Shortarmguy's Inspirational Page
On this page, I will post the most inspirational material I receive on any given day. So email shortarmguy@aol.com the best stuff you get. Life can be darn tough sometimes and every now and then you might need a little happiness booster. I'm hoping this page may accomplish that. After you read a few of these, you can push back from your keyboard, throw your arms in the air, wave them back and forth and scream "I'm glad to be alive!" If this happens to you, please send pictures and I'll post them here!
March 27, 2004
Look
closely at the picture and you will see His
life story penciled into his profile, starting at
His chin. This is wonderful... enjoy
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home from the war. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I
have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was
hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an
arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with
us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to
live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking.
Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own
lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I
think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to
live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from
him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco
police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The
police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco
and were taken to the city morgue to identify the
body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered
something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love
those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who
inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away
from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully,
there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an
unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how
messed up we are.
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a
little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as
they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different
from us!!!
There's a miracle called friendship that dwells in the heart. You don't
know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift
it always brings and you realize that friendship Is God's most precious gift!
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to
succeed they lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to
open their hearts to us.
March 20, 2004
The
Bible in 50 Words!
God
made
Adam
bit
Noah
arked
Abraham
split
Joseph
ruled
Jacob
fooled
Bush
talked
Moses
balked
Pharaoh
plagued
People
walked
Sea
divided
Tablets
guided
Promise
landed
Saul
freaked
David
peeked
Prophets
warned
Jesus
born
God
walked
Love talked
Anger
crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit
flamed
Word
spread
God
remained.
Inspirational
Website
Of The Week
March 13, 2004
My Drug Problem
My generation just might have been lucky. I had a drug problem when I was young, but I turned out all right.
I was drug to church on Sunday morning.
I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.
I was drug to family reunions no matter the weather.
I was drug to the bus stop to go to school every weekday.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults and teachers.
I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents.
Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think.
They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin, and if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America might be a better place.
March 6, 2004
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd."
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he
landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass
about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his
eyes.
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around
looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his
glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his
face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out,
he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had
gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a
private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his
books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a
little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the
more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same
of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I
stopped hi m and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious
muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me
half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors,
we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to
Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a
problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football
scholarship.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a
nerd. He had to prepare a speech for
graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that
really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good
in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved
him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous.
Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be
great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one)
and smiled. "Thanks," he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is
a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your
parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends.
I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you
can give them. I am going to tell you a story."
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day
we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had
cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying
his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
"Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the
unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all
about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not
until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can
change a person's life. For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look
for God in others.
"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly."
February 29, 2004
I HOPE WE CAN FIND A CURE....
Like most elementary schools, it was typical to have a parade of students
in and out of the health clinic throughout the day. We dispensed ice for bumps
and bruises, Band-Aids for cuts, and liberal doses of sympathy and
hugs. As principal, my office was right next door to the clinic, so I often
dropped in to lend a hand and help out with the hugs. I knew that to
a few kids, mine might be the only one they got all day.
One morning I was putting a Band-Aid on a little girl's scraped knee. Her blonde
hair was matted, and I noticed that she was shivering in her thin little
sleeveless blouse. I found her a warm sweatshirt and helped her pull it
on. "Thanks for taking care of me," she whispered as she climbed into
my lap and snuggled up against me.
It wasn't long after that when I ran across an unfamiliar lump under my arm.
Cancer, an aggressively spreading kind, had already invaded thirteen of my
lymph nodes. I pondered whether or not to tell the students about my diagnosis.
The word breast seemed so hard to say out loud to them, and the word cancer
seemed so frightening. When it became evident that the children were going
to find out one way or another, either the straight scoop from me or possibly a
garbled version from someone else, I decided to tell them myself. It wasn't easy
to get the words out, but the empathy and concern I saw in their faces as I
explained it to them told me I had made the right decision. When I gave them a
chance to ask questions, they mostly wanted to know how they could help. I told
them that what I would like best would be their letters, pictures and prayers. I
stood by the gym door as the children solemnly filed out. My little blonde
friend darted out of line and threw herself into my arms. Then she stepped
back to look up into my face. "Don't be afraid, Dr. Perry," she ! said
earnestly, "I know you'll be back because now it's our turn to take
care of you." No one could have ever done a better job.
The kids sent me off to my first chemotherapy session with a hilarious book of
nausea remedies that they had written. A video of every class
in the school singing get-well songs accompanied me to the
next chemotherapy appointment. By the third visit, the nurses were waiting at
the door to find out what I would bring next. It was a delicate music box that
played "I Will Always Love You." Even when I went into isolation at
the hospital for a bone marrow transplant, the letters and pictures kept coming
until they covered every wall of my room. Then the kids traced their hands onto
colored paper, cut them out and glued them together to make a freestanding
rainbow of helping hands. I feel like I've stepped into Disneyland every
time I walk into this room," my doctor laughed. That was even before
the six-foot apple blossom tree arrived adorned with messages
written on paper apples from the students and teachers. What
healing comfort I found in being surrounded by these tokens of their caring.
At long last I was well enough to return to work. As I headed up the road to the
school, I was suddenly overcome by doubts. What if the kids have forgotten all
about me? I wondered, What if they don't want a skinny bald principal? What if .
. . I caught sight of the school marquee as I rounded the bend.
"Welcome Back, Dr. Perry," it read. As I drew closer, everywhere I
looked were pink ribbons - ribbons in the windows, tied on the doorknobs, even
up in the trees. The children and staff wore pink ribbons, too. My blonde buddy
was first in line to greet me. "You're back, Dr.Perry, you're back!"
she called. "See, I told you we'd take care of you!" As I hugged her
tight, in the back of my mind I faintly heard my music box playing . .
"I will l always love you."
***********Subject: Breast Cancer Stamp Booklet ******************** .
Dear Friends, Sisters, & Brothers ( Men are susceptible to breast cancer
also )....
Please read and pass this on. It would be wonderful if 2004 were the
year a cure for breast was found!!!!
The notion that we could raise $35 million by buying a book of stamps may sound
ABSURD BUT, THIS IS POWERFUL!!
As you may be aware, the US Postal Service recently released its new "Fund
the Cure" stamp to help fund breast cancer research. The stamp was designed
by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. It is important that we take a
stand against this disease that affects so many of our Mothers, Sisters and
Friends. Instead of the normal 37 cents for a stamp, this one costs 40
cents. The additional 3 cents will go to breast cancer research. A
"normal" book costs $7.40. This one is only $8.00. It on takes a few
minutes in line at the Post Office and means so much. If all stamps are sold, it
will raise an additional $35,000,000 for this vital research. Just as important
as the money is our support. What a statement it would make if the stamp outsold
the lottery this week. What a statement it would make that we care.
February 21, 2004
February 15, 2004
Why We Love Children
1.. A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he'd found a cat, but it was
dead.
"How do you know that the cat was dead?" she asked
her pupil.
"Because I pissed in its ear and it didn't move," answered the child
innocently.
You did WHAT ? ! ?" the teacher exclaimed in surprise.
"You know," explained the boy, "I leaned over and went 'Pssst!'
and it didn't move."
2. A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later....."Da-ad...."
"What?"
"I'm thirsty. Can you bring 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 a drink of water?"
3. 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 run in and out and in and out
and keep slamming the door until St. Peter
says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'"
4. One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son
into bed. She was about
to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy,
will you sleep with me tonight?"
The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear,"
she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room."
A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice:
"The big sissy."
5. It was that time, during the Sunday morning service, for the children's
sermon. All the children were invited to
come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as
she sat down, the pastor leaned over
and said, "That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter
Dress?"
The little girl replied, directly into the pastor's clip-on microphone,
"Yes, and my Mom says it's a bitch to iron."
6. When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came
into the room when I was just getting
ready to get into the shower. She said, "Mommy, you are getting fat!"
I replied, "Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her
tummy."
"I know," she replied, but what's growing in your butt?"
7. A little boy was doing his math homework. He said to himself, "Two plus
five, that son of a bitch is seven. Three plus six, that son of a bitch is
nine...."
His mother heard what he was saying and gasped, "What are you doing?"
The little boy answered, "I'm doing my math homework, Mom."
"And this is how your teacher taught you to do it?" the mother asked.
"Yes," he answered.
Infuriated, the mother asked the teacher the next day, "What are you
teaching my son in math?"
The teacher replied, "Right now, we are learning addition."
The mother asked, "And are you teaching them to say two plus two, that son
of a bitch is four?"
After the teacher stopped laughing, she answered, "What I taught them was,
two plus two, THE SUM OF WHICH, is four."
8. One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken Little to
her class. She came to the part of
the story where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer. She read,
".... and so Chicken Little went up to the
farmer and said, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"
The teacher paused then asked the class,
"And what do you think that farmer said?"
One little girl raised her hand and said,
"I think he said: 'Holy Shit! A talking chicken!'"
The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.
9. A little girl asked her mother, "Can I go outside and play with the
boys?"
Her mother replied, "No, you can't play with the boys,
they're too rough."
The little girl thought about it for a few moments and asked, "If I can
find a smooth one, can I play with him?"
10. A little girl goes to the barber shop with her father.
She stands next to the barber chair, while her dad gets his hair cut, eating a
snack cake.
The barber says to her, "Sweetheart, you're gonna get hair on your
Twinkie."
She says, "Yes, I know, and I'm gonna get boobs too."
February 5, 2004
One
of the many headaches that the
Liberal icons bumped into one another to fly to Puerto Rico, boat over to the
island, trespass (but never on a day that there was an exercise scheduled) and
get arrested for the benefit of the New York Times or Newsweek. They
included the Reverend Al Sharpton, Mrs. Jesse Jackson, Joan Baez, Robert
F. Kennedy, Jr., Edward Olomos, Michael Moore and Ramsey Clark, just to
name a few.
In 2002, the bombing exercises were transferred to an Air Force bombing
range in central
The following Feb, Rumsfeld announced that the
The next day a stunned Governor Sila Calderon, held a news conference in
When asked, the Commander-in Chief,
So, Yanqui go home? Fine. But we'll take our dollars with us.
Hasta la vista, baby!
On February 21, the Secretary of Defense also announced that starting this year,
the
Immediately the business and government leaders in the German states of
Oh, ain't it nice to see a government with guts and a good memory. What
fun!
GOD BLESS
February 1, 2004
Why don't we hear this on the news?
Marines and Sailors,
As we approach the end of the year I think it is important to share a few
thoughts about what you've accomplished directly,
in some cases, and indirectly in many others. I am speaking about what the
Bush Administration and each of you has contributed by wearing the uniform,
because the fact that you wear the uniform contributes 100% to the
capability of the nation to send a few onto the field to execute national
policy. As you read about these achievements you are a part of I would call
your attention to two things:
1. This is good news that hasn't been fit to print or report on TV.
2. It is much easier to point out the errors a man makes when he makes the
tough decisions, rarely is the positive as aggressively pursued.
Inspiration from the past
Inspiration December and January 2004
Inspiration October and November 2003
Inspiration August and September 2003
Inspiration June and July 2003
Inspiration April and May 2003
Inspiration February and March 2003
Inspiration December and January 2003
Inspiration October and November 2002
Inspiration August and September 2002
Inspiration June and July 2002
Inspiration April and May 2002
Inspiration February and March 2002
Inspiration December and January 2002
Inspiration October and November 2001
Inspiration August and September 2001
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