Not A Former

By the way, I'm a writer, photographer and artist. What are you??

"Not a former..."
Bob Perks

"Once you become, you are."

"Once you attain you never go back"

"Once you cross the finish line, you may
one day cross it again even faster, but
the first time you win, you remain a winner."

"Don't give me any crap!" I heard him say.
I don't ever want to hear you say you are
a former anything!"

It was a conversation God wanted me
to hear. A note I wrote on a piece of
paper..."not a former," has remained
in my wallet for weeks.

I wondered what I was going to do with it
until I crawled up the steps last night after
a long battle in my mind over what and
who I was vs. what and who I wanted to be.

Once you learn to dance you are a dancer,
once you run a race, you are an runner. Once
you learn to climb, you are a climber.

For "becoming" never goes back to wishing it so.

You become a champion and stay a champion.
You are never a former champion in life.

You can take three steps forward and four steps
back, but that does not put you behind. Because
once you go as far as you can you've attained
a new distance mark for the race of your life.

Don't tell me what you can't do. Talk about what
you did and who you are because of it. Even if you
set out to climb the highest mountain in the world
and you only go so far, you can never say you
failed to finish. You went the distance... you climbed
further up the mountain than ever before. That
makes you a mountain climber.

"Today, make a list of your accomplishments,
no matter how big or how small.
You may not be where you want to be,
but it's better than nowhere at all."

By the way...I am an inspirational writer/speaker.

"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

"My Christmas wish for you"

"My Christmas wish for you"

By Bob Perks

First of all I wish you a spirit filled holiday season.

May those who love you and those you love be near
you. May God Bless and protect you in your travels
and bring you safely home again. May you NOT get
everything you want so that you grow in reaching
further than you thought you could to get those things
worth working hard for.

Be an observer this holiday. Participate, too. But take
30 minutes in the middle of a holiday gathering and
watch those around you. See the smiles? Hear the
forgiving voice of love? See how for the first time
in much too long a time two forever enemies bow
their heads in unity giving thanks to a single God?

Watch in the kitchen when everyone shares the
responsibilities. The end result of cooperation is
satisfaction.

Watch in the living room as generations gather
around the tree and share in each others joy while
opening presents. See the adults crawl on the
floor as they stoop down to play once more as a child.

Note the sparkle in the eye of the littlest one who has
no idea what this is all about but what ever it is it
makes me giggle.

Watch how everyone laughs for the hundredth time at
the same family stories that the old folks have told
year after year.

See the look of satisfaction on the face of grandpa and
grandma as they proudly scan the room knowing that
they did their very best to raise such a great family.

And if you look closely enough you will see the spirits
of those family members who are no longer of this world.
They live on in each of you who loved them dearly.

Stop for thirty minutes. Soak up the memories. Hold
them close to your heart for times when things seem
so desperate and lost.

These moments are the true gifts of Christmas.

They are proof that this world can be loving, kind,
forgiving, compassionate and without prejudice if we
truly will it to be.

If you should be spending this holiday by yourself for
what ever reason please know that you are never alone.
God is celebrating there with you in the quiet moments
of this day. You are His precious gift to the
world.

Know too, I swear to you, that at a single point in
my Christmas celebration I will stop what I am doing and
think of you. I will ask God to bless you in a special way.

At that very moment you will feel it and know that I kept
my promise.

You are loved.

J

Bob Perks

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

"The Biggest Gift of All!"

"The Biggest Gift of All!"

By Bob Perks

"What happened to it?," the child asked.

"What happened to what?" someone replied.

"My gift for Mom and Dad. It was the smallest and it
got lost," he sadly replied.

It happens that way. It seems that when it comes to
gift giving we feel the need to out do each other. The
bigger the box, the more money we spend, the more
love expressed.

It's simply not true. It's all a lie and we know it.

"Oh, you didn't have to..."

Yes they did. The world demands it of us. You know
you would have felt rejected, ignored and overlooked
if they didn't give you something.

"I have to get a gift for Joe. He gave me something
last year."

"I'm only sending cards to people who sent them
to me."

How sad. Gift giving has become a matching game.
Or worst yet, a competition.

So it was on this Christmas morning.

"I can't believe all of the presents!" someone said.

"This is even more than last year!" the oldest child
confirmed.

"I guess Santa out did himself this year," Dad said.

"You must have been really good!" said Mom.

"Wait before you open them, let's get a picture of it all.
We can compare it to last year's gifts," said Dad.

Then the reds and greens of fancy Christmas paper flew
across the room. The bows and ribbons were crushed
among the efforts to make get to the gifts.

The youngest child was lost at times in the rush to find
his own Santa's treasures but managed to survive somehow.

"Don't forget the gifts we got for each other!" one child yelled.

The youngest child stopped what he was doing. He
wanted to watch his parents when they opened his special gift.

But it was no where to be found.

"What happened to it?," the child asked.

"What happened to what?" someone replied.

"My gift for Mom and Dad. It was the smallest and it got lost,"
he sadly replied.

The others were too busy to help him find it. They already
began clearing away the paper and he feared they had
tossed it in the garbage.

"You need to get bigger gifts. You don't lose big gifts," his
older sister said laughing.

"But it was the biggest gift of all," the child replied.

He sat down in frustration and began to cry.

"Is this it?" his brother asked as he held the little box in his
hand. "I almost stepped on it."

"That's the biggest gift of all?" the sister said mockingly.

"What a joke!"

"It is! It is!" he shouted back. "You'll see!"

Then, grabbing it from his brother's hand he straightened
out the bow and handed it to Mom.

"Daddy, come here. This is for you, too," he said while sniffling
away his tears.

Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what he had given.

Perhaps just out of curiosity, maybe just to laugh.

Carefully Mom unwrapped the gift and opened the box.

"Oh, my!" she said as she slowly sat down on the couch.

"What? What is it?" someone said.

Then Dad sat down next to her to share the special moment.

"Oh, I see." he said. Looking at his wife he humbly said, "It is
indeed the biggest gift."

Then Mom reached in, pulled out the gift and placed it on her hand.

It was the Christ Child in the cradle.

Dad glanced over to look at their manger now buried beneath
the all too many gifts.

"Clear away those things," he asked of his oldest child.

The dimly lit star attached to the manger shown down on the
spot where the Christ Child would normally be.

"But he took it from..." his sister began to say until Mom
interrupted her.

"He took it from the story of Christmas. The real reason we should be celebrating," she said.

The small child was standing next to the tree. The white lights
sparkled off the warm streams of tears that ran down his face.

Quietly he explained..."Every year we think about how to give the
biggest gift. I thought that this year I would give the best gift anyone
could ever give. The pastor at Bible school asked us to think about
the greatest gift of all. Then I thought about Jesus and knew that I
could not ever out give God. So my gift to you and Dad was the
Biggest gift of all...ever!"

Suddenly it was silent. Mom glanced around the room and humbly
said, "I am ashamed. We had forgotten the meaning of it all."

Then motioning to her son she said, "Come here. You were right.
The Littlest One was indeed the Biggest Gift of 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

"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."

One More Walk Around The Garden

"One more walk around the garden."
by Bob Perks

"Our time together is now measured in seasons," he said as
they sat on their front porch.

Walking is the best exercise for you. Not only in the physical
sense. But also for your mental and spiritual well being. This
walk is one I will never forget.

Up the hill behind my home runs a path that at one time would
take you into a beautiful wooded area. But in recent years
someone plowed down the trees and built their little piece of
the world. Oh, you can still get to the wooded area, but now
you must cut through the development or walk up through the
cemetery. If I want scenery I go through the development. If I
want to remind myself how blessed I am, I go through the cemetery.

Today's walk took me through the development.

There's a beautiful old stone house that I have admired since
moving here more than 10 years ago. I have spoken to an
older retired couple working in their yard nearly every time I
passed there. They must work long and hard in the garden
because their home is beautifully landscaped. Among the
bountiful flowers and bushes I could see Greek statues and
bird baths. There are trees whose names I am not familiar
with and lush ground cover of deep greens that remain that
way well into winter.

But in this past year I have noticed a change.

The bushes have grown beyond their earlier, well manicured
size. Many of the smaller trees have taken over their spots
as branches hang lower nearly covering the flower beds below.
This once pristine garden spot has become a reflection of the
condition of it's care takers.

They have grown too physically old to keep up with it.

"How are you today my friends?" I asked as I passed by their
front porch.

"We are as fine as can be expected, sir," the gentleman replied.

There they sat on the front porch of their home. He had on a
warm woolen jacket, open at the front revealing a blue sweater vest.
In spite of the fact that they hardly go any where, he wore a tie
as always.

She sat in an old wooden rocker wrapped from head to toe in a
beautiful autumn quilt. Beneath, she appeared to have a heavy
sweater and woolen pants. In contrast I was wearing a t-shirt
and jeans. At their age even the slightest chill requires warmer
clothing.

"Are you ready for winter?" I asked.

"In past years we looked forward to cold winter days. Our
fireplace and enclosed porch out back was a haven from the
heaviest storms. And a great place for a cup of tea and a good
book. Have you written another one yet?" he asked.

"Not yet published, but I have written stories along the way that
will be put into a collection very soon. I promise to bring one to
you," I said.

"I hope we are here to read it," he said.

"Are you leaving the area?" I asked.

"No my friend. Like the season we now find so beautiful, we are
in the Autumn of our lives. Our time together is now measured in
seasons. I pray that we survive the winter," he said.

Then turning toward his wife he said, "My love is not doing very well.
My heart aches for her. I am not sure that we will..." He began to cry.

I nervously brushed the leaves on the sidewalk with my feet not knowing
whether to say something or permit him to continue.

"I once loved the beautiful display Autumn created in our yard. I guess
I should be thankful that it has given us at least one more spectacular
show. But as the leaves begin to fall I see my wife's spirit begin to fade."

"I don't know if I ever told you this. But your beautiful handy work, your
gift for bringing life to the world in the form of breathtaking flowers and
trees, has lifted my spirits many times just when I needed it. For years
now I have walked by your home and paused long enough to be refreshed.
It must give you great satisfaction to see the fruits of your labor," I said.

"Yes, it has. Except for this year. We could do little because of my wife's
failing health. I always knew that I would be able to recognize when

our time together was coming to an end," he said.

Then as he stepped carefully off the porch he pointed to the garden

path that began nearby and wrapped the entire house.

"That trellis covered with roses was designed to look like the

gates of Heaven. I envisioned that one year we would enter those

gates one last time and walk along the garden path together. I knew

there would come a time when she would not be able to stand for

long periods."

He stopped for a moment and looked at her. She sat quietly never

saying a word and smiled her heavenly smile whenever their eyes made contact.

"I vowed to never walk that path alone. She has been by my side forever."

I walked over to the gate and looking at the surroundings I asked,

"Have you walked through it this year?"

"No. That is why it is in such disrepair," he replied. "But it is our

dream to see April together once more. And have one more walk along..." he stopped.

"Oh, my Lord," he said. "That is our favorite song."

"I'm not familiar with it. What's it called?"

"One more walk along the Garden" written by Lerner. It is from

a musical. It seems so very appropriate now. I guess we knew the

day would come and the longing for one more walk would leave us

cold like the winter," he said.

Then the thought came to me. You know where thoughts like these

come from.

"Do you have a wheel chair?" I asked.

"Yes. On the back porch. We only use it down stairs. I

couldn't maneuver her outside. The pathway is not paved," he said.

"Yes, but I can. Tell your wife we're going for a walk. I'll get the chair."

Picture for a moment the three of us outside the Gates of Heaven...

their Heaven. We carefully wrapped her in the quilt and added a

warm hat. He stood to her left along side the chair holding her

mitten clad hand. We began the journey together. Perhaps one last time. But with one stipulation.

"Forget that I am here," I said. "I want this to be your moment together.

I will remain quiet and out of the picture. Think of me as the hands of

God supporting her."

I tell you as sure as I am writing this, I did indeed feel invisible. It

was perhaps more in my mind than reality. But the second we

crossed through the gate, I could see her standing there beside him.

I was witness to a remarkable moment when he began to sing softly

to her. We had stopped for a moment and he knelt down in front of

her. It almost looked like he was about to propose. He sang
"One more walk along the garden, one more stroll along the shore."

Caressing his face, she leaned over and kissed him.

I have no idea how long it took. I wish it could have been forever.

One day it will be.

"Thank you! You have no idea what you have done for us," he said.

"You have no idea what you have done for me," I replied. "With

your permission this is a story for my next book."

Then his wife reached up, and touching my hand smiled at me. From

under her quilt she pulled out a small dried out rose she had plucked

along the way. She gestured for me to take it. Pausing for a moment

I grabbed her hand and placed it in his.

"He should have the last rose of summer. A flower to remind you both

that April is waiting for you."

In all of my remaining days I will forever be grateful that I had taken

that walk. You see I walked through Heaven's gate for "One more

walk along the Garden."

In closing I need to share this with you. After hearing him sing I

realized that I was familiar with that song. I have a CD by

Michael Feinstein. It is called the "Burton Lane Songbook Vol 1"

I share some of the words here with you.

"One more walk along the Garden"
by Alan Jay Lerner from the stage musical Carmelina (1979)

That old April yearning
Once more is returning
And I have a longing to wander

The leaves may be falling
But April is calling.
And the prim roses beckon me yonder

For one more walk along the garden
one more stroll along the shore.
One more memory I can dream upon
Until I dream no more.
For one more time perhaps the dawn will wait
And one more prayer it's not too late
To gather one more rose
before I say goodbye and close the garden gate.

"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

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

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."

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

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."

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

Once You Have

"Once you have..."
By Bob Perks

Once you have smiled at someone you
can't take it back.

Once you have held the tiny hand of a new
born child and the frail, weak hand of an elderly soul
with his one last breath, you cannot possibly justify
wasting another moment of your own life. Life is not just
a beginning and an end it is how you live it in between.

Once you have stood on the edge of
mentally spent, physically exhausted, and
financially drained you have every right to say,
"I quit!" But follow that by shouting
"Now you take over God!" Then watch what
He can do with spent, exhausted and drained.

Once you have seen a sunrise and a sunset , you

know that God has kept His promise
and has every day of your life. Have you kept yours?

Once you have said "I will" then you must follow through.
"I will" is your word, not a "maybe."

Once you have more, you must give more to those who
have less.

Once you have anything, you must give thanks.

Once you have nothing, you must give thanks, too. It's
not just in having that we should be grateful. Just
being alive is a gift, too.

Once you have stood in awe looking at the stars you
realize how incredibly special you must be. For in all
the universe there is only one "you." But realize that
the universe is looking back in awe at you, too.

All of God's creation is "Awe-some!"

Once you have heard the old man tell the story for
what seems like the "hundredth" time, be happy if he
lives to tell it to you a hundred more times. One day
you will wish he were there to tell it again.

Once you have faith, you can never give into the power
of doubt. Faith builds, doubt destroys.

Once you have love, you always will...

"I wish you enough!"

J

Bob Perks

P.O. Box 1702

Shavertown, Pa. 18708

Contact Bob 2believe@comcast.net

Step Back

"Step back!"
By Bob Perks

I love watching football. I'm just not
up on all the terms. I simply love the
idea of it. I love to see a pass thrown so
precisely that the receiver doesn't even
have to look until the last second, just
show up at the designated
spot and open their arms.

Oh, if life was that way!

In a sense it is.

Make a game plan.
Practice.
Follow through.
Be where you are supposed to be, when you
you are supposed to be.
Be receptive and flexible enough to adjust.
Be aware that others will be there, too, ready to
get what you want before you do or stop you from
scoring.
If you fail, try again.
Listen to "The Quarterback and Coach."
When all odds are against you, play like you're the best.
Even when others appear to be winning, play like you still
have a chance. You do.
Work as a team. When one scores, everyone does.

I love this one. In order to get ahead you have to step back.

The quarterback does it all the time. The ball is on the line
of scrimmage, but gets sent back in order to move ahead.

Yes, doing so sometimes causes loss of yardage, but
like in life, you'll never get ahead without stepping back to
see where you want to go.

If you want to get ahead, step back.

"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.ne

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."

Enlarging Our Vision

This post really sums up the thoughts I have about advocating for those less fortunate. Please take the time to read it.

by Bob Perks

"You are the sum total of everything you believe and see in the world," I said.

I was speaking to a small group recently, sharing my thoughts and ideas for the new year. I went on to urge everyone to look for the opportunity to see life in the details.

"For having spent this time together today, we are now a little bit more than we were yesterday," I concluded. "You are now a part of me wherever I go."

As it happens after every talk I share, people come up to offer their kind words and general comments and ask a few questions. From experience, I know that some will be brief and some, well, they will dominate the little time I have until the next speaker takes the podium. I make every attempt to speak to each person waiting, even if I must take them out to the hallway in order to permit the meeting to go on.

Eye contact is key. I try to "see what they are saying." Keeping a promise I made to myself, I did speak with about a dozen people that day. I managed to speak with all the people in the line, but as I was gathering my notes, I heard someone say, "It's also what you didn't see."

I looked around and saw no one. Shrugging it off, I continued my effort to collect myself.

I picked up my belongings and turned quickly, nearly running into a man standing directly behind me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were there, my friend," I said.

"I didn't mean to startle you," he said. "I heard your talk."

"Oh, thanks for being there."

"It's also what you didn't see," he said.

Not having any idea what that meant, I looked over my glasses and paused for a second before asking, "What didn't I see?"

"You said, ‘You are the sum total of everything you believe and see in the world,’" he explained, "but I believe it's more about what you don't see."

I asked him to explain. "It's easy to say that we need to see life in the details, but we must also learn what to look for."

He was right. "So you’re saying we are what we choose to see," I said.

"Yes, and your job is to help us learn what to look for," he added. He then shook my hand, placed his hand on my shoulder, smiled, and walked away.

I sat down and thought about what he said. I thought about the many things we don’t see:

It's easy to see the light, but we need to value the darkness, too. There we will find the lost and lonely who are always left behind.

Anyone can find a rose in a field of dandelions, praise its beauty, and bathe in its perfume, but who will see the value in what appears to be weeds?

We can celebrate the first one to cross the finish line, but who will see the magnificent effort of the one who finished last?

We can stand in awe of the master architects who built the Taj Mahal, but who is moved by the maintenance workers who clean it and make it shine daily?

We can climb to the top of a mountain and congratulate ourselves for having accomplished the feat. But who sees the miracle in the creation of both us and the mountain?

Yes, we are the sum total of all we believe, all we choose to see, and all we don't.

Maybe we are given just one day at a time to live but many chances to see it differently. The question to ask ourselves is, “What have I been missing?”

Now Is The Time

"Now is the time"
by Bob Perks

Now is the time to set my sails
to harness the wind and run the rails
And if that wind won't blow for me
I'll capture the sun to set me free.
If perhaps the sun won't shine,
I'll lasso the moon and make it mine.
For there's nothing I'm told that I can't do.
God said, "If it's going to be it's up to you!"

"I wish you enough!"

J

Bob Perks

Love Like The Sun and The Moon

I truly wish that I was young and before I entered into an abusive relationship, someone would have shared this information with me, but I share it now with all of you.

"Love like the sun and the moon"
By Bob Perks

There is a wonderful, romantic line in a movie that
has been used over and over...

"You complete me!"

It is a sweet thing to say to someone you love.

I am not so sure it's true.

This came to me when someone told me that they were
nothing without love in their life.

They had written:

"I want to love and be loved after all that is
what gives meaning to life"

I thought about that. Yes, to love and be loved
is important, but it is not all that gives meaning
to life.

I replied:

"Love does not give meaning to life. You need to
put life in your love for living."

First loving life itself acknowledges your most
important relationship...the one with God.

So, "you complete me," implies that God created
something incomplete.

You can find a good example of relationships in the
natural world. Like the sun and the moon.When one is down the other rises to the occasion.

You can depend on them both to always be there.

Even though there is a great distance between them,
the light from one shines on the other.

Each is complete on its own, serving the purpose God
intended.

Love is not completing but complimenting.

My wife adds to who I am. Together we are more
than we were separately. That is incredible.

Don't try to find love to fill what you see as an
empty spot. Love wraps around like a blanket,
it's not just to fill holes in your life.

Look for someone who will add to your
life and you to theirs.

If you feel incomplete, ask God to help you see
how complete you are already.

May the light of love shine upon you always.

"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