Inspirational, Motivational, and Heartwarming Stories
I love reading the “story behind the story” of why things happened and turned out the way they are today. For example…where did the name “Sloppy Joe” come from? Where did Walt Disney begin his Disney World empire?…etc. Well, I recently read the following story on a site “Gabe’s Fascinating Stories” that fell into this category. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
In the early 1950’s an Austrian educational specialist published a study in America called “Why Johnny Can’t Read.” His study argued that the Dick and Jane primers used at that time throughout American schools to teach children to read weren’t working.
He believed they were horrible educational tools; according to him they were stupid, pointless, tasteless little readers. He doubted whether any middle-class, middle-income, middle-IQ student could learn anything by reading “Look, look” or “Yes, yes” or “Come see Spot” or “See the funny, funny animal.”
He believed the stories in these primers were boring and the books ineffective at best in helping American children learn how to read.
William Spaulding, a publisher from Houghton Mifflin’s Publishing Company who worked in the educational division and read this Austrian study, thought it might be right. He met a man a few years earlier who he’d published a few not-very-well-known but very imaginative children’s books that his children really loved to read over and over.
Mr. Spaulding thought this unknown writer of children’s books might be able to write a book that would really be good for teaching American children how to read, want to read, and read over and over again. So he invited the author over for dinner one night and explained the dilemma to him. Then Mr. Spaulding asked, “Can you write a book with a simple story that first-graders won’t be able to put down and will just want to read over and over again?”
Stunned by the question and not sure how to respond, the writer asked if he could have some time to think about it and work on it. He left that dinner and spent the next nine months composing a book he thought would meet the goals of Mr. Spaulding.
A meticulous editor and reviser, he believed that a children’s book must be kept simple. Every chapter had to be boiled down to just one simple paragraph so a child would be able to understand it. He worked especially hard on the word count as he wanted to use as few words as possible.
The small children’s reader this writer finally produced at Mr. Spaulding’s request is now considered to be the most popular children’s book ever written in American history. Within less then a year of its initial publication, it was selling 12,000 copies a month and within five years from its release it had sold over a million copies. This was an incredible feat for a children’s book.
His book contained a grand total of 1,702 words but the kick is he only used 220 different words in the entire book. His simple yet effective book revolutionized the way children in America learn to read. The book he wrote and presented to Mr. Spaulding nine months later wasThe Cat in the Hat.
Dr. Seuss (aka Theodor Seuss Geisel) is without a doubt the best-selling children’s book author of all time. He has since written 63 other children’s books in all, including Horton Hears a Who! (1954), One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (1960), Green Eggs and Ham(1960), Hop on Pop (1963), Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! (1975), The Butter Battle Book (1984), and of course, The Cat in the Hat (1957).
This might be one of the most beautiful pictures that I have ever posted!
UPDATE!
Kerbey, a follower of my blog, found some further information regarding this picture. If you would like to learn more details about this person, cemetery, etc., please click on this link: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7140314
I recently read a touching story from The San Francisco Globe that I thought would be something nice to share with you. So…sit back and enjoy this story. I am sure that it will touch your heart in a special way.
A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover.
In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife’s bedside. She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totalling $95,000.
He asked her about the contents.
‘When we were to be married,’ she said, ‘ my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.’
The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two Precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two Times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with Happiness.
‘Honey,’ he said, ‘that explains the doll, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?’
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘that’s the money I made from selling the dolls.’
Don’t Be Grumpy!! Smile and Enjoy the Day!
WOW! Please take a minute to read this adorable story on FaceBook a while ago and thought that you might enjoy iy! —>
Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
So…who says that chivalry is dead???
There are many times throughout our lives that we experience circumstances that can either leave us feeling good or bad about ourselves. They can be either positive or negative circumstances but the most important thing that we need to remember..is how we deal with them!!
Unfortunately, I know the feelings of resentment and hurt all too well. I didn’t realize it at the time but I had fallen into a web of negativity over a course of the past few years. In conversations with other people, I had become a “nay-sayer”, someone who talked about people in negative ways instead of being the positive, encouraging kind of person that I was.
Two things opened my eyes and REALLY made me realize how foolish I had been and how much I had gotten away from being kind to others.
One, was a statement that I heard in church a few weeks ago…“Never allow the circumstances in your life take away from the joy of the things that you like to do.” WOW!…how true!!
And the second.. was the following story that I recently read.
It is my hope and prayer that the following story can help encourage you as much as it encouraged me!!!
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A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.
It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.
I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’ She said. ‘What?’ Mom asked.
‘Let’s run through the rain!’ She repeated.
‘No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mom replied.
This young child waited a minute and repeated: ‘Mom, let’s run through the rain..’
‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said.
‘No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm.
‘This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?’
‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘ If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ‘ ‘
The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain…we all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.
‘Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,’ Mom said.
Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.
They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories…So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN!
When I was growing up, my grandma was like my second mom. She was always at home when my brother and I got home from school. She told us stories, taught us things from the Bible, sang with us, laughed with us, corrected us, made us help her in her garden and loved us in so many ways…that I can’t even count them.
I found this short poem the other day that made me think of my dear grandma that passed away so long ago. But the time that I shared with her and the memories that I have will always be in my heart. I love you granny…
Her arms are always open
To welcome all with love
Her smile is brighter than the stars
That Sparkle high above
She listens without judgment
She takes the time to share
God bless this dear Grandma
And hold her in Your care
My Good Time Stories 