A Pair of Scissors and a Pencil

I heard this story in the news from Oklahoma recently so I made up this story based on the news from Oklahoma. I thought you might like it.

“Mama, let’s go for a walk,” Tammy said on the first sunny day since this young family moved from the city to their country home in Oklahoma.
That’s a good idea, Tammy. It will be good to take a break after sewing all these curtains.”

The two of them, with Skip, their collie, were soon walking out the door into the sunshine.

“ We had better tell your daddy first. You know we really don’t know the area around here very well.”

“I’ll run to the barn and tell him, Mama,” Tammy offered and ran to the barn and back again, anxious to be on her walk.

They walked a long time along the old country road, enjoying the flowers that were blooming at the sides of the road and the cows that seemed so contented in the meadow. They hadn’t noticed the dark clouds in the distance.

“Oh look Tammy! The clouds are really dark there in the west. It looks like we’re going to have a storm soon,” said Mama who sounded like she was very anxious.

The wind came up and a few raindrops fell on them, but Mama saw the funnel shaped cloud ahead. She didn’t say anything about it to Tammy. “There’s an old shack over there,” she said pointing at it. “Let’s go over there and wait until the storm blows over,” she yelled over the heavy wind which now was beginning to blow.

They got inside the shack just when the tornado hit the ground. It turned the shack into a pile of lumber with the three of them under the pile. Just as quickly as the tornado came it went and all was quiet. Mama checked Tammy and Skip, but no one was hurt, but they were pinned down under the lumber and couldn’t get out.

“All I’ve got to get us out of here is my scissors here in my apron pocket,” sighed Mama.

“Well, all I’ve got is this pencil, but look over there! I think that hole is big enough for Skip to get through.”

“You’ve given me an idea. Let’s cut a piece from my apron, write on it with your pencil and tie it around Skip’s neck and send him to your daddy,” said Mama excitedly.

Soon Skip was on his way to the barn. Paul took the piece of apron off Skip’s neck, read the note and was on his way to help his wife and daughter.

“You’re a good old Skip,” said Paul on his way to what used to be the shack. He moved the pile of lumber enough to get Tammy and her Mama free. The four of them walked happily back to their farmhouse.

“Boy! Have we ever got a story to tell Grandma and Grandpa,” said Tammy as she sipped her hot chocolate.

“Yup, we sure do.” answered Daddy.

Mama was too comfortable, sitting beside the glowing fire in the fireplace with her hot chocolate in her hands, to say anything, but she smiled her answer.

Now who made sure Mama had scissors and an apron and who made sure that Tammy had a pencil? I think it was God, don’t you?

We Are Americans

The news and our thoughts were on the killing of our ambassador and the 3 Navy Seals,The IRS scandal.and the AP problem when suddenly parts of Oklahoma was turned upside down when tornados arrived. We American left our thoughts to those who can solve them. We had more important things to do. Some of us left our cozy homes and went to help those who found themselves without anything at all. Their homes were gone and so were all their possessions and even one or two members of their families were gone.

Some of us got clothing and food together and brought them to the shelters. Some of us dug deep in our billfolds to send money to help those in need. Most of us got on our knees in prayer for our fellow Americans in Oklahoma. After all, who can give them the peace they need more than God?

We are Americans. We will be thinking of our fallen heroes this weekend and we will continue to pray for and think of the people in Oklahoma. We will do those things we can do because we are Americans. And Americans are different from people in other countries and we should keep ourselves wide awake and not let ourselves change. We want to stay the same. We want our freedom in things American to continue.

Some want us to change and become more like people in other countries, but why? We send our money to help whenever there is a disaster like an earthquake or hurricane in any foreign country. We help those who come into our country legally get started so that they can enjoy our freedom as much as we do. We are, after all, Americans and we don’t want anyone to change us.

But we have not been watching as schools have outlawed prayer and their curricular is changing too. We have not talked or played with our kids as much as we should. Instead, we have left the TV or the video game to do the talking for them. If we want America to stay the way our forefathers arranged it, we have to stay wide awake, change the things we can and stand against those things that will change us. That way,our kids will help those in need too. They will say, “Of course we will help, we’re Americans aren’t we?”