Hickory's Inspirational Archive

THANK YOU FOR THE THORNS
(author unknown)

Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocks as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. And, as if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. Had she lost a child? -No—she has no idea what I'm feeling,"

Sandra shuddered. Thanksgiving? "Thankful for what?" she wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" The flower shop clerk's approach startled her.

"Sorry," said Jenny,

"I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you."

"I....I need an arrangement."

"For Thanksgiving?" Sandra nodded. "Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special." Jenny saw Sandra's curiosity and continued. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, that each arrangement insinuates a particular feeling. Are you looking for something that conveys gratitude this Thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted. "Sorry, but in the last five months, everything that could go wrong has."
Sandra regretted her outburst but was surprised when Jenny said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you." The door's small bell suddenly rang.

"Barbara! Hi," Jenny said. She politely excused herself from Sandra and walked toward a small workroom. She quickly reappeared carrying a massive arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses. Only, the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped, no flowers. "Want this in a box?" Jenny asked. Sandra watched for Barbara's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems and no flowers! She waited for laughter, for someone to notice the absence of flowers atop the thorny stems, but neither woman did.

"Yes, please. It's exquisite," said Barbara. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I'd not be so
moved by its significance, but it's happening again. My family will love this one. Thanks."

Sandra stared."Why so normal a conversation about so strange an arrangement? she wondered. "Ah,” said Sandra, pointing. "That lady just left with, ah....."

"Yes?"

"Well, she had no flowers!"

"Do you really want to know?"

"I couldn't leave this shop without knowing. I'd think about nothing else!"

"That might be good," said Jenny. "Well," she continued, "Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today. She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she faced major surgery."

"That same year, I lost my husband. I assumed complete responsibility for the shop and for the first time, spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel."

"I'm a Christian, Sandra. I've always thanked God for good things in life and I never thought to ask Him why good things happened to me? But, when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time to learn that dark times are
important. I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You
know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted and from His consolation we learn to comfort
others."

Sandra gasped. "A friend read that passage to me and I was furious! I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God." She started to ask Jenny to "go on" when the door's bell diverted their attention

"Hey, Phil!" shouted Jenny as a balding, rotund man entered the shop. She softly touched Sandra's arm and moved to welcome him. He tucked her under his side for a warm hug.

"I'm here for twelve thorny long-stemmed stems!" Phil laughed, heartily.

"I figured as much," said Jenny. "I've got them ready." She lifted a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the
refrigerated cabinet.

Sandra could not resist asking. "These are for your wife?" Phil saw that Sandra's curiosity matched his when he first heard of a Thorn Bouquet.

"In fact, I'm glad you asked," he said. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but we slogged through, problem by rotten problem. We rescued our marriage -our love, really. Last year at Thanksgiving I stopped in here for flowers. I must have mentioned surviving a tough process because Jenny told me that for a long time she kept a vase of rose stems-stems!-as a reminder of what she learned from ‘thorny’ times. That was good enough for me. I took home stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific thorny situation and give thanks for what the problem taught us. I'm pretty sure this stem review is becoming a tradition."

Phil paid Jenny, thanked her again and as he left, said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life." Sandra said to Jenny.

"Well, my experience says that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, Sandra, Jesus wore a crown of thorns so that we might know His love. Do not resent thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take twelve long-stemmed thorns, please."

"I hoped you would," Jenny said. "I'll have them ready in a minute. Then, every time you see them, remember to appreciate both good and hard times. We grow through both."

"Nothing. Nothing but a pledge to work toward healing your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." Jenny handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach a card like this to your arrangement but maybe you'd like to read it first. Go ahead, read it.”

"My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn! I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorn. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear, teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.”--George Matheson"

Jenny said, "Happy Thanksgiving, Sandra," handing her the Special."

"I look forward to our knowing each other better." Sandra smiled. She turned, opened the door and walked toward hope.

Interview with God

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

"Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview Me?"

"If you have the time," I said.

God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything;
What questions do you have in mind to ask me?"

"What surprises you most about mankind?"

God answered:

That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.

That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to
restore their health.

That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such
that they live neither for the present nor the future.

That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived...

God's hands took mine and we were silent for while, and then I asked..."As a
parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"

God replied with a smile:

To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let
themselves be loved.

To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives,
but who they have in their lives.

To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be
judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison
basis!

To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who
needs the least.

To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in
persons
we love, and that it takes many years to heal them.

To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not
know how to express or show their feelings.

To learn that money can buy everything but happiness.

To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally
different.

To learn that a true friend in someone who knows everything about
them...and likes them anyway.

To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but
that they have to forgive themselves."

I sat there for awhile enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for his time and
for all that He has done for me and my family, and He replied, "Anytime.
I'm here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for me, and I'll answer."

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but
people will never forget how you made them feel.

Author Unknown

Contributed by Yaa Yaa the Clown.
You may visit her fabulous website at http://members.aol.com/kechew/

Annoying The Daddy

A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later: "Da-ad..."

"What?"

"I'm thirsty. Can you bring me a drink of water?"

"No. You had your chance. Lights out."

Five minutes later: "Da-aaaad..."

"WHAT?"

"I'm THIRSTY...Can I have a drink of water??"

"I told you NO! If you ask again I'll have to spank you!!"

Five minutes later... "Daaaa-aaaad..."

"WHAT??!!"

"When you come in to spank me, can you bring me a drink of water?"

Funny Kid

An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally
asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"

The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll just run in and out and in
and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's
sake, Jimmy, come in or stay out!'"

Contributed by Kevin Botini

On September 15, senseless tradgedy struck and people lay dead. We strive to understand why. What is the rason? what good can something like this do? Here is one couple's accounting of the events leading up to and following this event. They are regular visitors and contributors to Hickory's Clown Alley. Here is their story:

By now almost everyone has heard of the tragedy that took place on Sept. 15, when a gunman entered Wedgwood Baptist Church and killed 7 people and injured 7 others before taking his own life. That morning had been the day of "See You at the Pole," when students gather around their flagpole in the morning to pray for their school and nation. What the media hasn't reported, however, is how God has been so evident, both during and after the shooting. He has done amazing works!

Before The Shooting:

***Our pastor, Brother Al, had prayed that God would do whatever it took to expand the ministry of Wedgwood Baptist Church. Our church is one that is used as a model of how NOT to pick a location, because no one in the world can find it. Now almost everyone in the world knows exactly where it is.

Evidence of God's Control During The Shooting:

***To enter the church, the gunman walked past our children's playground, which should have been full of kids, but, for some reason, every single children's and preschool class was running late. No one had made it to the playground yet.

***He fired over 100 bullets into a crowd of over 400, but only 14 people were hit.

***He did not shoot the over 60 bullets he still had with him.

***The bottom fell off of the pipe bomb he threw, and the bomb landed without ever exploding.

***One of the youth that was wounded (she was shielding a disabled friend with her body) has scoliosis. The curve in her spine directed the bullet away from major organs, saving her from serious injury.

***Because the first 911 call came in on a police radio, emergency vehicles were dispatched immediately, without spending precious time to verify that the call was real.

***One of the people in the church at the time was a paramedic, and he was able to stop bleeding and stabilize injured people before the emergency crews arrived.

***Leaders were able to get the children out of the building without the kids having to see any victims or any of the mess.

***Each children's worker stayed with his/her class, even though they all had children elsewhere in the building, and some had teens in the sanctuary. Not one worker left his or her post.

***None of the adults who died have children.

***All 7 victims were not just Christians, but bold Christians who were passionate about their faith. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is not being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)

What God has done since the shooting:

***Many denominations have pulled together to offer help and support. One example is the United Methodist Church who sent 15 people the following Sunday to cover our childcare. They didn't want any church members to have to miss the service because they were taking care of the children.

***A church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, drove over 5 hours just so they could march around our church and pray during our Sunday morning services.

***The Fort Worth Police Dept. planted flowers in the flower beds before we reentered the sanctuary to worship.

***We have received over 10,000 emails, 5000 cards, and $60,000 from all over the world.

***Al Meredith, our pastor, has had the microphone in his face continually and has over and over given an outstanding answer to the reason for our hope. He presented the gospel beautifully on Larry King Live when prompted by a question asked by Vice President Al Gore.

***Because of the live news coverage and interviews, over 200 million people have heard the gospel because of this tragedy.

***Fifteen thousand turned out for a community wide service at TCU football stadium. Brother Al gave a very serious challenging message calling for a day of fasting and heart searching (Monday the 20th). The service was broadcast live in its entirety on WBAP 820 which is a news station that covers most of
north Texas. This same news station has replayed our pastor's first press conference due to people calling in
and requesting to hear his comforting words again.

***CNN also broadcast the memorial service live. Amazingly, because one of the victim's families lives and works in Saudi Arabia, that country allowed the service to be broadcast there as well. In Saudi Arabia it is illegal to say the name of Jesus on the street.

***Because of that same CNN broadcast, 35 people in Japan gave their lives to Christ.

***When President Clinton finally got through to him, Brother Al ended their conversation by praying, after gaining permission, for the Clinton family.

***At several schools, students met around their flagpoles the next day. At one school 25 students accepted Christ, and 110 at another.

***A teacher led 22 students to Christ in her classroom.

***Christian teachers all over North Texas have been able to share with their classes because the students are asking questions about their teachers' faith.

***In Burleson, prayers and Scripture are being said over the intercom.

***On the East coast, where "See You at the Pole" was delayed because of the hurricane, record numbers of kids showed up to pray.

***Governor Bush and the Fort Worth mayor quietly came to our pastor's home while the staff were meeting and praying and joined in the prayer meeting. This was not political! Only those who are close to staff members heard about this; the media never knew.

***Governor Bush has visited with our pastor several times, and Brother Al has had an impact on him. Just think of the influence our pastor could have if Governor Bush is the next president!

***A caller to an area Christian radio station said that he didn't know what those people had but he wanted it. The DJ proceeded to lead him to Christ. Many notes left in front of the church contain the same sentiment. Those who don't know Jesus want what we have!

***The church has received so many emails asking us how we are able to have hope and continue on. There are teams of church member volunteers responding to these emails.

***My friend Jodi has been praying for her husband for years. She and their 4-yr-old daughter were at the church that night. Three days ago Scott gave his life to Christ.

***We have had over 70,000 hits on our web page which displays the planof salvation in multiple languages.

***Many members at Wedgwood Baptist are healing broken relationships within the body and experiencing spiritual renewal. These are just a few of the miracles that are happening. God's grace is almost
overwhelming. Every time the gunman fired a bullet, he intended to take a life. Yet God turned that around and saved several lives for each bullet fired. The faith of those who died has been multiplied many
times over.

Contributed by "Linny and Mo"
You can e-mail Linny and Mo at LinnyandMo@aol.com

TWO BOOKS

They lie on the table side by side
The Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride.
Not the Bible, but the TV guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide.
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see.
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV
Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree
On what they should watch on the old TV
So they open the book in which they confide.
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
The Word of God is seldom read.
Maybe a verse as they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be.
Not from reading the Bible, from watching TV
So then back to the table side by side,
Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
Is found in the Bible, not on TV !

Contributed by J.T. "Bubba" Sikes
You can e-mail Bubba at jtbubba2@aol.com
or visit him on the www at http://members.aol.com/jtbubba2/

S L O W D A N C E
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain
lapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask "How are you?"
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done,
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last.

Ever told your child,
We'll do it tomorrow
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time
To call and say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away...
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.

Butterfly Kisses.........

We often learn the most from our children. Some time ago, A friend of mine punished his 3-year old daughter for wasting a roll of Gold colored wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child
tried to decorate a box to put under the tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."

He was embarrassed by his earlier overaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box was empty. He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside it?

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged forgiveness.

My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real search of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Remember, we all need to Love and let the people we love know how much they mean to us.

Contributed by J.|T. "Bubba" Sikes
You may e-mail Bubba at jtbubba2@aol.com
or visit him on the WWW at http://members.aol.com/jtbubba2/

The Important Things Life Teaches You...
(Part 1)

~ 1 ~ Most Important Question
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind
of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our
quiz/grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.'" I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

~ 2 ~ Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her -- generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry! She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove away. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others,"
Sincerely,Mrs. Nat King Cole

~ 3 ~ Always remember those who serve
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she said brusquely. The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies -- her tip.

~ 4 ~ The Obstacle in Our Path>>>>>
In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

~ 5 ~ Giving Blood
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liz," As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood.

Contributed by Kevin Botini

A ROSE WITHIN

A certain Man planted a Rose
and watered it faithfully,
and before it blossomed, he examined it.
He saw the Bud that would soon blossom
and also the THORNS.
And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower
come from a plant burdened
with so many sharp Thorns?"

Saddened by this thought,
he neglected to water the Rose,
and before it was ready to bloom, it died.

So it is with many People.
Within every Soul there is a Rose.
The Godlike Qualities planted in us at
Birth, grow amid the thorns of our Faults.

Many of us look at OURSELVES and
see only the Thorns, the Defects.
We Despair, thinking that nothing good
can possibly come from US.
We neglect to water the Good within us,
and eventually it dies.
We never realize our Potential.

Some People do not see
the Rose within Themselves;
Someone else must show it to them.

One of the greatest Gifts a person can possess
is to be able to reach past the Thorns
and find the Rose within Others.

This is the characteristic of LOVE,
To look at a Person, and knowing his Faults,
Recognize the Nobility in his Soul,
and help him realize
that he can overcome his Faults.

If we show him the Rose,
He will conquer the Thorns.
Then will he Blossom,
Blooming forth thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold
As it is given to Him.

Our Duty in this World is to Help Others
By showing them their Roses and
Not their Thorns.
Only then can we achieve
The LOVE we should feel for each other;

Only then can we Bloom in our Own Garden.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE

1. Give people more than they expect. Do so cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged to be married for at least six months.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly, Think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call your mom.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.
30. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Contributed by Intergrity

You may e-mail Intergrity at JGCGroup@yahoo.com

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