eXpress Yourself newZletter Vol 2002 No. 5

               CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:

 The Spirit of the Season
        ---  Redefining the meaning of perfection

Wonderment
        ---  In the eyes of a child: mudpuddles, dandelions, and drunks

Friendships
        ---  For a reason, season, or lifetime

Expect A Miracle
        ---  Yours for the planning and the acting

The Feast
        --- The big meal changes when Martha Stewart isn’t around

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A Glorious Holiday Season To You All! May  this Volume 5, 2002 edition of your eXpress Yourself newZletter convey our warmest holiday wishes to you all.  As our gift to you, our very special subscribers, we have compiled some of the most uplifting messages sent to us by our readers.  We’ve picked selections that uniquely express the timeless, universal qualities of this season of celebration ...  SPIRIT ...  CHILDREN’S  WONDERMENT ...   MIRACLES  ...  FRIENDSHIP ...  THE FEAST  ... and tied them all together in one beautiful package -- your holiday XYZ edition.  Some of the following selections may be familiar to you.  Some may be your favorites.  If you've heard them before, you know their messages bear repeating, particularly at this time of year.  May these words touch you in a special way and add their beauty and blessing to your holidays, whatever holiday you choose to celebrate.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  SEASON In Brooklyn, New York, Chush is a school that caters to learning disabled children. Some children  remain in Chush for their entire school career, while others can be mainstreamed into conventional schools.  At a Chush fundraising dinner, the father of a Chush child delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After  extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son, Shay? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?  The audience was shocked by the question, pained by the father's anguish and stilled by the piercing query. "I believe," the father answered, "that when God brings a child like this into the world, the  perfection that he seeks is in the way people react to this child."  He then told the following story about his son Shay: One afternoon, Shay and his father walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they will let me play?"  Shay's father knew that his son was not at all athletic and that most boys would not want him on their team. But Shay's father understood that if his son was chosen to play it would give him a comfortable sense of  belonging.  Shay's father approached one of the boys in the field and asked if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance from his teammates. Getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said "We are losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him up to bat in the ninth inning."  Shay's father was ecstatic as Shay smiled broadly. Shay was told to put on a glove and go out to play short center field. In the bottom of the eighth inning,  Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.  In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again and now with two outs and the bases loaded with the potential winning run on base.  Shay was scheduled to be up. Would the team actually let Shay bat at this juncture and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that it was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, let alone hit with it. However as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay should at least be able to make contact.  The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. One of Shay's teammates came up to Shay and together they held the bat and faced the pitcher waiting for the next pitch. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly toward Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay and his teammate swung at the ball and together they hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher.  The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could easily have thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have ended the game.  Instead, the pitcher took the ball and threw it on a high arc to right field, far beyond reach of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, Shay, run to first. Run to first." Never in his life had Shay run to  first. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. By the time he reached first base, the right fielder had the ball. He could have thrown the ball to the second baseman who would tag out Shay, who was still running. But the right fielder understood what the pitcher's intentions were, so he threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.  Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second." Shay ran towards second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases towards home.  As Shay reached second base, the opposing short stop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base and shouted, "Run to third." As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams ran behind him screaming, "Shay run home." Shay ran home, stepped on home plate and all 18 boys lifted him on their shoulders and made him the hero, as he had just hit a "grand slam" and won the game for his team. "That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "those 18 boys reached their level of God's perfection."  ___________________ * * *  May we all continually strive to be living examples of such perfection.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WONDERMENT:  Through the Eyes of Children Mud Puddles, Dandelions, and Drunks When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.  My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on. When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back. When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words.  If they don't know them, they make up their own. When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing. When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that. My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy." When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and worms to play with. I wonder if we are given children to teach or to learn from?  No wonder God loves the children!! Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things ... the things that truly mattered. ____________________ * * *  We wish you mud puddles, dandelions, and songs with lyrics you can’t remember.  May you again see the wonderment of this world  through the eyes of the child you once were... and still are. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FRIENDSHIPS:  For A Reason, A Season, or A Lifetime by Drew Chalker People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON. . . it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid  you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.  They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for the reason; you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.  They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.  They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.  Believe it!  It is real!  But only for a season.  And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway), and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.  It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Drew Chalker. <gatorzfam@yahoo.com _____________________ * * *  Treasure your friends for however long they cross your path.  Each has something to give you and you have some to share with them.  Don’t miss the precious opportunity to receive the gift of another person’s experience and insight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EXPECT  A  MIRACLE!  by June McHardy What would constitute a miracle in your life? A million dollars?  A great family vacation?  A new car?  A physical healing?  Someone's love? A 50-pound weight loss? Whatever it is that you consider your miracle, know that it CAN come true! This is not meant to be a religious process, however it does require FAITH. Many people will indeed interpret this to mean faith in God, while to others it will mean faith in some other supreme being or faith in oneself, faith in the universal forces, or in the quantum field. Our definition of a miracle is really very simple. We're not talking about flying through the air or turning rocks into gold. We define a miracle as anything that you have ever previously considered impossible for yourself . . . the key word here being "previously", because the first prerequisite for the creation of your miracle is to be able to create the mindset where you now know that it is at least a possibility -- because anything that you consider impossible CANNOT be manifested. Or, as Henry Ford said, "If you believe you can or if you believe you can't, you're right!" Now, how do you create this miracle?  Just follow these simple steps. (1)  Know that this miracle is possible.  If it has ever been done anywhere and to anyone before know that it is possible for you as well. (2)  Begin thinking about it, dwelling on the joy of accomplishment, get excited about it, dream about it and WRITE IT DOWN ON PAPER as if it is already happening to you. (3)  Make a Plan of Action with a list of steps that will move you toward your goal.  Keep excited and motivated.  Don't let your dream out of your sight and most important of  all, don't let anyone, including yourself, cast any negativity over it. KNOW that you are in the process of creating it. (4)  Now TAKE A FIRST STEP.  There's always something, however small that we can do to move us forward each day. Once you've taken that first step with positive expectancy, miraculously you will start seeing strange and wonderful things happen! Someone you meet accidentally may tell you something important - or you'll find that you pick up a book on just the right subject - and lots of amazing coincidences start showing up.  This is simply the result of the universe marshalling its forces to move you toward your goal. Just be open and aware! (5)  Now relax! keep moving purposely forward each day, knowing that you are on track. Remember that once you have started this process, you are no longer alone in this. Stay open to the signals from your subconscious, from your intuition and from your environment. These are now all working with you to show you the way. (6) NOW EXPECT YOUR MIRACLE! .............................................. June McHardy is co-editor of the Motivational Ezine, "Prosperity News," dedicated to maximizing your success in life as well as on the internet.  http://www3.sympatico.ca/norm.mchardy/Prosper.htm This article is copyrighted © 2001. Reprinted by permission. __________________ * * *  You ARE a miracle.  Why do you think you can’t create another one? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE  FEAST Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Christmas.  I'm telling you in advance, so don't act surprised. Since Ms. Stewart  won't be coming, I've made a few small changes. Our sidewalk will not be lined with homemade paper bag luminaries.  After a trial run, it was decided that no matter how cleverly done, rows of  flaming lunch sacks do not create the desired welcoming effect. The dining table will not be covered with expensive linens, fancy china,  or crystal goblets.  If possible, we will use dishes that match and everyone will get a fork. Since this IS Christmas, we will refrain from  using the plastic Peter Rabbit plates and the bunny napkins from last Easter. Our centerpiece will not be the tower of fresh fruit and flowers I promised. Instead, we will be displaying a hedgehog-like decoration hand-crafted from the finest construction paper. The artist assures me it is a reindeer. We will be dining fashionably late. The children will entertain you while you wait. I'm sure they will be happy to share every choice comment I have made regarding Christmas, plum pudding, and the turkey hotline. Please remember that most of these comments were made at 5:00 AM upon discovering that the turkey was still hard enough to cut diamonds. As accompaniment to the children's recital, I will play a recording of tribal drumming. If the children should mention that I don't own a recording of tribal drumming, or that tribal drumming sounds suspiciously like a frozen turkey in a clothes dryer, ignore them.  They are lying. We toyed with the idea of ringing a dainty silver bell to announce the start of our feast. In the end, we chose to keep our traditional method. We've also decided against a formal seating arrangement. When the smoke alarm sounds, please gather around the table and sit where you like. In the spirit of harmony, we will ask the children to sit at a separate table.  In a  separate room.  Next door. Now I know you have all seen pictures of one person carving a turkey in front of a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This will not be happening at our dinner. For safety reasons, the turkey will be carved in a private ceremony. I stress "private" meaning DO NOT, under any circumstances, enter the kitchen to laugh at me. Do not send small, unsuspecting children to check on my progress.  I have an electric knife. The turkey is unarmed. It stands to reason that I will eventually win. When I do, we will eat. Before I forget, there is one last change. Instead of offering a choice of 12 different scrumptious desserts, we will be serving the traditional pumpkin pie, garnished with whipped cream and small fingerprints.  You will still have a choice: take it or leave it. Martha Stewart will not be dining with us this Christmas.  She probably won't come next year either. I am thankful. ________________________________________ This concludes the fifth edition 2002 of the eXpress Yourself newZletter.  Before I close, let me remind you about our web site addresses: Hole in the Garden Wall book:  http://www.holeinthegardenwall.com/ XYZ Newsletter subscriptions: http://www.holeinthegardenwall.com/newsletter.html XYZ Newsletter Archives: http://www.kohlquest.com/xyzarchives.html Thanks for sharing these moments with me.  May your holidays be full of all the blessings you desire and deserve. Prudence Kohl KohlQuest Associates 3271 Polk County Line Road Rutherfordton, NC 28139 PLEASE NOTE:  KohlQuest does not rent or sell lists of e-mail addresses. We honor and respect the privacy of each and every one of our subscribers. The eXpress Yourself newZletter is copyrighted © 2002 by KohlQuest.  All rights reserved. This document may not be copied in part or full without express written permission from the publisher. 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