Tagged: short stories

Nuts in a Cemetery

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts. ‘One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me,’ said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence. Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, ‘One for you,...

Everyday Miracles

Every ray of sunshine every drop of rain every starry night every sheaf of grain Balmy springtime breezes bluebird on the sill colorful leaves in autumn winter’s blustery chill. Every tiny heartbeat every breath you take every time you close your eyes every time you awake. Blessings taken for granted right before your eyes miracles happen every day What a nice surprise! Even when it’s cloudy or when the cold winds blow God is watching over you Just thought you’d like to know! Each new day is a present His gift to you and to me wrapped in precious miracles...

No Hopeless Situations

Some 40 years ago, when he was only 11 years old, Morgan Rowe lost his left arm and much of the use of his right arm. It happened when he fell off a tractor at his father’s fence company in Valdosta, Georgia, and was dragged beneath the machine. Morgan’s left arm was destroyed and his right, mangled. Young Morgan was released from the hospital after three-and-a-half months. The first thing he set out to do was to help pay the bills — $30,000 worth. That was a lot of money back then as it is now. For a boy of...

Mirrors

Several years ago I noticed something strange: people seemed to be smiling at me more often. During my young adult years people had never smiled at me that much. Most of the people I saw seemed to have grim, tense faces. They would look at me for only a second or avert their eyes altogether. Sometimes they would nod or say “hi” but more often said nothing at all. All that seemed to change, though, as I got older. For some surprising reason people were suddenly greeting me with a warm smile when I passed them. Their eyes seemed to...

8 Free Gifts You Should Give

THE GIFT OF LISTENING . . . But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION . . . Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.  THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER . . . Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.”  THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE . . . It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet....