Shelly Swims Sideways

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Short story4 Comments

 

Great Kindness Quotes for Kids - InspireMyKids

It was a new day under the sea, a day just like every other day. However, this was no ordinary day.  For today was the day Shelly was born.

Shelly was like every other fish. Shelly could blow bubbles and Shelly could smile. Shelly could talk and Shelly could laugh. Shelly had a laugh that could make you smile from gill to gill. Shelly could get mad and Shelly could get sad. Shelly loved to read and Shelly loved to play with the other fish. Shelly loved to go to school.

But Shelly wasn’t like every other fish. Shelly was born without a right fin.

Shelly couldn’t swim like the other fish could swim. When the other fish played hide and seek, Shelly couldn’t hide in the same places they did. Shelly couldn’t swim straight into hiding places. When the other fish had races, Shelly couldn’t swim as fast as the other fish.

Shelly could only swim sideways.

Will you be the one to see all the potential in life…. or will you stay stuck in the “what is”? | Special needs quotes, Einstein quotes, Disability quotes

 Some of the other fish accepted Shelly for who she was, who God made her to be, but most fish made fun of her. They swam circles around Shelly. They made fun of “one fin” Shelly. They asked her why she wasn’t like them. They told her of all the things she couldn’t do.

 Shelly’s feelings were often hurt, but Shelly knew she was not who they said she was. She knew she was beautiful and strong. When they told Shelly of all the things she couldn’t do, Shelly thought of all the things she could do.

Shelly learned to be creative. Shelly learned to improvise. Shelly learned to turn her weaknesses into strengths. Shelly taught her friends how to use only one fin to swim. Shelly’s friends learned to swim sideways.

 Shelly was in school one day when a giant, hungry shark saw them. The shark swam straight at the school, mouth wide open, ready to eat. The fish that could swim straight could not avoid being the shark’s dinner, except the shark didn’t count on Shelly’s quick, creative thinking.

Shelly told her friends to all swim sideways as fast as they could. The shark saw them break away from the other fish and became so distracted he swam right into the side of a large rock.

When all the other fish saw what Shelly and her friends did, they were amazed that they would risk their lives to save theirs, especially when they were so mean to Shelly. That is when they realized that Shelly’s disability was actually a gift.

It was a new day under the sea, a day just like every other day. However,  this was no ordinary day.

Today was the day Shelly was accepted for who she is. Today was the day Shelly wasn’t different.  Today was the day Shelly was just like every other fish.

Psalm 139:13-18 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Quotes about Special Needs Children (39 quotes)
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The Butterfly Who Forgot How To Fly

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life2 Comments

She is a butterfly, born in the usual way that butterflies are born. As butterflies do, she flew from the moment she left her cocoon.

She could fly everywhere. And she did. She loved to fly. She loved to float in the wind. She never wondered how she could fly, until she landed on a Buddleia bush and saw her reflection in a window.

Curious, she looked at herself and flapped her wings. She watched them go up and down several times. She then started wondering how do my wings work? She then tried to get one wing to flap while the other stayed still. When that didn’t work, she tried the other side, with the same result. She then tried turning to the side to see how they worked.

She sat on the Buddleia bush all day wondering how her wings worked. She sat there so long, she forgot they worked at all.

After some more time passed, another butterfly landed beside her and asked what she was doing. She said, I saw my reflection and was wondering how my wings worked, and I’ve sat here so long trying to figure out how they work, I have forgotten how they work at all. What if I am stuck in this place forever? What if I can never fly again?

No worries, my friend, said the other butterfly. You have lost your way and have questioned how you fly. Maybe now you are also thinking since I can not fly, will my life ever be the same.

I am, she said. I loved my life and I loved to fly but now it seems I have messed it all up.

I have news for you, said her new friend. You can still fly. You can still have a life you love. It appears that you desperately want that so I will tell you how.

Please do, pleaded the butterfly.

First, know that you are loved. You are created to fly. You are unique and beautiful and you are not your mistakes or your questions.

Secondly, let go of all the doubts you have about if you can fly. Let it all go. You know you can fly. You were made to fly. You can fly, I believe in you.

It was then that the butterfly’s wings started to move. Ever so slightly at first but in no time at all , she was flying again.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT INSECURITY? – ¿QUÉ DICE LA BIBLIA SOBRE LA INSEGURIDAD? – DINING WITH JESUS PRODUCTIONS

Goodbye

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life4 Comments

Image result for john 16 22

When the leaves are falling

And the steps of death are calling

Remember me like the beauty in the changing colors of leaves

Remember where I’ll be because of what I believe

When the cold winter winds blow

Think of the spring when things start to grow

When you see the branches bare

Remember that a part of me is always there

In the heat of summer when the days seem to last forever

When you see the beauty in a sunset remember my love leaves you never

When the snow is on the ground

And life can’t be found

Remember me in the new colors of spring

In the red, gold, yellow leaves fall brings

This season of mourning will pass

Just like the years have gone fast

The nights I slept little to feed you in the middle of the night

The nights you couldn’t sleep because of fright

The nights I stayed up late

Waiting until you came home from a date

The days you said you hated me

The days we agreed to disagree

The times I should’ve listened instead of yelled

The times I let you go when I should of held

All of them made us who we are

All moments shared under the same stars

My love for you has no bounds

But it doesn’t compare to God’s love found

When you need someone to hold your hand

Think of me and that’s where I am

When you need someone to wipe a tear

Know that I am always near

When you see the beauty of this world

You will always be my little girl

This is goodbye but it’s not the end

When the leaves fall remember when

When the cold wind blows

That’s just me pulling you close

When you feel the suns rays warming your bones

That’ll be me calling you from home

Image result for john 14 3

You Will Be Remembered by Alter Bridge – 

When I’m Gone by Joey & Rory – 

You All Loved Him Once by Conor Oberst – 

I Have This Hope by Tenth Avenue North – 

Help From Heaven by Matt Redman – 

Crash On Lovers’ Lane

On By roberthansen1317In Lyrics, music, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

Image result for lovers lane dead end | Lovers lane, Urban legends, Halloween stories

I tried something fun to be creative instead of writing what pops in my head. Sometimes, nothing pops in my head.

So, I wrote this for those of you who ever wonder what happened to Tommy and Gina from Bon Jovi’s Livin On A Prayer.  Or maybe I am the only one that has ever wondered.

It’s not perfect, but I bet some of you will sing parts of it like the real song. If you need a refresher, I have the video posted on the bottom.

Once upon a time, not so long ago

Tommy lost his job on the docks
Gina’s diner closed down
Down on their luck, it’s tough, so tough
Started over in a small town
 
Tommy started playing at the local bar
Getting by with the little they had
Gina didn’t think love would be this hard
Trying to recall when she wasn’t so sad
 
You can’t live on a prayer, takes so much more
When you’re breaking plates, slamming doors
We still talk about the crash on lovers’ lane
Where three crosses remember their names
 
Tommy knew they didn’t have much, didn’t have much
They lived in sin, couldn’t afford a wedding band
Tommy thought they’d always have love, always have love
Gina grew distant, Tommy didn’t understand
 
Tommy started drinking, Gina got bored
Rumors started spreading ’round our town
Gina forgot love wasn’t just a word
We remember the night Tommy found out
 
You can’t live on a prayer, takes so much more
When you’re breaking plates, slamming doors
We still talk about the crash on lovers’ lane
Where three crosses remember their names
 
 
Gina was giving herself away
Tommy was halfway there, halfway there
He saw red when he got to lovers’ lane
He never hit the brakes when he said
 
When he said
 
You can’t live on a prayer, takes so much more
When you’re breaking plates, slamming doors
We still talk about the crash on lovers’ lane
Where three crosses remember their names

When The Darkness Came

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, hope, poems, PoetryLeave a comment

Image result for depression darkness quotes

When the darkness came, I let it come

I didn’t hide and I sure as heck didn’t run

It just kept coming and coming

I know I should have done something

I watched it as it got closer and closer

I let it engulf me, I let it take over

Each passing minute I was losing light

But I was tired, too tired to fight

Have you been there? When nothing is left

When the darkness is no longer a guest

But a full-time occupant, permanent resident

The time is coming, the end is imminent

I wish I could’ve fought, I really did

I wish I would’ve ran, would’ve hid

The darkness came for me, it was hunting

My strength was gone so I did nothing

There’s only me, only me to blame

For I let it come when the darkness came

Image result for depression darkness quotes

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

My Arms by Ledger-

Far From Home by Sam Tinnez-

Everyone Cries by Echosmith-

Stronger by Fearless Soul –

Follow You by Rasmus Hagan-

Follow Me by In Flames-

Even Here by JJ Heller-

Everybody’s Going Through Something by Chris Janson-

Everybody Cries Sometimes by Damien Dawn-

Fighting For by Lyra Blue-

Me and Jeremy

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God is there, poems, Poetry2 Comments

Jeremy’s locker was next to mine

I never bothered to take the time

Me and Jeremy were not close

We never even really spoke

I was captain of the football team

He always wore black shirts with black jeans

He was a loner but never alone

God and the devil were in the same home

I had questions but here’s my confession

Didn’t know he suffered from depression

But he made one hell of an impression

When he read that Bible out loud

Then one night the demons won the fight

When Jeremy committed suicide

Not even God could bring back his life

That morning when his body was found

Lots of things I thought I knew

Turned out to be very few

Words I wish I would’ve said

Forever stuck in my head

Next to me is an empty space

I’ve even spent time at his grave

So many words I didn’t say

I wonder if he knows he changed my life

I learned about God, still learning to pray

Maybe Jeremy would be alive today

If I took a few seconds to say hey

I wouldn’t have a lifetime asking why

Never Be The Same by Shimmer Johnson –

Don’t You Give Up by OneLife –

Hallelujah Even Here by Lydia Laird –

You’re Answers Behind The Storm by Matt Lefait –

Maybe Today

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, God, grief, grieving2 Comments

Image result for the shack quotes

There was a time

When I would hit my knees and pray

Thanking God you were mine

But that was before He took you away

I was upset, no, I was angry

Eyes sewn shut

No light could get in

I never thought to look up

Image result for the shack quotes

Running in circles

Can’t catch my breath

Don’t want to live

I would prefer death

I am out of tears

I scream and shout

I don’t want to grab the hand

That is reaching out

Image result for the shack quotes

It never occurred to me

That I was on the wrong side

Until through a single crack

Appeared a slither of light

A feeling I can’t explain

A weight lifted off my chest

I could suddenly breathe again

A time to heal, a time to rest

Image result for the shack book quotes

All the hurt and pain diminished

Understanding the tears I cried

Then a voice, I understand your pain

For my own son died

Image result for psalm 61 2

Spinning by Disciple- 

Pull The Plug by I Prevail- 

On My Way  by Hayden Panettiere-

Keep Your Eyes on Me by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill –

The Wound Is Where The Light Gets In by Jason Gray – 

The Pebble

On By roberthansen1317In Be happy with who you are, Christian life, love who you are, Short story, who you are2 Comments

Single Pebble Stock Photos and Images - 123RF

He was rolling down the mountain at a break neck speed. He could not believe how fast he was going.  He tried to slow down, but he couldn’t figure out how. Once a pebble gets rolling, there is only one thing to stop him. He saw them in the distance but they were getting closer and closer the faster he went. There was no way to avoid the big, bad boulders so he just closed his eyes and

SMACK !!!

“Hey pebble, what do you think you are doing??!!” shouted the boulders. “Can’t you see how close to the edge we are? We have been balancing on this ledge for a very long time. We don’t need a little pebble like you messing our situation up.”

The pebble shook with fear.  He had never seen boulders that big before. “I-I-I’m ssssorry. I didn’t mean to hit you but I was going so fast I couldn’t stop. Thank you for stopping me though. Do you think I could stay here?”

The boulders answered with a stern “NO!! We don’t need you here. You are not one of us and would mess our lives up with all your little talk.”

The pebble didn’t like their answer but went on his way. He tried to take it slower but with each downward slope and each breath of wind that blew he didn’t have much choice. He was so small he went wherever the wind blew him. Most days he didn’t mind, every day was an adventure. He never knew where he would end up. Other days, he just wanted to stop and fit in somewhere. He wanted someone to like him, for him to be a part of something bigger than himself.

A big gust of wind started to blow and off the pebble went again. He was going so fast he would hit the ground then bounce up in the air.  He felt like he was flying. “This must be how the birds feel,” he thought to himself.

Oh crap, more boulders ahead,  the pebble screamed inside.  “Look out boulders, I am coming right at you.  I can’t stop!!!” yelled the pebble.

Once again the pebble was met with disdain. “Get out of here pebble. We are way too powerful for you. Do you NOT realize that we can squash you if we wanted to. You are too tiny to live here.  Be on your way before we change our minds and decide to hurt you.”

The pebble didn’t waste any time scurrying from that place. He thought,  What is wrong with all these boulders? Don’t they realize I don’t mean to smash into them. I’m just trying to find my way.  Like I could ever hurt them anyway.

It was then he heard a small voice in the wind.” Go pebble go. Go where the wind takes you. You are more powerful than you know. Everything that is and has happened to you is for a reason. I didn’t mean you any harm when you crashed into those boulders. I was using you to try to change their hearts. To learn to be more accepting. To love something other than their own pile of boulders. It is not too late for them for you have planted a seed everywhere I have sent you. The choice is theirs. You tried. Keep trying and going forward. Do not be afraid.”

The pebble looked around but did not see anyone. Strange, he thought. At that time another gust of wind picked him up and took him on his way.

Not again, seriously, the pebble thought unbelieving. Why can’t I crash into a pile of grass or a stream of water. Why another pile of boulders? He braced himself for impact.

SMACK!!!!

This time the boulders didn’t yell at him. “Help us,” said the boulders. “We are about to fall off the edge.”

“How can I help you? I am just a small pebble,” the pebble asked. He was thinking this had to be some kind of trick.

“We are about to fall off the edge and we have been asking for someone like you. See this small hole in between us? We need you to jump in there and seal it so we can be strong. With you securing that hole, we don’t have to worry about falling off the ledge.”

Wow, thought the pebble. They really need me. “You can count on me,” he bravely said. “I have been wanting a place to settle down. A place that will accept me for who I am.”

He then jumped right into the hole and secured the boulders together.

“Thank you,” he humbly said, to the boulders and to that small voice he heard.

It was then they heard this rumbling coming down the mountain. All these boulders were falling all around them but , miraculously, none of the falling boulders hit them. The pebble recognized them as the same boulders who yelled at him and told him they didn’t want him.

“Thank you,” said the boulders he was with now. ” Without you, we would’ve had the same fate as those boulders. You saved us pebble.”

Free To Be Me by Francesca Battistelli – 

Who I Am by Blanca – 

True To Yourself by Vanessa Amorisi – 

Dare You To Move by Switchfoot  – 

Hurricane by Misterwives – 

Let Me Be Myself by 3 Doors Down – 

Invisible by Hunter Hayes – 

Try by Colbie Caillat – 

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper – 

Enough Hurt For Today

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, hope, poems, Poetry2 Comments

We’ve been hurting for so long

But we keep singing the same song

And maybe I’m wrong

I’m done watching the news

I’m going to turn off the tv

Take some time for me

I’m not going to apologize

For not listening to the lies

Putting it all in a box

Praying it will all stop

Cause there’s been enough hurt for today

Not much else for me to say

I know it’s not going to go away

Maybe it’s only a delay

Finding some alone time to pray

Cause there’s been enough hurt for today

Not going to think about tomorrow

All the hate, all the sorrow

I know there’s more for me to know

Not going to think about the shootings

The virus, the death, the violence, the looting

Need a win, tired of the losing

Going to think about something else

May be selfish, but need to heal myself

Been living too long in the dark

Need a cure for my broken heart

Cause there’s been enough hurt for today

Not much else for me to say

I know it’s not going to go away

Maybe it’s only a delay

Finding some alone time to pray

Cause there’s been enough hurt for today

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.” —Thich Nhat Hanh |

Maybe I’m only hitting pause

Hoping we’re not a lost cause

We are all broken , yet chosen

Praying we can get through this moment

Cause there’s been enough hurt for today

Not much else for me to say

I know it’s not going to go away

Maybe it’s only a delay

Finding some alone time to pray

Cause there’s been enough hurt for today

Hope for a better tomorro... | Quotes & Writings by Olufunke Kolapo | YourQuote

Good Day by Apollo LTD –

Gospel Song by Rhett Walker –

Fires by Jordan St. Cyr –

We All Need Jesus by Danny Gokey & Koryn Hawthorne –

Jennifer

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Short story2 Comments

Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer. She is all I can think about these days. She is, or should I say was, a beautiful, unique, blah blah I could go on and on person. She made me laugh. She made me cry. I rooted for her to win.

Then I killed her.

Some of you might have seen it coming. Some, not so. After writing about her for three novels, I was bound to run out of story lines, was I not?

So in my last novel, I killed her. Well, technically, not me. I’m only a writer. Or you could say it was me that killed her. I don’t know anymore. I haven’t been the same since she has been gone so I will let you be the judge and jury.

As soon as I typed the last words of the novel, I started thinking it was a mistake. How can I kill her off? What will I write about next? Can I create another character as perfect as Jennifer?

But, I had spent the last five months of my life writing this novel and it went where it went. And now I am where I am.

Missing Jennifer.

In a way, you can say I loved her. I created her. She was everything to me. She was a part of my life for three years. Yes, I loved her. Maybe more than Tom, her husband in the novels. Yes, I miss her more than words can say.

She can’t be really gone, can she? But she is. 100% fact. Because I killed her. Well, again, I will say technically not me but when it comes down to it, it was me. I could’ve wrote that she killed the villain and lived happily ever after, but that is not what I wrote is it.

But, maybe, she isn’t really dead. After all, I’m the writer. I can bring her back.

All I have to do is start writing.

It was the storm of the decade. One that the locals will be talking about for years. The winds howled, the lightning struck, the rain fell from the heavens like the tears that fell from Tom’s eyes when Jennifer was murdered.

Tom always liked storms. The electricity in the air, the way the rain smell, how it felt like the world was being cleansed from its ugliness. Jennifer loved storms also.

Tom and Jennifer lived in the country, miles from anyone. Tom enjoys the solitude. Most people don’t get it, but Tom doesn’t get most people. Jennifer, on the other hand, was a people person. But it worked for both of them.

Tom sat on his front porch, watching the storm proceed with its cleansing.

It could not have been ten minutes when the large oak tree that stood thirty feet from their house was struck by three consecutive lightning strikes. It was within seconds of the third strike that Tom saw someone walking up his driveway.

Tom thought he must be seeing things. Like flash blindness after someone snaps a picture of you with the flash on. Just a blurred shape. But after a few blinks, the person was still there. Still walking toward Tom.

Tom sat there in silence as the person kept walking toward the porch. He wasn’t scared. He knew that walk. But he knew that it could not be her. That is when the sky lit up like the Fourth of July as more lightning struck.

He had no doubt it was her.

His lips said her name before his brain could ask how could this be.

Jennifer.