I Believe in You

"I believe in you, Mike!"
By Bob Perks

It would have been easy for me to copy and paste
a story today. I had written a few about Mike
through the years.

I can honestly say Mike is the reason for me being
here, doing this.

I won't go into all the details. Permit me to just
simply say that Mike was a great man.

Through the years I have had countless people
write to me to say that something I wrote came
"at just the right time."

My explanation to them has always been that
it was God's timing, not mine.

It was God's timing that Mike came into my life.

Just when I needed to hear it, Mike said to me,
"I've been watching you through the years, Bob
and I know one day you will be successful. I
want you to know that "I believe in you!"

His words came "At just the right time."

I have since opened every one of my talks
with those words hoping that someone there
in my audience needed to hear them, too.

Those are powerful words. Next to the words,
"I love you," they impact an individual in such
a deep profound way, that they can literally
raise someone out of despair and depression.

Telling someone "I believe in you," says I see
what God sees in you. I see what you may not
see at this very moment. It validates that they
indeed are appreciated.

Imagine those words spoken parent to child,
between siblings, co-workers, neighbors and
friends.

Imagine then, how you would feel if doubt was
dancing the dance of defeat, if fear was stopping
you from moving forward, if years of negativity
were crippling your spirit and keeping you down.

Mike Pesta made it a point to say it and prove it
as he helped hundreds of people in his lifetime.

Mike died yesterday at 79. Although I wanted
to tell him one more time, I know he knew how much
I loved him for what he did for me.

Please, in tribute to my friend Mike today, say it to
the people around you. Even if you think they
should know it already, you may be surprised to
find out that they really needed to hear it from you.

Maybe even "at just the right time."

So my friend, "I want you to know..."I believe in you!"

And Mike Pesta, "I believe in you!," too.

"I wish you enough!"

J

Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories but
I do ask that you keep my name and contact
information with my work.

If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com

and submit your email address.

"I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

12 Truths About Legislation

TWELVE TRUTHS ABOUT LEGISLATION

---

1) Any law the electorate sees as being open to being perverted from its original intent will be perverted in a manner that exceeds the manner of perversion seen at the time.
2) Any law that is so difficult to pass it requires the citizens be assured it will not be a stepping stone to worse laws will in fact be a stepping stone to worse laws.
3) Any law that requires the citizens be assured the law does not mean what the citizens fear, means exactly what the citizens fear.
4) Any law passed in a good cause will be interpreted to apply to causes against the wishes of the people.
5) Any law enacted to help any one group will be applied to harm people not in that group.
6) Everything the government says will never happen will happen.
7) What the government says it could not foresee, the government has planned for.
8) When there is a budget shortfall to cover non-essential government services the citizens will be given the choice between higher taxes or the loss of essential government services.
9) Should the citizens mount a successful effort to stop a piece of legislation the same legislation will be passed under a different name.
10) All deprivations of freedom and choice will be increased rather than reversed.
11) Any government that has to build safeguards into a law so that it will not be abused is providing guidelines for abusing the law without violating it.
12) Any legislator up for re-election will vote against a bad law if and only if there are enough other votes to pass it.

http://freedomkeys.com/vigil.htm

Memorial Day Prayer

Memorial Day Prayer

In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing…

You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.

Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone…

Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs…

Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice…

Help us to shape and make a world
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace…

Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts...

Hear our prayer this day
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.

Amen.

As They Saw His Angel Face

"As they saw his angel face"

by Bob Perks

A Memorial Day Message

They were both there the first time he cried. It was
a joyful sound. The sound of life beginning and they
waited so long to hear it. Mom and Dad were proud of
him as they saw his angel face.

But today he lay there in the dirt face down crying
one more time..."Mom, Dad...help me!" They were
not nearby to hear his final cry.

He grew to be a young man full of hope and pride.
He had dreams and plans for the future. In fact, waiting
for him back home was the girl of his dreams. They
met at school and just like fairy tales and romance
stories this love affair was the kind that was meant to be.

The last time they saw each other they made promises
of faithfulness. They talked about the wedding and a dozen
or more children of their own. He said "I love you more
than anything in this world." She cried and with tears running
softly down her face she said, " I will wait for you and while
we are apart my heart will skip every other beat until your return."

Mom and Dad stood by watching and dreaming of
grandchildren to come and how they would spend the
holidays together as one big family.

They said goodbye and after long "I don't want to let you
go" hugs, they waved one last time as the plane lifted off the
run way and headed away from home.

On the drive back there was silence as each of them
remembered the first times, the good times, and the
challenges of the past.

"Honey, it seems like just yesterday that he took his
first steps." said Dad.

"I can remember holding him in my arms and thanking
God for this miracle in my life." said Mom.

"Mom." said the young bride to be, "I know that feeling, too."

Months pass by and letters exchanged by the dozens. His
time away is coming to an end. He'll be home again soon.

They gather at the airport once more to greet him. This
should have been the joyful return of their son, her fianceé.

The plane lands and makes it's final turn. The propellers
stop with a sputtering sound. The passenger door opens
as the steps are put in place. But this is not for him. The
rear baggage door is unlatched and a small truck rolls
underneath to gather it's contents.

"There, that must him." Dad whispers quietly. Mom bursts
into tears. His fiancé bows her head and cries openly into
her hands.

He is home just like he promised. She was faithful and true.

They didn't hear his last cry. He died face down on foreign soil.

You see he and tens of thousands of other men and women
returned home that way so that you could be with your family
and friends this weekend sharing laughter, good food and freedom.

War should never be. But as it has had it's place in our
history, young men and women gave their lives for the things
that you and I take for granted everyday. Count your freedoms
and they will equal one for every life lost.

As Mom and Dad stood by the casket and looked at their

son one last time, they wept as they ...saw his angel face."

God Bless them all!

"I wish you enough!"

J

Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories but
I do ask that you keep my name and contact
information with my work.

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com

and submit your email address.

"I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

Memorial Day and Updates

Good morning everyone and Happy Memorial Day weekend,


We haven't done an update in some time so it seems appropriate to take some time during this long weekend to get a little news disseminated.

First things first: David's aunt Catsy is not doing well and is in the hospital in ICU. We are waiting for further updates before deciding when to head to CO. Please keep her and the family in your prayers.

David has been busy with work, lodge and pool league. His duties at work will be changing and he has assumed a team lead role but as yet, no raise has been mentioned. The important thing is that he's working, his bosses are very pleased with him and his clients love him! He will soon be very busy with the Omaha Home For Boys fundraiser and I will lend a hand for that since I am taking Youth Service Worker training through the organization.

I wrote a while back about about the bus pass proposal I was making to the mayor, the superintendent of schools, the mass transit director and the city's community project director. The meeting went very well with the superintendent and mass transit director enumerating all of the ways that the system would benefit our vulnerable populations. I am now partnering with a grant writing for the Metro Area Planning Assn and we're getting the ball rolling. Ideally, the superintendent would like this to roll out in September, but I don't think it will happen quite that quickly.

I have trained for the Neighborhood Accountability Board, a restorative justice program for non-violent juvenile offenders and will begin my duties soon.

I will be filing articles of incorporation most likely in July for the mentoring program and have been working with a local summer program to help their girls and see how the lesson plans are received. So far, so good.

I have a glorious week and a half break before criminal law & procedure class begins. We plan to get work done in the yard and Monday we will head to Prospect Hill cemetery for the observances: they have civil war re-enactors, a 21 musket salute, walking tour, etc.

What are the rest of you up to?

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” —William Arthur Ward
(1921-1994); writer

When There's Nothing We Can Do

"When there's nothing we can do"
By Bob Perks

"Out of all that you possess, what do you
believe is the most valuable?" he asked me.

"Rich, you know me well enough to know
I put little value on things in my life. So,
this, for me, is a difficult question," I replied.

"It's not the same answer for everyone and yet,
most people put little, if any, value on this," he said.

Rich is a man with more energy than any one
person should have. When he is speaking with
you he talks to everyone around you. When he is
in a room everyone knows it. He is not boisterous,
rude or obnoxious. He is just super happy and
friendly with everyone he meets.

There are times when I see people and wish out
loud, "I want to be that happy." I'm not sure I'd
want to be as happy as Rich. He sometimes
exhausts me.

I thought about what he said for a few minutes
while he scanned the people nearby.

"Hey, this is Bobby Perks. He's a big time writer!"
he said to someone. I, in turn, wanted to hide.

"Well, I would guess I would say I value my home.
It's a simple one, big enough for Marianne and I,
but I would guess shelter would have to be at the
top of my list."

"Good answer. I knew you wouldn't say your car.
You don't drive a fancy one. You don't wear a
watch or fancy jewelry. You're right, stuff doesn't
matter to you."

"So, what's your answer?"

"Your words. Not because you are a writer and a
speaker. I believe that you own your words and
many people don't. You care about what you say."

He gives me more credit than I deserve for I have,
like some people, said things I regretted later.

I thought about "owning my words."

They say that actions speak louder than words,
but people tend to say things without really thinking.

Words build up or tear down.

Words inspire or insult.

The first words spoken have made lovers
out of strangers.

The last words whispered may ease a mourners pain.

Words spoken in anger are often forgiven, but rarely
forgotten.

"Just what I needed to hear!" means God spoke
through you.

You are what you say and how you say it.

Matthew 12:37 "For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

"You have it easily in your power to increase the sum
total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a
few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is
lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow
the kind words you say today, but the recipient may
cherish them over a lifetime."
Dale Carnegie quotes (American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)

Sometimes words are all we have when there's nothing

we can do.
"I wish you enough!"

J

Bob Perks

I encourage you to share my stories but
I do ask that you keep my name and contact
information with my work.

If you would like to receive Bob's Inspirational
stories, please visit http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
and submit your email address.

"I Wish You enough!"
© 2001 Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

Only Love Matters

By: Catherine Galasso-Vigorito

GALASSO-VIGORITO

An old proverb says,

"If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.

If you want happiness for a week, get promoted.

If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime, help others."

Being connected to people, through service, is one of life's greatest joys.

And moreover, offering a helping hand to others can bless us in ways that we never thought possible, leading us to greater joy and fulfillment.

On the road of life, we can encounter challenges all along the way. But I believe if we persevere through life's shadows by doing kind deeds, soon light will shine forth into those darkened places, and we will be lifted up from despair into the glow of the sun.

A wise, long-time friend of mine once said, "I think if you stop thinking about your own situation, and focus on others —along with prayers and faith in God … you can get through anything."

So, instead of sitting around day after day, worrying and wondering how to solve our own problems, we must take the focus off of ourselves by doing something nice for someone else. Let's keep busy making a positive difference in the lives of our fellow human beings.

Extend your hand and heart. Coach a sports team. Help a neighbor with yard work. Take someone who doesn't drive to the grocery store. Tutor a child. Or mentor a young person. Your joy will be full, as love flows out, and brightens the life of others.

I receive letters from people who have lost their jobs and they explain that one way they get through changes and transitions is by volunteering. It may be at animal shelters, soup kitchens or hospitals. They also lend a hand at their children's schools and libraries, and assist the less fortunate.

A dear friend I know from town takes her petite white dog to visit the residents in senior citizen facilities. And I heard about a family who bakes dozens of cookies periodically for their local fire and police departments. They even send homemade baked goods overseas to our service men and women, as a 'thank you' for the selfless work that they do.

Lighten the burdens of another. Buy some groceries and donate them to a homeless shelter. Surprise someone with a small gift. Mail an encouraging greeting card to a person who may need cheering up. Uphold another in prayer. And lend a listening ear.

Often, a person who is sad or frustrated just needs someone who will listen. This will go a long way when someone has lost a loved one or suffered a similar loss.

Every day is a blessing from God. That's why we should make a decision to be generous with our affection, love and praise.

Last week, I saw a sign in a store window that read, "Only love matters." So let us be grateful for those nearest and dearest to us, and let's express over and over again how much we love and appreciate them.

Sometimes, how you say something counts more than what you say. Tenderly and sincerely utter, "I love you" to your spouse, and "I'm thankful for you," "You mean the world to me." Convey to your loved ones frequently, the qualities that you admire the most about them.

Embrace and hug your children daily and watch their eyes light up with joy as you tell them, "You are God's gift to me," "I am proud of you," "You're a blessing," and "I love you so much."

Help build up a young person's self-esteem by genuinely praising their one-of-a-kind abilities, efforts and good works. Encourage their dreams, regardless of how big or small they may be, by declaring, "I believe in you," "Always try and be your best," and "You have the ability to accomplish your goals."

You can also assist in boosting the spirits of your family members, friends, and co-workers, by sincerely complimenting them. Regard all people as important. And don't gossip, be critical or talk badly about others. I like the wisdom that a friend of mine's father always says, "Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, you can't get it back in." Thus, try not to say negative words about anyone. Instead, help improve the life of others by being kind, friendly and gracious to them. Let's make up our mind to be positive, for if we live, think and act positively, we will attract positive results.

William Shakespeare once wrote, "How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world."

Today, the world needs your light to shine brightly to make it a better place. Therefore, ask God to provide you with a way for His light to shine through you.

And, one little step at a time, by acts of helpfulness, kindness, and as you give to others, you will have … a lifetime of happiness.

Write to Catherine Galasso-Vigorito c/o New Haven Register, 40 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT 06511.

http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2010/04/18/life/srv0000008054639.txt