Sometimes You Just Need a Safety Pin

By E. L. Lewis

First, you forgot to set the alarm and now you are running late to the office. Traffic is bumper to bumper. You run in the office to find your boss has called a big meeting. He yells at you, "grab that file and get in here now!" The file of course, has to be in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet. You find it and when you stand up, the heel of your shoe catches the hem of your skirt and rip! There goes your hem. Sometimes you just need a safety pin for that hem and for your day.
This little book of inspirational stories is your shiny safety pin. Just like that hem needs a little help, sometimes our spirit can also use a little repair. Grab a moment somewhere in your busy day, take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and relax as we fix what needs fixing. Each story is written with love by someone whose been there, done that. We'll get through it together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. L. Lewis
• Release date: May 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458099396

E. L. Lewis

Ethel has enjoyed the priveledge of growing up in a small country town on a farm as part of a large family. Farm life lends its own form of education and wisdom. Her family was no different than many other large families that struggled during the great depression, the wars, sickness and deaths. But these things only tended to draw families together and strengthen their character. No matter the difficulties, there was always warmth, love and laughter. Later she was blest to be a Sunday School teacher; Director of ESL Missions at her church, and involved in foreign missions. She is a proud grandmother who has already published short stories of daily life seasoned with a little salt and pepper - ups and downs - laughter and tears. It is her hope that this little book of inspirational stories will bless you and help you see that you are never alone and there is always a reason to smile.

Book preview

Sometimes You Just Need A Safety Pin

By E. L. Lewis

Published by E. L. Lewis at Smashwords

Copyright 2011 Ethel L. Lewis

Need a little inspiration? Feeling down in the dumps? Maybe your spirit needs a little repair.

Sometimes You Just Need a Safety Pin

By E.L. Lewis

Stories of encouragement and inspiration await you.

Introduction

You have just had one of those days. We have all had them. When you knelt down at the filing cabinet your heel caught the hem of your skirt and … rip. There goes your hem. Or you pop a button off your blouse. Or maybe your day has been so frustrating you feel like you are falling apart at the seams. You only managed to survive the whole day with the help of bubble gum and band aids. You just need a nice shiny safety pin to hold those seams and keep them from coming completely apart. That’s what this little book is for… to be your safety pin.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee, fix a glass of ice tea, kick off your shoes, prop your feet up and relax with me. We’re going to laugh a little, maybe a lot, shed a tear or two, and fix what needs fixing. Take a deep breath and just relax. There’s a whole lot of love inside… just for you.

Acknowledgements

I am so thankful God blessed me with family and friends who are great encouragers. Most of all, I thank God for loving parents who introduced me to the Bible at a young age. Reading the Bible or becoming a Christian does not prevent hardships or storms from coming our way. But it does give us strength to weather the storms. Some of you may not have had parents or family like mine but you have always had Jesus waiting for you with patience and love. When you seek Him you will find Him. That is His promise to you.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17

Table of Contents

Chapter One - Homemade Ice Cream

Chapter Two - The Storm Cellar

Chapter Three - The Tea Kettle

Chapter Four - The Creation

Chapter Five - Adopted

Chapter Six - The Apple Tree

Chapter Seven - Lying Contest

Chapter Eight - Learning To Listen

Chapter Nine – Some Angels Have Gray Hair and Wear Blue Aprons

Chapter Ten - Audience With The King

Chapter Eleven - The Ninety and Nine

Chapter Twelve - The Golden Rule

Chapter Thirteen - A Joyful Noise

Chapter Fourteen - My Advocate

Chapter Fifteen - Childhood Heroes

Chapter Sixteen - From the Campfire to the Banquet Hall

Chapter Seventeen - The Chair in The Yard

Chapter Eighteen - Hugs from Heaven

Chapter Nineteen - Walking With God

Chapter Twenty - Silver Linings

Chapter Twenty-One – Money Isn’t Everything

Chapter Twenty-Two - Now I Get It

Chapter Twenty-Three - How Do I Get To Heaven

Chapter One

Homemade Ice Cream

Summer weekends were a time to be cherished when I was a child growing up in the flat country of southwest Texas. Dust storms and tumbleweeds were more common than rain clouds, cool breezes or company. But weekends, older married brothers and sisters came home with their children and the usual quiet of farm life was filled with laughter and children playing.

I had playmates – someone to play games with, to run and jump and climb trees and swing from ropes like Tarzan. There was someone to push me downhill in the big old wood wagon. They would give it a good shove and then run along beside as it tumbled down the hill toward the water in the little creek. Squealing and holding on for dear life as it bounced from side to side as if it would flip over at any moment, my red pigtails flapping in the breeze, I would finally come to a stop just before it reached the water. I might have a splinter or two in my hands but I would still be laughing until my sides ached.

Then we would hear our names being called from the distance and knew it must be time for watermelon and lemonade. But sometimes, it was for us to take turns sitting on the wooden bucket filled with ice as the men turned the crank to churn homemade ice cream. Sometimes we would have strawberries to add but most of the time it was just plain vanilla ice cream. But plain isn’t the word for that tasty treat. It was cold and sweet and you just wanted to hold it in your mouth until it melted, savoring each bite until it was all gone.

Those days are gone now. Ice cream is easily purchased at any grocery store. But the flavor of that homemade ice cream just doesn’t exist anymore. I don’t know if it was better tasting because it was made from scratch, cream from the cows milked that morning, or if it was the family time that was spent making it… the talking and laughing and joking around that went on while the crank was being turned.

I wonder if we will have homemade ice cream in Heaven. It may sound strange but I really think we will. I’m sure it will put my earthly memories of homemade ice cream to shame because home will have a whole new meaning. I can hardly wait for that homecoming and a taste of that homemade ice cream. The whole family, all the Saints, will be gathered around God’s table, talking, laughing, joking and desert will be nothing less than good old homemade ice cream.

"Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and