Tuesday, October 07, 2008

A Beautiful Story.

Post 518 ~~~ Tuesday, 7th October, 2008.

Hello Everyone ~~ After a couple of very cold days, tomorrow sounds as though it
will warm up again, thank goodness. They say the cold snap is coming from the
Antarctic and I believe them. I hope it is much better where you are, wherever
that may be. I still couldn't get the pic of John's dogs on tonight. They arrive in
the morning so maybe if I take some with my camera, MAYBE that will work.

My Home Care lady came today so all clean and tidy again, and I have the electric
blanket switched on. My back does appreciate getting into a warm bed.
I spent most of yesterday cooking, so all stocked up for a few days. And I had a few
callers, so now to find something to post.

My dear friend, Barbara, who I have known since we were teenagers, and that's
quite a while ago, sent me this one called "A Beautiful Story, " Thanks Barbara.
It makes you realize that things happen for a reason.

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry to
re-open a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about
their opportunities. When they saw their new church, it was very run down and
needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their
first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting etc and on Dec. 18th were ahead os schedule and just about finished.

On Dec. 19th a terrible tempest - a driving rain-storm- hit the area and lasted 2 days.

On the 21st, the pastot went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the
roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the
front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.

The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but
postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way, he noticed that a
local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One
of the items was a
beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted with exquisite
work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right
size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time, it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite
direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her in to wait
in the warm church for the next bus, 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers
etc., to put up the tablecloth as a tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how
beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet.
"Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?" The pastor explained. The
woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EBG were
crocheyed into it there. They were. They were the initials of the woman, and she had
made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Table-
cloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do
people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was
going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw
her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for
the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.
She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for
a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full.
The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his
wife greeted everyone at the door and many said they would return.

One older man whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to
sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he didn't leave.

The man asked where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical
to one his wife had made many years ago when they lived in Austria before the war
and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike.

He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety.
He was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in prison. He never saw
his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove
to Staten Island and to the same house where he had taken the woman 3 days earlier.

He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment,
knocked on the door and saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob. Reid who says God does work in mysterious
ways. I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today and protect you as you
go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we
give Him all our cares you know He wil see us through.
<><>

First joke was sent by my dear friend, Robyn ~~ Thanks Robyn.
Investment Tips for 2008 !!
With all the turmoil in the market today and the collapse of Lehman Bros and
Acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America, this might be some good advice.
For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that
you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks. Watch for these
consolidations later this year.

1. Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W R Grace Co.
Will merge and become ~~ Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2. Polygram Records, Warner Bros, and Zester join forces and become ~~
Poly, Warner Cracker.

3. 3M will merge with Goodyear and become ~~ MMM Good.

4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Defasco, and Dakota Mining will nerge
and become ~~ ZipAudiDoDa.

5. FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS and become ~ ~ FedUp.

6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become~~Faiwell Honeychild.

7. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become ~~
Knott NOW.

8. Victoria's Secret and Smith and Wesson will merge under the new name~~
TittytittyBangBang.
<><>

When he was arrested in a foreign country he was pleased when he heard the
chief of police tell him, "You will get a fair trial" but wept when the police chief
continued, "and then you'll be shot."
<><>

She was stopped by the police for speeding. The police xlaimed she was travelling at
over 100 miles per hour. She denied the charge as she said she couldn't possibly
have done that as she had only been driving for fifteen minutes.
<><>

Humans are better than computers because humans are easier to maintain, and
it doesn't need much intelligence to make one.
<><>

She's so absent-minded she even forgot her twin sister's birthday.
<><>

John got tired of his wife forever picking on him and being argumentative . He
was therefore glad to divorce her. Unfortunately, when he fell behind with his
maintenance payments she repossessed him.
<><>

When Sally came home from the office unexpectedly early one day, she found her handsome husband in bed with a 65 year old woman. Sally was horified.

Sally's husband looked up at her and said, "Darling, this is the lady who provided
your Porsche and that nic diamond ring I gave you last week, and ....."
"Oh," said Sally, "Sorry I interrupted. And can I have a necklace to match my ring?"
<><>

That's all tonight, my friends. I hope the week is going well for you all. Love
and Best Wishes to yoou all. Take great care, Cheers, Merle.

Post 518 ~ ~ ~ Tuesday, 7th October, 2008.
<><><>

16 comments:

Christina said...

The beautiful story is indeed beautiful.

Gigi Ann said...

G'Day Merle,

Yes life does have a way of making us set back and ponder over, why do things take the turns they do? So glad to hear the couple found each other after all those years.

I especially enjoyed your funny about: "Investments for 2008" lol...

Sorry to hear you are having a cold spell, we have had a few nice days in the 70s, which is my favorite temps. But, we only get cooler temps from now until next April, when we will start to enjoy our Spring,,;)

Have a wonderful week.

Ann

Jim said...

Hi Merle, I too liked those mergers. Who knows, one them might just happen.
The blonde who was speeding was a good one. I think a blonde took out the blonde word before you found it. Some just don't like to be the target of those jokes but do think they are funny.
I had heard the pastor Rob and the couple story before. It is good.
Cheers,
..

Patty said...

Loved the story of the tablecloth. I've read it before, but still get goose bumps everytime I read it again.

Also like the joke of the twin forgetting her sister's birthday. Now that is absent minded. LOL Have a great night in your cozy warm bed.

Bear Naked said...

Merle
The tablecloth story gave me chills.
What a wonderful inspiring story.
Thank you for sharing it with us.

Bear((( )))

Dave said...

Wonderful stories and jokes as usual Merle! *S*

Have a fantastic day, and stay warm.

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Merle,

I hope it warmed up a bit by now in your part of the world. We had a bit cooler as well, but we had some nice rain, which we needed.

Oh, my, your Beautiful Story gave me the chills! What an incredible story. Thank you for sharing it. The Lord does work in mysterious ways.

The mergers were funny! Hail, Mary, Fuller, Grace, haha, and Tittytittybang bang, and all the rest. They sound like good investments, but I am short on cash. LOL.And the rest of the funnies were hilarious today.

Dear Merle, I hope the rest of the week is sunny and pleasant, and you will be out enjoying it. Take good care, my friend, and be well.

Love and blessings,

Renie

Lady Di Tn said...

Merle
It rained yesterday, all night and is raining as I write. I cannot remember the last time we got such a wonderful soaking. Sorry to hear that mother nature sent you more cold. Was your little garden okay? The story was indeed a beautiful one. Looking forward to those pictures of fuff and stuff. Peace

Sue Seibert said...

I had read that Christmas story but was so glad to read it again. Beautiful! Hope you're warmer today!

Rob said...

Hi Merle, It sounds like it was a good idea to keep the electric blanket on the bed a while longer. I'm ok at home but when I stay at my parents who don't have heating in the bedrooms I make sure I take Tommy with me. He's like you and likes a warm back so we warm each other up. Hope its not to cold for the race this weekend. Bob.

Puss-in-Boots said...

Hi Merle. What an amazing story about the tablecloth. But what a wonderful ending.

Glad you liked the investments...some people have very good imaginations.

It's cooler here, too, but nowhere near as cold as your area. About 23 degrees I think...quite nice, but very windy.

Hugs.

audrey` said...

"A Beautiful Story" it's indeed =)
The reunion is a miracle after 35 years.

How are John's pets doing?

Take care, Merle =)

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful your blog - keeps extraordinarily by many elements I wish you all well and always happy to read Steven may

Merle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
LZ Blogger said...

Merle ~ I loved the Christmas story... WOW what a gift! ~ jb///

Jeanette said...

Hi Dear Merle, Tuesday was absolutely bitter playing bowls in Rutherglen, We were told if we ventured up the cliff behind the greens you would see snow,let me say you would have to be a mountain goat to get up the cliff and nobody even tryed. Im still thawing out..
A truly "Beautiful story"with a lovely outcome...
Take care Merle im off for early night..Love Janxxx