Chocolate for a Woman's Blessings

Richard Carlson bestselling author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff A lot of good stuff will come from reading these heartwarming stories!

Autorentext

Kay Allenbaugh

Klappentext

A delicious alternative to "Chicken Soup for the Soul", the latest addition to the bestselling "Chocolate" series is an uplifting and heartwarming collection of stories that celebrates the good things in life. Readers will savor the true-life accounts of women who have discovered the infinite joys of living.

Zusammenfassung
Celebrate the Joys That Are Sweet, Rich, and Delicious
Chocolate is a blessing. It makes us feel warm and wonderful. But as we learn from the true stories in Chocolate for a Woman's Blessings, our greatest blessings often come from our greatest challenges. Gathered together by Kay Allenbaugh, creator of the beloved national bestsellers Chocolate for a Woman's Soul and Chocolate for a Woman's Heart, these 77 all-new, real-life tales are as varied as they are heartwarming. Here are women who have survived and thrived, lost and loved, cried and laughed, and most of all, discovered the infinite joys of living. This inspiring collection is infused with a grateful spirit that will inspire you to count your blessings, just as you count your chocolates.

Leseprobe
Chapter One: Goodie Bags from the Heart

Nineteen years old and newly married. I remember waving goodbye to my husband one hot summer day while standing on the front porch of our small home in California. As I stood outside, I noticed the saddest sight across the street in the fast-food parking lot. He appeared to be homeless in his grubby, dirty clothes and long gray hair. In the heat of the day, he wore a tattered black jacket that I'm sure must have been one of his most treasured possessions that kept him warm in the cooler months. His fiercely thick gray beard hid part of his face, and frankly he looked quite frightening to me. I quickly turned and stepped into the house, shutting and locking the door behind me.

As I stood at my living room window staring in bewilderment, he rummaged through the garbage cans in the parking lot. Wrappers, cups, napkins -- he went through all of it in hopes of finding food, and when he did find a morsel or two, it looked as though he had found a Thanksgiving dinner. Not feeling afraid any longer, I wondered just how long it had been since this poor man had had a decent meal.

The next day while sending my husband off to work, I spotted the man again. He was sitting on the curb with cups and wrappers in his lap, eagerly eating the unwanted scraps of strangers as if there were no tomorrow. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and it was at that very moment that I knew what I had to do, and I hoped that my plan would work.

The next day I found myself packing two lunches instead of just the usual one for my husband, and thinking to myself, Oh, I hope he shows up. When I finished my task, I hurried across the hot pavement and slipped one of the brown paper bags into the garbage can. I laughed to myself and thought, Boy, I must look like I'm up to something strange. I sent my husband to work and quickly went to the living room window to watch and wait for my homeless friend.

In a matter of minutes he arrived and immediately found the sack with the lunch inside. I stood there with a huge smile on my face, my heart pounding as he opened the bag and peered inside. He sat down on the curb of the busy intersection happily eating his lunch, oblivious to the passing cars just feet in front of him. He munched contentedly on a bologna sandwich, chips, a soda, and whatever other goodies I had happened to find in my cupboard that morning.

We didn't have much money or food back then, just starting out as a young couple. But for the next two weeks I scrounged through my kitchen cupboards and always managed to find something to slip into a goodie bag for the old man. And, of course, I placed it in the very same garbage can every day. I watched him savor every bite day after day, and it did my heart a world of good.

I used to wonder if he thought it was odd having lunches appear, but he never once looked around in curiosity. Then one day I slipped a lunch into the garbage can and he failed to show up, and I worried about him. I said a prayer for him in hopes that he had just decided it was time to move on.

Years later, when I was thirty-four years old, my children, ages eight, ten, ten, and twelve, were teasing me one day, saying, "Mom,

name one good deed you've ever done." My face lit up, and I knew at that moment what I would say.

PAULA J. TOYNBEE

Copyright © 2001 by Kay Allenbaugh

Inhalt

Contents

Introduction

ON HIGHER GROUND

Goodie Bags from the Heart Paula J. Toynbee

Joanna Judi Sadowsky

Made for Water Luci N. Fuller

Kevin and the Saint Michele Wallace Campanelli

Driving Denny Betty Auchard

Thinking of Others, Six-Year-Old-Style Brenda Grant

Taking Stock Suzy Ryan

TURNING UP YOUR LIGHT

Circle of Plenty Debbie Petricek

Doing the Hokey Pokey Debra Ayers Brown

Caviar and Moonshine Myra Winner

Pennies from Heaven Kay Allenbaugh

A Second Chance Clara Olson

The Gathering Penne J. Laubenthal

Out of Darkness Kate Murphy

Giving It Away Sheila Stephens

OUR FAVORITE FURRY ONES

My Guiding Light Aerial Gilbert

Frisky Debbie Clement

Early Morning Take-Out Lee Ann Woods

Caught on Film Christi Kromminga

The Divorce Dog Linda L. S. Knouse

A Different Kind of Mother Amy Munnell

Running Free Mary M. Alward

THE ANSWERS ARE WITHIN

A Girl Named Tomm Talia Carner

Coming Home Luci N. Fuller

A Place to Be JaNell Davis Mathews

Mirror Image Burky Achilles

The Mustard Seed Patricia Anand

A Gift of Grace Jennifer Boykin

What Do You Do? Alaina Smith

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL

All That's Gold Does Not Glitter Candis Fancher

Mom, My Mother, and I Robin Michelle Silk

Picture Perfect Carol Newman

Don't Be Gruel Judith Bader Jones

From Suits to Sweats Barbara Dalbey

First Love, Lasting Love Annie Wilson

In God's Timing Kathryn Lay

ONE STEP AT A TIME

The Queen-Size Bed Myra Winner

Discovering My Special Delivery Debra Smith

Boot, Backs, and Bills Judith Bader Jones

The Road Leading to Spandex Janice Norman

A Cleansing 2000 Style Melanie Anderson-Caster

A Study in Character Nikki Jenkins

Gone Fishin' Jean Schneider

No Ordinary Year Holly Fedak

HOLIDAYS, HOPE, AND HOLLY

Savor the Sweetness Margaret J. (Mimi) Popp

Courting Faith Valentina A. Bloomfield

Steeped in Tradition Nancy Butler

A Christmas to Remember Ruth Rocker

Giving Thanks Carole R. Rotstein

A Time for All Seasons Alberta James Daw

TOUGH ON ISSUES, SOFT ON PEOPLE

The Terrible Whys Laurie Hopkins Etzel

The Invisible Woman Sande Boritz Berger

My Daughter, the Ragged Individualist Elizabeth McGinley

Finding the Music Dawn Kreiselman

Lessons from the Water Fountain Linda Resh

One More Mile Donna Hartley

I Learned It on the Farm Deborah Mills-Elder

KEEPING THE MEMORIES ALIVE

A Father's Lens Karen C. Driscoll

Making a Difference Emily Sue Harvey

Winifred's Legacy of Love Barbara Davey

Love Always, Mom Kim Dixon Waldman

A Charmed Life Mari Pat Varga

Oh, So Sweet Jenny Kreftmeyer Althen

DANCING WITH ANGELS

When Interpretation Counts Judy Torres

Gold Lamé Fairy Dust Tannis Benedict

A Holy Encounter Francine M. Storey

Timely Matter Tara Glennon Ott

Angels in Tow Antionette Vigliaturo Ishmael
…