview with Hugh Downs, on th e 20/20 program, the subject turned to homosexuality.  Hugh looked directly at Billy and said, "If you had a homosexual child, would you love him?" Billy didn't miss a beat.  He replied with sincerity and gentleness, "Why, I would love that one even more." 
 
The title of Billy's autobiography, "Just As I Am," says it all.  His life goes before him speaking as eloquently as that charming southern drawl for which he is known. 
 
If, when I am eighty years old, my autobiography were to be titled "Just As I Am," I wonder how I would live now? 
Do I have the courage to be me?
I'll never be a Billy Graham, the elegant man who draws people to the Lord through a simple one-point message, but I hope to be a person who is real and compassionate and who might draw people to nestle within God's embrace. 
 
Do you make it a point to speak to a visitor or person who shows up alone at church, buy a hamburger for a homeless man, call your mother on Sunday afternoons, pick daisies with a little girl, or take a fatherless boy to a baseball game?
 
 
Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you look when you're looking for what's beautiful in someone else?
 
 
Billy complimented Oprah when asked what he was most thankful for; he said, "Salvation given to us in Jesus Christ" then added, "and the way you have made people all over this country aware of the power of being grateful."
 
 
When asked his secret of love, being married fifty-four years to the same person, he said, "Ruth and I are happily incompatible."
 
 
How unexpected.  We would all live more comfortably with everybody around us if we would find the strength in being grateful and happily incompatible.
 
 
Let's take the things that set us apart, that make us different, that cause us to disagree, and make them an occasion to compliment each other and be thankful for each other.  Let us be big enough to be smaller than our neighbor, spouse, friends, and strangers.
 
 
Every day, may we Nestle, not Wrestle!

WAY BACK WHEN...

      Close your eyes...And go back...
Before the Internet or the MAC
Before semi automatics and crack
Before SEGA or Super Nintendo...

Way back...

I'm talkin' bout hide and go seek at dusk.
Red light, Green light.
Playing kickball & dodgeball until your porch light came on.
Mother May I?
Red Rover
Hula Hoops
Running through the sprinkler
Happy Meals

Wait...
Watchin' Saturday Morning cartoons
Fat Albert, Road Runner, Smurfs, Picture Pages, G-Force & He-Man
Wonder Woman & Super Man Underoos
Playing Dukes of Hazard
Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar
Christmas morning...
Your first day of school
Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses
Climbing trees
Getting an Ice Cream off the Ice Cream Truck
A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers
Jumpin' down the steps
Jumpin' on the bed
Pillow fights
Runnin' till you were out of breath
Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt
Being tired from playin'
Your first crush...
Rainy days at school meant playing "Heads up 7UP" in the classroom
Remember that?

I'm not finished yet...
Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer
Giving your friends a ride on your handlebars
Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school
Class Field Trips
When nearly everyone's mom was at home when the kids got there.
When a quarter seemed like a fair allowance, and another quarter a Miracle.
When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed him or use him to carry Groceries, and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it.
When your parents took you to McDonalds and you were so cool.
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home.

Basically, we were in fear for our lives but it wasn't because of drive by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat! And some of us are still afraid of em!

Didn't that feel good, just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that!"
I want to go back to the time when...
Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!""Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"
Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
Nobody was prettier than Mom.
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.
Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"
Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.
Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!

Pass this on to anyone who may need a break from their "grown up"
life...