From Afghanistan With Love

Matt Walden was deployed to Afghanistan in the fall of 2010.  He left behind his wife, a daughter in college, one in high school and two young boys in elementary school. Matt would be serving in the military for two years in a third world county and miles away from home.  He also knew there would be experiences lost and precious time that could never be recaptured, and this weighed heavily upon him. 

My son David and Matt had been best friends for years, as well as their sons, Alec, (David's son) and the two Walden boys, Tyler and Connor.  The two men had spent countless hours raising their children together in sports, church and school activities.  They lived a block away from one another and had become more like family than friends.  

Shortly after Matt was deployed to Afghanistan, David's company transferred him to a new location three hundred miles away from their quiet little neighborhood. Distance didn't seem to interfere with the bond of love and friendship that their families had for each other and they continued to keep in close touch.  

Matt learned that his sons had a competition in the scouting program for the Pinewood Derby and he started his strategy.  He ordered the kits for the cars and had them shipped to Afghanistan, where he shaped, sanded and painted them. (The boys are big Pittsburgh Steelers fans, so Matt painted one car black and the other one yellow.)  One of Matt's service buddies offered to take the cars from Afghanistan to New York (while on leave) and there he shipped them on to David in Salt Lake City.  

When David received the cars, he and Alec spent hours prepping the wheels, polishing the axles and adding just the right amount of weight for the cars sail down the runway.  To assure the cars would arrive safely, David and Alec drove 300 miles (one way) and delivered them personally to Tyler and Connor for the competition.  

While a war was being waged on the other side of the world, a father made it possible to be in his son's lives.  The two pinewood cars had flown thousands of miles around the world. They had passed through the hands of three good men who understood the passion in the hearts of two little boys... and an American solder was able to celebrate the sweet taste of victory!  Tyler's car took first place and Connor's car came in a close second!  

We are all in this life together and when someone wins, we all win! What a blessing to know that friends can help you find peace among the broken pieces. 

By Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.

Anonymously Yours

Have you ever had an anonymous gift given to you and never found out who it was from?  I've had two that were given to me anonymously and they made a tremendous impact in my life.

To receive a gift from someone who chooses to remain anonymous is the treasure of a lifetime!  Its like having a secret admirer forever and ever, and it's the gift that never stops giving.  It takes a unique person to give without wanting admiration in return and it sends a deep message that resonates loves from every angle.  

In both of my experiences, the givers had chosen to remain anonymous and to this very day, I have no idea who gave them to me.  They made a big difference in my life and I cherish both experiences.

 

My life is worth saving...

I received an invitation to speak at a young women's conference on the subject of trials and tribulations. The titled of my talk was Spiritual Preservation.  Trials and tribulations were two things that I had a lot of experience in and I certainly felt qualified to speak on the subject!  I thought whoever had chosen me for the subject must have know me well.

During the talk, I shared several stories of personal setbacks that had brought me to my knees, (literally) through the disappointments of trial and error.  Many of these experiences came by virtue of my own stupidity; nevertheless, I learned valuable lessons that shape a much better me.  I concluded that the greater part of my character was built through and in spite of the hardships in life, rather than experiences made easy.  I confessed that I would not have amounted to much of anything without opposition!  

The trials and tribulations in my life had shown me the integrity and true grit of my own character and the depths of my soul; giving me a greater sense of self worth.  I remember ending with a statement something like this, "There are no losers in this life, only winners!  The sweet taste of victory comes when you learn how to develop the strength and spiritual muscles to stand before God... one trial at a time!"   

A week later, I got an anonymous card in the mail, thanking me for speaking at the conference.  The person went on to explain how her life had taken a spiral downward because of overwhelming opposition that she faced and she was ready to call it quits.  She went on to explain that a friend had invited her to the conference that day and she attended only out of obligation.  

In the card she wrote that the statement, "There are no losers in this life, only winners"  had changed the perspective she had of herself; she had always thought of herself as a loser.  (Can you imagine?  What a burden for a young woman to carry!)  

The anonymous gift that she gave me was the last sentence hand written in the card: I believe that my life is worth saving and I'll always love you for that! 

I cried when I read it and to this day, I have know idea who sent it to me, but this anonymous gift of love and hope touched my life.  It's amazing how our words have the power to reach across the great divide and bring someone out of darkness and into safety.  

     

The Envelope 

1981 was a very difficult year for me and my family.  I spent seven months in and out of the hospital and lost my daughter to a premature death.  The intense grief was unbearable and it was difficult for my family to rebound from the trauma. The medical bills and funeral cost were beyond comprehension and it seemed like a hugh mountain that I would never be able to climb.  

Two days after our daughter was buried, I walked outside to get in my car and noticed an envelope on the drivers seat.  I opened it to find a white piece of paper, with my name written on it and a large sum of cash inside the paper, with no further explanation.  There were so many wonderful people who could have given this gift and to this day I have no idea of the generous soul. 

Whoever you are, I want you to know that you took my weary yoke upon you and I will alway love you for caring enough about me to lift my heavy burden.  I remember going to sleep that night feeling loved and cared for, and my trials were much lighter to bare!  

Over the years I have been able to "pay it forward" and each time I bless the life of someone in need, I pay tribute to you and your anonymous gift of love.  Thank you from the depths of my heart. 

The definition of "giving" is: to freely transfer the possession of something to someone, to bestow love, affection or emotional support, to admire.  What a wonderful gift to give to another. 

 by LindaSumner Urza, One fine day.

MANNA FROM HEAVEN

In a small remote village nestled in the mountainside, there lived a wonderful King who ruled over his noble kingdom. He was a kind and generous man who cared more for his people than he did for any earthly possessions.  You see, this King understood the true value of love. 

There was no hunger among the people of his village, for he taught everyone to impart of their substance, one to another.  There was no fear in his kingdom, for the King knew that fear could not exist where there was love and compassion. He taught his people the good moral values that his forefathers had passed down, from generation to generation, and he was indeed a shining example to follow.  

Many wonderful years passed by and the King became very old and weary.  He knew that his life was near it's end, yet he focused not on himself, but on the welfare of his people. The villagers gathered around the castle singing praises to their beloved King and mourned the very thoughts of losing their dear friend.  In his dying breath he counseled, "Love one another with an abiding love".  For many months the people of the village grieved the death of their King and a palace that once radiated light and joy was now overcome with despair. 

The King's younger brother became ruler over the land and the lives of the people in the little village would never again be the same. His brother had coveted the King's position of hierarchy with a rage of jealously and the bitterness had sealed his heart of stone.  He was a pompous and arrogant ruler; with eyes that were transfixed on his own power and greed. He failed to recognized that all of his possessions came through the hard work and sacrifices of others, and within a short period of time everyone in the village was living in poverty.  

One day a very brave man from the village stood before the King and he demanded bread to feed the starving people in the village. The King was outraged with his request and had him thrown into the streets. This noble man of love and compassion could no longer suffer the hungry cries of the little children and that night he crept back into the market place in search of food.  He pried open the door of the King's storehouse and gathered all the unleavened bread, to distribute among the starving families.  

When the King realized his storehouse had been robbed, he was enraged with anger and sent his guards to find the man who had challenged his authority.  This man was shackled and dragged before the King. 

One of the guards inquired, "What shall we do with him?"  

The King's angry voice echoed through the castle, "String him up, it'll teach him a lesson!" 

The guards gasped in horror and feared the King's command.  On that fateful day the man was hanged in the courtyard for a few loafs of bread.  Everyone in the land mourned the death of their noble friend and as life went on, the King's oppression became impossible to endure.

Many miserable years passed by and now the King was at the end of his dominion.  He knew that his hours were numbered and soon he would be facing death.  There were no songs of praise singing outside his chambers and not one soul came forward to mourn his death. The land around the castle was lifeless and barren, a mirrored reflection of the King himself! When the king closed the last chapter of his mortal existence, there was a sigh of relief that echoed throughout the village.

The King passed through the halls of death and found himself standing before his Master at the heavenly gates. His countenance was dark and gray against the brilliant light coming from The Great One.  He grieved with the shocking reality, that he had never really been a king at all, rather a thief of souls!  Out of fear, he fell to his knees and peered up at the blinding light resting upon his withered soul.  There was not a throne for him to sit upon, nowhere to hide his ugly deeds, or guards to protect him from the Judgement Day. 

He lifted his fallen face and began pleading for mercy. Then he noticed standing on the right hand of God was the brave and noble man he had hanged in the courtyard. 

"What shall we do with him?"  The noble man asked of God. 

In infinite wisdom God replied, "Forgive him, it will teach him the greatest lesson of all." 

Placing his face upon the sacred ground before God, the unrighteous man pleaded for forgiveness. His heart of stone shattered into a thousand pieces and the layers of bitterness, envy, hatred and greed began to disappear. Then a gentle hand reached out to the trembling man.  It was a hand of compassion; the loving hand of the man from the village who was hanged for a few loafs of bread. 

The noble hand lifted this man to his feet and pointing to the Savior he testified, "In Him there is no hunger for He is The Bread of Life."  

Copyright by, Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.

THE LITTLE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF LOVE.

MOTHER MANIA:

Your refrigerator is covered with preschool papers and held up by 100 refrigerator magnets.

When your children make you breakfast in bed, it takes you three days to clean the kitchen.

To find out the dog is wearing your expensive perfume... after he was bathed in your bathtub!

Einstein only needed four hours of sleep a night.  Hah, that would be a vacation to you. 

The Valentine chocolates with little holes picked in the bottom of each one, grrrrrr!

Wishing there was another word besides "Mom" in your children's vocabulary.

Wondering how to get a sticky spider trap off the end of the cat's tail!

The nicest jewelry in your drawer is made from noodles and is spray painted gold.

The only quiet time you've had in the past year was during a colonoscopy.  

OLD WIVES TALES...  

You L0vE the Christmas sweater he gave you... the one with the reindeer on the front.

He professes to be a great athlete, but can't seem to hit the dirty clothes basket?

His idea of gourmet food is a package of Mac & Cheese and a handful of Doritos.

He sleeps like he's free falling from an airplane as you hold on to the edge of the bed.

That fishing pole he bought you for your birthday...  It's the thought that counts, right?

When he gets sick, stop everything!  It becomes a national crises at Level Orange!

If he says your hair looks great, look again, because he's not even looking at your head!

The most dreadful words he could utter. "How much did it really cost?" 

Your worst thoughts... he married you because you reminded him of his mother!

HUSBAND SYNDROME:  

Of course I love her, I married her didn't I!  How much more evidence does she need?

The shock of finding out that she can split you like an atom when she gets mad!

"Yes, my mother's coming for a month and NO, you can't turn yourself over to the Taliban."

She only gave you one dresser drawer in the bedroom because that's all you need!!!

Yes, she wears every pair of shoes in her closet and even the ones hidden under the bed.

Her predictable line of defense. "Because they were on sale!"

The four most frightening words a man could hear before drifting off to sleep. "Can we talk?"

No need to hide the checkbook or credit cards, her intuition is a heat seeking missile!

That sentimental shirt you saved since high school...  Can you say, Goodwill?

Your stinky sneakers are out on the porch because the smell sets off the fire alarm.

The hair slipping off the top of your head is a clear indication of your level of commitment!

FATHERS KNOWS BEST:

Attempting to change the babies first dirty diaper and throwing up in the clean one.  

Finding out your new tools were loaned to the neighbor kids to build a cub house.

Wondering how your paycheck can disappear faster than a UFO.

Concealing the trembling fears when handing over the car keys to your teenager.

The five most dreaded words a father will ever hear, "But Dad... everyone has one!"

Trying to find just one pair of gym socks that don't have holes in them!

Hearing those fateful words, "Sir, I would like to marry your daughter."  

Replying in wisdom, "When you find out how expensive she is, you'll bring her back!"

by, Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.

I want to thank my friends and family for supporting this blog.  You are a great source of inspiration to me and your comments are so uplifting. Thank you for sharing this blog with others, I am aware of the viewers in other countries and I am so appreciative of each and every one of you.  The map shows that I have reached India, The United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Malaysia, Thailand, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia, Philippines, Germany, Spain, France, as well as the viewers here in the United States.  I send each one of you my love and gratitude for the support you have rendered.  Sincerely, Linda