Tag Archives: story

Words Written with Love

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Along the coast of Mexico stood a beautiful villa. A sign in front read, ‘Rooms Available’. A man driving by needed a room, so he check in. After putting his bags down, he decided to go for a swim, since it was a glorious, warm day. After beginning to swim, he noticed a sign which read ‘No Swimming — SHARKS!’ He got out of the water, using unkind words, he kicked and tore down the sign, and left the villa in a fury.

Again, the ‘Rooms Available’sign was posted. The next gentleman to check in, unpacked, and went for a stroll. He, too, decided to go for a swim. As he stepped into the water, he caught sight of another sign that read “No Swimming — SHARKS!’ With his heart pounding, he quickly returned to shore. When he approached the rocky beach, he knelt down and prayed, “My Lord and my God, thank you for letting me see this sign, for you rescued me today from being eaten by the sharks.” As he looked out over the water, many moving shark fins were visible. He again thanked God for saving him. Upon his return to the villa, he shared his story with everyone.

This is the story that I shared with my class. After reading it to them, I asked, “Do you think the sign, ‘No swimming — SHARKS!’ were words written with love?” Looking at their expressions, as they answered, “Yes,” you could see there was no doubt amongst them. I now held up a sign with the 10 commandments written on it. I explained, “These, too, are words written with love, by the hand of God.” Exodus 31:18.

With the opportunity to share with our class the differences, between harboring anger and nurturing love within ourselves, I could clearly see that this class is ready to be the reflection of the Ultimate Love.

Some great kids have been added to our class lately. They are Gianluca, Joseph and Frankie. This was Frankie’s first class with us. Here are a few of his written words of love, “Today our class learned about the Ten Commandments. We also learned about being happy for each other and to love everybody.”

As Nancy Spiegelberg once said, “Lord, I crawled across the bareness to you with my empty cup, uncertain in asking for any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better, I’d have come running with a bucket.”

Many Blessings,

Deanna Danielle

Words written with love!

Words written with love!

 

 

Lil’ Stories, Big Lessons

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As we gathered around on the class rug, I shared a story about three women who were arguing over the best way to pray. In the story, one woman said, “The best way to pray is on your knees.” Another woman said, “It’s best to be praying while you are standing.” The third woman said, “It is definitely best to pray while laying down.” As they shared their views, a gentleman working on the telephone lines over-heard them arguing.

“Ladies,” he interrupted, “You have it all wrong.” He proceeded to tell his story; “Do you see this pole? Three weeks ago, I was fixing the wires at the top, when I slipped. On my way down, head first, one of the loose wires wrapped around my ankle. I was hanging 10 feet off the ground, upside down. I know for a fact, that is the position you pray your best in!” To my surprise, the boys in our class thought this was the best story. Through their giggling voices, all they keep saying was, “Tell it again, tell it again.” I guess slapstick comedy never goes out of style.

When we think about the moral of this story, it holds great truth. Sometimes we spend a lot of time bickering over things, while forgetting the most important parts. In this case, it is not how we pray, but that we pray. With that, may we, like my 1st grade boys, find the joy and laughter in our everyday. May we never loose the child that lives within us.

Jesus used many parables as a means of illustrating profound, divine truths. I remember one year while teaching an 8th grade class, I read to them, Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” One of my students responded, “He’s selfish.” Taken a back by his response, I said a little prayer for God to give me the right words. With that, I smiled and said, “You are right. God is selfish for you and me. He will go all the miles to find us, because we are that important to Him. Even if it meant going to the Cross.

A reading from Matthew 18:1-4 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And He said, “Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

It has been said that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Lil’ Stories, Big Lessons.

May God bless you always.

Deanna Danielle

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