Until recently, I have been a mere shadow of myself. For a very long time I was weak and insecure. I needed constant approval and acceptance because I had issues with some things I saw and was a part of in my childhood. Lucky for me I married a man who not only accepted me for who I was but brought out the greatest part of me. If you don't already know him, his name is +Scott Fennell and he is the most intelligent, kind, respectful, loving person I have ever met. I am so blessed to have him in my life. He pushes me to be my greatest and has been my greatest supporter when it comes to being a writer. My life's work is dedicated to him and I think that shines through in some stories!
Speaking of stories here are Friday's updates! (Yes I know technically it is Sunday but I am pretty sure I will be late to my own funeral so it is okay.) Hope you all enjoy!
15
January 2014
Kindness
The
little boy went to school everyday. He had holes in his shoes. His
mommy put him in extra socks, kissed his head each morning and
promised that when she was caught up with bills and groceries that he
could have new shoes. He loved his mommy and knew she worked very
hard. He knew she would give him the world if she could. His back
pack was tattered and still the one he used in 1st
grade. Now he was in 4th
grade.
Sometimes
kids made fun of him. They pitied him because he was quiet and didn't
smell very good. He always sat alone at lunch with the same PB&J
sandwich and 2% milk his mom always packed him. It is all they could
afford. Regardless, his smile never faded.
The
little girl in his class did not know she was kind. She just knew
that her family could afford things the little boy's couldn't and she
did not understand why that was. To her it was unfair. She asked her
parents to help. They said it was a family matter and they couldn't
help so she asked her teacher and the principal to help. All she
wanted was to get him new shoes so his feet could be warm. She had
just the right ones in mind too.
What
the little girl did not know was how much her kindness affected the
hearts of the adults at her school. They had seen the boy but they
never once thought to help him. Their teacher bought him the shoes
the girl picked out. The principal bought him a new winter coat. The
school counselor had a friend renting a house near the school and
worked out a deal for the boy and his mom to live their at a price
just for them. The music teacher got the mother a spa package and the
nurse got a grocery store gift card. They all pitched in for a
backpack filled with the best supplies.
The
principal called in the mother and her son as well as the girl and
her parents. He presented the mother and son with the gifts from all
of the staff and a few parents as well. The boy was so excited that
his family was rewarded with all of these gifts. His mom could rest
and know he was okay now. The mother was overwhelmed with
gratefulness and joy at the kindness.
“Why
us? Why of all people in need do you help us?” asked the mother.
The
adults were dumbfounded. They didn't really know. They just had to
help. It felt good to help. The answer came from the sweet little
girl.
“Because
never once does he complain,” she pointed at the little boy, “ he
loves his sandwich and the love that is put into it. He tells
everyone that his mommy works hard so he can have that sandwich. I am
not always happy but everyday I come to school and see this boy who
has not as much as me but he is always happy. The sky could be cloudy
but he never misses the ray of sun shining through so I thought he
deserved a nice pair of shoes for that. I just knew you grown ups
could help!”
The
adults realized that the reason they never noticed the boy was
because his outlook on life did not match his old shoes. They also
realized that because of his positive demeanor and the little girl's
kindness that they were missing out on a lot in life. The tender
hearts of children opened the eyes and hearts of grown ups with just
a simple gesture that day all thanks to kindness.
16
January 2014
The
Glutenous Squirrel
Squirrel loved spring time. With spring time came sun and warmth and
nest of all the birds. Oh the stupid birds who twitted around from
bird feeder to bird feeder that the people put up. Now this
particular was not much of a hard worker. In fact, most of the knew
him as a mooch and con artist. The least amount of effort he could
put into getting the nuts and seeds the better.
This spring squirrel noticed that there was one particular neighbor
who hung several feeders from the trees. This person even hung
squirrel feeders. The only problem was that these feeders were way up
in the trees and squirrel kept a luxurious apartment at the base of
the tree.
He racked his brain for days trying to figure out how to get the
nuts from the feeders. He heckled other squirrels but only got the
occasional snack thrown at him. One day he noticed that the person
who fed the neighborhood birds and squirrels left all the food in the
shed and on this day that irresponsible person left the shed open. It
was like the grand opening of a new all you can eat buffet and
squirrel was the first in line.
Squirrel walked over to the shed so as not to attract attention. He
certainly was not going to share his spoils with the other animals.
After making sure the cost was clear, squirrel walked through the
doorway to see that all his squirrel dreams had been answered. The
person left ALL of the bird seed and nuts on the floor of the shed.
Squirrel chirped and danced around the shed gathering as much as he
could. He thought about taking it back to his home but the other
animals would see him so he stayed there and devoured everything he
could get his hands on.
Squirrel ate his way into a serious food coma. When he woke up later
in the night he looked around him. The scene was truly incredible.
Plastic was everywhere. Peanut shells were scattered as far as the
eyes could see. Squirrel had managed to eat both bags of bird seed
and squirrel feed in the shed that day. He was as plump as a pie and
felt like the world had knocked him out. He knew he needed to get
home and sleep off his meal but his house was across the small yard.
In his best, lazy effort, squirrel spent several hours crawling his
fat body home. Inch by inch he went and by 8 am he was half way
there. Squirrel decided he needed a break. He was in the clear
because certainly by now the owl had gone to sleep. In the middle of
the yard squirrel laid on his back and soaked up the warm morning
rays of sunshine.
“Ah at least I can lay here for a while and be free of danger. I
will pass my time watching the birds fly overhead,” he said to
himself out loud, “I must still be very full and not very lucid
because that group of birds is getting awfully close to me...”
Those were squirrels last words. He thought he was free of danger
but really squirrel had made himself the giant target of the
neighborhood hawk. Hawk saw a plump and unmoving, yet still alive,
meal laying in the yard and just had to act. He swooped down and
grabbed up the glutenous squirrel.
“What a yummy meal this warm, juicy squirrel will make!”
screeched the hawk in excitement, “He must have been a late
hibernator because I have never seen a meal so enormous and full! My
family shall eat gloriously tonight!”
Squirrel didn't give the usual protest that an attacked animal
would. He had fallen into yet another food coma. And this is the end
of the glutenous squirrel.
I dedicate this last one to Papa (Ted, Scott's grandfather). he would love the fate of this dumb squirrel. I just know it!
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