MORAL STORY (The Holy Man and God)

     A holy man was having a conversation with the LORD one day and he said, "LORD, I would like to know what Heaven and hell are like."

     The LORD led the holy man to two doors. He opened the doors and the holy man looked inside. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew that smelled so delicious that it even made the holy man's mouth water.

     The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly looking. They appeared to be famished. They were all holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each one found that, although they were able to reach into the pot and take a spoonful, because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back to their mouths. This made the holy man shudder at the sight of their misery and suffering.

     The LORD told the holy man, "You have now seen hell."

     They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was a large round table with the large pot of delicious stew that smelled so good that it smelled so god and made the holy man's mouth water. And the people were equipped with the same long handled spoons strapped to their arms. But these people were well nourished and plump. They were all laughing and talking and having just a wonderful, joyous time. 

     This puzzled the holy man so he told the LORD, "I don't understand. Why are they well fed and happy but the others are in such horrible situation. They BOTH have the same resources available. How can this be?"

     "It's very simple," said the LORD, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. While the greedy think only of themselves."

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of the owners.

--- Proverbs 1:19

\FOR THOSE WHO ARE

FOLLOWING THE 

CHRISTMAS

IN HEAVEN POSTS,

WE HAVE ADDED A NEW

POEM ---

"Missing Mum and Dad at Christmas".

JUST CLICK ON THE 

CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN TAB

IT IS THE LAST POEM.

May you all have a very blessed Christmas and may you be comforted by the LORD's 

peace during this time.

GOD BLESS 

MORAL STORY --- Shipwrecked and Prayerful

     A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other choice but to pray to God.
     However, to find out whose prayers were more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
     The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's land remained barren.
     After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a woman. The next day, another ship was wrecked and the only survivor was a woman who swan to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
     Soon, the first man prayed for wood to build a house, remnants to make clothing and the tree to bear more fruit. The next day, like magic everything he prayed for was available.. However, the other side of the island was still bare just as it was when they first arrived.
     Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and the woman could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked on his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with the woman and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy since none of his prayers had been answered.
     Just as the ship was about to leave, the man heard God's voice thundering down from Heaven, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
     "My blessings are mine alone since I was the one who prayed for them." The first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."
     "You are mistaken!" The voice rebuked the man. "He had only one prayer which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."
     "Oh yeah," the first man smugly remarked, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"
     "He prayed that all your prayers be answered."
 
MORAL: For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone but are those from another person praying for us. Remember this and always pray for others too!


Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. --- James 5:16 (NLT)

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     In a mother's womb were twin babies. One with a positive outlook and the second more pessimistic. One day the pessimist asked the other, "Do you believe in life after delivery?"
   The positive baby replies, "Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later."
    "Nonsense!" says the pessimist baby. "There is no life after delivery! What would that life be?"
    "I don't know, but I'm sure there will be more light than in here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths."
    The pessimist baby said, "That is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord is too short."
    "I think there is something and maybe it's different than it is here."
    "No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere." the pessimist baby said becoming very agitated.
    "Well, I don't know but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us."
    "Mother?" screamed the pessimist baby. "You believe in mother? Where is she now?"
    "She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world."
    "I don't see her, so it's logical that she doesn't exist." said the pessimist baby.
    "Sometimes, when you're in silence you can hear her. You can perceive her. I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality." The positive baby concluded.

Can you imagine these thoughts going through an unborn child's mind? Trusting there will be an unknown entity (mother) who will take care of them when they leave the place they are being formed and growing. One places total trust in something it has never seen, yet senses that it IS out there waiting to care for him. While the other --- like unbelievers --- refuses to trust that there IS something more. The pessimist believes their life inside the womb is all there is and with a closed mind, refuses to think of the possibility of a mother caring for them

That is similar to unbelievers... they refuse to open their mind and believe in the possibility of an Almighty God who will care for them after they pass from this earth. They refuse to believe there can be more than this present life in which we live.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God. He created him; male and female He created them.
--- Genesis 1:27    

INSIGTHFUL MESSAGE (God Said)

God said, "If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I Am a Healer?

If you never went through difficulties then how would you know that I Am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer and know I Am your Rock?

If you never felt sadness, then how would you know I Am a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, then how would you know I Am a Forgiver?

If you knew everything, then how would you know I Am your teacher who gives you Wisdom?

If you were never in trouble, then how would you know I Am your Savior?

If you never were broken, then how would you know I Am  a Restorer and can make you whole again?

If you never had a problem, then how would you know that I Am a Redeemer?

If you had everything, then how would you know I Am your Provider?

If you had all power, then how would you know I Am your Strong Tower?

If I never corrected you, then how would you know I love you?

If your life was perfect, then why would you need Me?

If I never convict you, then how would you know right from wrong?

God said, "I Am!"

INSPIRATIONAL STORY (The Pearl Necklace)

     Jenny was a bright eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $5.00. She wanted that necklace and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, "Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I'll tell you what, I'll buy you the necklace and when we get home we can make up a list of chores that you can do to pay for it. And don't forget, for your birthday, Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?"
     Jenny agreed and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard everyday, and sure enough, her Grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon, Jenny had paid off the pearls.
     Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere; to kindergarten, when she went to run errands for her mother, when visiting family and friends and even to bed when she slept at night. The only time she didn't wear them was in the shower because her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green.
     Jenny had a very loving daddy who would read her bedtime stories at night. And on one particular night, when he finished reading her a story he asked her, "Jenny, do you love me?"
     "Oh yes, daddy. You know I love you." the little girl replied.
     "Well, then, give me your pearls."
     "Oh! Daddy not my pearls!" Jenny insisted. "But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party set, too. okay?"
     "Oh, no, darling that's okay," her daddy brushed her cheek with a kiss. "Good night little one."
     A week later, her daddy once again asked Jenny after reading her bedtime story, "Do you love me?'
     "Oh, yes, daddy. You know I love you."
     "Well then, give me your pearls."
     "Oh, daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She is my favorite. Her hair is so soft and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, daddy." The little girl said.
     "No, that okay," her daddy said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. "God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams."
     Again a week later, when Jenny's dad came to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip trembling, she said, "Here daddy," as she held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her dad's hands.
     At that moment, with one hand her daddy held the plastic pearl necklace and with the other hand, he reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box and handed it to her. "Now that you gave me these pearls, you can have this."
     Jenny took the box, "what's inside, daddy?" She asked as she slowly and carefully began to open the box she held in her tiny hands. Inside was a real, genuine, beautiful, shiny pearl necklace.
     He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.


     That's how it is with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that He can give us beautiful treasures. Isn't God good?
     Are you holding onto things which God wants you to let go of? Are you holding onto harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities which you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go?
     Sometimes, it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing... God will NEVER take away something without giving you something better in it's place. We just have to learn to let go.

INSPIRATIONAL STORY (The Piano Master)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
     Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually snuck off and ignoring the "NO ADMITTANCE" sign which hung above a door, the boy walked through anyway.
     When the lights to the concert ballroom dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing. Assuming he went to the bathroom, she settled into her seat and just as the curtains parted, the spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway piano on stage.
    In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano and whispered in the boys ear, "Don't quit. keep playing."
     Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon, his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obligate. Together, the old master and the young novice, transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.
     The audience was moved and very satisfied with the unexpected performance.

     That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best but the results are not exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful.
      Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Almighty whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
     Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into true happiness.
     Remember, God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies those called. And He will always be there to love and guide you onto great and amazing things.

Bless and be blessed!
~One Love~

MORAL STORY (The Bridge, The Bear and God)

A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge (Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit, Truckee) one Saturday when two cars, also crossing the bridge, scared the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge. Somehow the bear caught the ledge and was able to pull itself to safety

 

 

 

 

Authorities decided that nothing could be done that day to help the bear. When they returned on Sunday morning, they found the bear sound asleep on the ledge.

 

 



They secured a net under the bridge and tranquilized the bear

When he fell into the net they began to slowly and carefully lower it.

Because it took such a long time to safely lower the net, the bear woke up. Although he didn't know what was going on,
he remained calm and when the net reached the ground...

The bear simply walked out as if he was never in any danger.


This old bear made a wrong move and found himself hanging by his nails. Fortunately, he was able to pull himself up onto the ledge but he was still in a bad position. The bear did not panic or try to get off that ledge. Instead, he took a nap and sure enough... God took care of the situation while he was asleep.


MORAL:  When confronted with a bad situation, sometimes the best solution is to take a nap and let God take care of the rest.

I think I'm going to take a nap right now!


Psalm 30:5b   Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.  (NKJV)

LET GO AND LET GOD!!!

 

 



POEM (Freedom Isn't Free)

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform,
So young, so tall, so proud.
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
He would stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him,
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
And how many mother's have shed their tears?

How many pilots' planes have been shot down?
How many have died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, my friend, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

 

 

I heard the sound of Taps one night,

When everything was still.

I listened to the bugler play,

And I felt a sudden chill.

 

I wondered just how many times,

That taps had meant 'Amen'

When a flag had draped a coffin,

of a brother or a friend.

 



I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers daughters and the wives,
Of the fathers, sons, and husbands,
All with interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard,
At the bottom of the sea.
Of unmarked graves in Arlington,
No, my friend, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

ENJOY YOUR FREEDOM AND GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

After you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for all our servicemen and women.

Of all the gifts you could give a United States soldier...
PRAYER IS THE VERY BEST!!!

POEM (Daddy's Day)

Her hair was up in a ponytail,
Her favorite dress tied with a bow,
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
And she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home,
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid,
She knew just what to say,
What to tell her classmates,
Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone,
And that is why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all,
About a dad she never seen,
A dad who never will call.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet,
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called,
Each student from the class,
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds shortly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare,
Each of them was searching,
For a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out,
"She probbably doesn't have one."
Another student dares to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
As she smiled up at her mom,
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak,
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.

"My daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
Since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know,
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories,
He taught me to ride my bike,
He surprised me with  pink roses,
And taught me to fly a kite."

"We used to share fudge sundaes,
And ice cream in a cone,
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing here alone.
Cause my daddy's always with me,
Even though we are apart,
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be in my heart."
With that, her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest,
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
Her mother stood in tears,
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up,
For the love of a man not in her life,
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd,
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
He's my shining star.
And if he could he'd be here,
But Heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman,
And died just this past year,
When airplanes hit the towers,
And taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It's like he never went away."
And then she closes her eyes,
And saw him there that day

And to her mother's amazement,
She witnessed with surprise,
A room full of daddies and children,
All starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
Who knows what they felt inside,
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw him by her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy."
To the silence she called out,
And what happened next made believers,
Of those who were filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed,
But there on the desk beside her,
Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
By the love of her shining bright star,
And given the gift of believing,
That Heaven is never too far.

~Cheryl Costello-Forshey~

FATHER'S DAY PRAYERS

     Fatherhood has many challenges and hardships which every dad should bear with pride and happiness.How often do you take time to whisper a silent prayer to God for the health and happiness of your earthly father? This Father's Day, take this opportunity to seek blessings for your father with a special prayer of gratitude.
     Below are a few prayers that should describe all that you wish for your dad.


PRAYER 1
     Heavenly Father, in Your wisdom and love You make all things. Bless those fathers who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of parenting. Bless those who have lost a spouse to death... or divorce, who are parenting their children alone. Strengthen them by Your love that they may become the loving, caring people they are meant to be. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.


PRAYER 2
     Dear Lord, bless all the fathers in the world. Guide them to be good role models and loving to all their children. Help them to be a father like You are. Give them grace and patience to handle situations in a loving way. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


PRAYER 3
     Fathers everywhere, we honor you and wish to say... May God's blessings be with you in a special way today. Amen.


PRAYER 4
     Lord, please take care of our dads. Though they are brave and protective, they must also be frightened sometimes when money runs low and when we need things. Lord, when their hearts break because they can't do it all; please help us to let them know how much we love them and how much You love them. In Christ's Name I pray. Amen.


PRAYER 5
     Lord, I thank You for my dad. Please take care of him. He is getting older but he is still brave and bold. Please take care of him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.


PRAYER 6
     Thank You, Lord Jesus, for my dad who loves me. for my grandfather who cares for me, and for God, my Eternal Father, who made me and who is always with me. How blessed I am! Amen.


PRAYER 7
     God our Father, bless these men that they may find strength as fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always  with a Spiritof profound respect. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

FATHER'S DAY POEM (Father's Are Wonderful People)

Father's are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises,
As often as we should.

For, somehow, father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While mother tends to little hurts
And nurses all our ills.

And father struggles daily
To live up to "HIS IMAGE",
As protector and provider
And 'hero or the scrimmage'.

And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get this notion,
That fathers are not subject
To the things we call emotion.

But if you look inside dad's heart
Where no one else can see,
You'll find he's sentimental
And as "soft" as he can be.

But he's so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff,
To his partner and his wife.

But fathers are just wonderful
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolade of praise.

For the only reason dad aspires
To fortune and success,
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness.

And like OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
He's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE.

INSPIRATIONAL STORY (A Father's Eyes)

     Jonathan's mother died when he was very young and his father raised him. They both shared a very special relationship. Jonathan loved to play football and his father, who was wheelchair bound, made sure that he was always there to cheer his son at every game.
     Although, because Jonathan was so small, he sat on the bench most of the time. But after each game, whether they won or lost, his father still told his son, "Good job, son. You did your best."
     Jonathan, inspired by his father, kept trying his best so that one day he will be able to play more on the field. Everybody thought Jonathan would never get the chance to play but his father always encouraged him to keep trying and to never give up. And one day the coach, seeing Jonathan's diligence and dedication, decided to keep him on the roster.
     One day during practice, the coach met Jonathan with a telegram. He was shocked to read the message. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Will it be alright if I miss practice today?"
     The coach gently put his arm around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son, and don't even plan to come to the game on Saturday. We'll be alright."
     On game day, Jonathan's college team was losing badly to the rival team. The coach and his players had all lost hope when they saw Jonathan coming towards them. He ran up to the coach and pleaded, "Coach, please let me in the game. It's very important that I play in this game tonight."
     At first, the coach didn't want to allow it, but upon thinking about it he realized that it may be good for Jonathan's grieving process  if he were to play in the game.
     Once Jonathan got onto the field he was doing such a great job that their team began to score points. Soon they were catching up with the rival team. And finally the score was tied.
     During the crucial closing seconds of the game, Jonathan intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. His team members were ecstatic. The crowd came running towards him to celebrate the win.
     After the match, the coach went up to Jonathan, who was seated alone in the corner of the locker room, and asked, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
     Jonathan looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you remember how my father was always at my games and he always cheered me on whether or not I was playing on the field?"
     "Yes, I remember how supportive your dad was." said the coach.
     "Well, you know my father died, but did you know that he was blind?" Just then Jonathan swallowed hard and forced a smile as he continued, "My father came to all my games but today was the first time he could see me play and I wanted to show him I could do it. I wanted to make him proud of me."



"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ---Revelations 21:4

FATHER'S DAY FOR THOSE IN HEAVEN

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

TO ALL THE DADS

IN HEAVEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



FATHER'S DAY POEM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Makes A Dad

 

 

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it... Dad

FATHER'S DAY PRAYER

 

Father's Day Prayer

 

God our Father,

In Your wisdom and love You made all

things. Bless those fathers who have taken upon

themselves, the responsibility of parenting.

Bless those who have lost a spouse to death ...

or divorce who are parenting their children

alone. Strengthen them by your love that

 they may be and become the loving, caring

persons they are meant to be.

Grant this through

Christ our Lord.

Amen.

POEM (Flanders Fields)

By Lt. Col. John McCrae, MD
(1872 - 1918) Canadian Army

 

In Flanders Fields

the poppies blow

Between the crosses

row on row,

That mark our place;

And in the sky

The larks still

bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid

the guns below.

 We are the Dead.

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn,

saw sunset glow,

Loved and were

loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel

with the foe;

To you from failing

hands we throw

The torch; be yours

to hold it high,

If ye break faith

with us who die

We shall not sleep,

though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

SOMETHING TO PONDER (The Story of the Poppy)

     The poppy flower only grows in the absence of other flowers and only in ground that has been churned.
    In perhaps the best known poem of World War I, when Dr. John McCrae observed poppies growing between the crosses on the soldiers' graves, it inspired him to write the poem "In Flanders Fields".
     The poppy has since become known as "The Flower of Remembrance" and is worn in memory of our veterans.

       *******************************

     The Eygyptians considered the poppy to symbolize eternal life and consolation. They used the red poppy at funerals and left them in tombs.
     "In Flanders Fields" poppies grew with abandon in Flanders after the Napoleon Wars when the fields were disturbed by fighting. They reappeared in World War I for the same reason. Following an exhausting day caring for the wounded in 1915, Lt. Col. John McCrae saw the poppies and was inspired by them, associating the red poppy with those who had fallen in battle. He wrote a poem called  "In Flanders Fields," which begins: "In Flanders fields the poppies blow/ Between the crosses, row by row..."

"We Shall Keep the Faith"
Moina Michael read "In Flanders Fields" and was inspired to write her own poem in 1918 called, "We Shall Keep the Faith". In this poem, she included a promise to wear red poppies to remember the dead.


******************************

WHAT DOES THE POPPY FLOWER MEAN?

Native to just about every continent in the world, poppies symbolize several concepts, especially those related to life and death.

SYMBOLISM

In general, the poppy means eternal sleep, oblivion, sacrifice and imagination. The flower also symbolizes magic, consolations, fertility and eternal life.

WAR

The red poppy signifies sacrifice. The flower is used to honor soldiers, particularly in Canada. The connection began during Napoleonic wars of the 19th century. The war-disturbed soil uncovered poppy seeds that grew to cover the fighting fields in a sea of red. During the First World War, Flanders came alive with poppies, when the effects of the war disappeared, the poppies did too. The poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae renewed the poppies' connection to war and death.

NATIONAL SYMBOL OF REMEMBRANCE

In 1920, the American Legion agreed to adopt the red poppy as the national symbol of remembrance.

MADAME E. GUERIN

Inspired by the message of "We Shall Keep the Faith", a Frenchwoman, Madame E. Guerin, decided to make red paper poppies to wear on Remembrance Day to remember those who had fallen.

POEM (A Soldier Came Home For The Last Time Today)

With gratitude we remember your service. We cannot thank you enough for all the sacrifices you have made on our behalf. God bless the families of the fallen heroes. May we ALWAYS honor you with the respect you deserve.

 

 

Paying the price for freedom led this hero to the grave.
   There were, however, others unnamed on any wall,
             a footnote to a story that does not tell it all!

 

 

 

They lost not just a soldier but a beloved daughter or son.
    An honored burial ends the story for many,
             but for them the pain has just begun.

 

 

Their scars might be harder to see,
     but on the inside they also suffer and bleed
        a river of tears shed by them
          does not lessen their grief.

 

 

The next time the family of a soldier you see,
    thank them for their own sacrifice
       in keeping the world free.