Bent Knee

"Millions of Americans seek guidance every day in prayer to the Almighty God. I am one of them." --George W. Bush

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.
- Vernon Law

What Do You Value Most?
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country
in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He
was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as
he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the
fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought
were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown.
Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time.
The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box? " Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was
'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken
it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox.
"Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package.
The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his
attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter.
His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly
over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most...was...my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily,
according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock"
(1 Peter 5:2-3).

BEAUTIFUL YOU
By: Joseph J. Mazzella

This world is full of beautiful people, but you would never know it
by asking them. In my life I have seen countless beautiful faces,
smiles, eyes, hair, laughs, personalities, bodies, and souls, yet
I have never seen one person who admitted to how beautiful they
were. I have heard people talk about how old, ugly, fat, grey,
wrinkled, out of shape, dumb, and lazy they were. If I asked
any of them to admit to their own beauty, even to the beauty
of their hearts and souls, however, all I would get was their denials.

Why is it seen as perfectly acceptable to constantly put ourselves
down, but the height of arrogance to admit to our own beauty, good-
ness, and worth? There is a wonderful saying that goes, "God doesn't
make junk." Since we are all wonderful Children of God, we shouldn't
put down God's work with these "junk" labels. God didn't put us here
to be ugly, stupid, or worthless. God put us here to be beautiful, wise,
and loving. Let's stop being our own worse critics then and start living
up to God's view of us.

The next time you look in the mirror then see who is really there.
Look at the light in the eyes, the joy in the smile, the happiness
in the laugh, and the love in the soul. Look at the true beauty
that is you. Notice that glorious Child of God who is staring
back at you from the looking glass.

That is who you really are. You are not your extra pounds, grey
hair, wrinkles, uneven teeth, bald head, or even dumb mistakes.
You are instead that bright, beautiful, and glowing love and joy
that is within. Don't ever confuse the soul inside of you with the
body that carries it around.

Take my word for it. You are beautiful. You are wonderful. You
are special. Now go out and share that beautiful, glorious, loving,
and joyous person you are with the world.