Humor 6/20/99: Kids Humor & Touching Father Stories

Hi everyone,

I hope you had a wonderful Father's Day. I'm here in Palo Alto now. If
you're going to be in the Bay Area during the summer, feel free to give
me a call (650-565-8674).

This week's thought provoking question is: "What is your most memorable
experience with your dad?"

The humor was forwarded by Susan Hasegawa (who gave birth to a baby boy
last month, her third child. Congratulations!). The two inspirational
stories about fathers were forwarded by Anna Man and Ethel Lai. Enjoy!

-Josh.
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Humor concerning kids

Little Johnny watched, fascinated, as his mother smoothed cold cream on
her face. "Why do you do that, Mommy?" "To make myself beautiful,"
said his mother, who then began removing the cream with a tissue.
"What's the matter?" asked Little Johnny. "Giving up?"

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything,
including human beings. Little Johnny, a child in the kindergarten
class, seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created
out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him
lying down as though he were ill, and said, "Johnny, what is the
matter?" Little Johnny responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm
going to have a wife."

One night Mike's parents overheard this prayer: "Now I lay me down to
rest, and hope to pass tomorrow's test. If I should die before I wake,
that's one less test I have to take."

A rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy: "So your mother says your
prayers for you each night? Very commendable. What does she say?" The
little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"
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Touching Story About Fathers #1

This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a
very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench,
his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.

This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high
school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very
clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But
the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was
determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to
play when he became a senior.

All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game, but
remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always
in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the
football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the
cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster
because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the
same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they
badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much
that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father
shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college
games.

This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four
years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end
of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field
shortly before the big play off game, the coach met him with a
telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.
Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning.
Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently
around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And
don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday."

Then Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third
quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly
slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he
ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see
their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've
just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to
hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close
playoff game.

But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the
coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in." Before long, the
coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their
eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing
everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he
passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The
score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The
fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such
cheering you've never heard!

Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left
the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting
quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid,
I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How
did you do it?"

He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you
knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young
man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but
today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him
I could do it!"

SO, REMEMBER RIGHT NOW:

somebody is very proud of you.
somebody is thinking of you.
somebody is caring about you.
somebody misses you.
somebody wants to talk to you.
somebody wants to be with you.
somebody hopes you are not in trouble.
somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
somebody wants to hold your hand.
somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
somebody wants you to be happy.
somebody wants you to find him/her.
somebody wants to give you a gift.
somebody wants to hug you.
somebody thinks you ARE a gift.
somebody admires your strength.
somebody wants to protect you.
somebody can't wait to see you.
somebody loves you for who you are.
somebody treasures your spirit.
somebody is glad that you are their friend.
somebody wants to get to know you better.
somebody wants to be near you.
somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
somebody would do anything for you.
somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
somebody is alive because of you.
somebody needs your support.
somebody will cry when they read this.
somebody needs you to have faith in them.
somebody trusts you.
somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.
SOMEBODY NEEDS YOU TO SEND THIS TO THEM, too.
____________________________

Father's Day

When I was five, my biological father committed suicide. It left me
feeling as though I'd done something wrong; that if I had been better
somehow, maybe he'd have stayed around. My mother remarried shortly
thereafter, and this man was my dad until I was nineteen. I called him
Dad and used his name all through school. But, when he and my mother
divorced, he just walked away. Once again, I wondered what was wrong
with me that I couldn't keep a father.

Mother remarried again, and Bob was a wonderful, kind man. I was twenty
now and no longer living at home, but I felt a great love and attachment
for him. A few years later my mother was diagnosed with cancer and was
not given long to live. Shortly before she died, Bob came over to my
house alone one day. We talked about a lot of things, and then he told
me that he wanted me to know that he'd always be there for me, even
after Mother was gone. Then he asked if he could adopt me.

I could hardly believe my ears. Tears streamed down my face. He wanted
me - me! This man had no obligation to me, but he was reaching out from
his heart, and I accepted. During the adoption proceedings, the judge
commented on all the undesirable duties of his profession and then with
a tear in his eye, thanked us for brightening his day as he pronounced
us father and daughter. I was twenty-five, but I was his little girl.

Three short years later, Bob, too, was diagnosed with cancer and was
gone within the year. At first I was hurt and angry at God for taking
this father away too. But eventually the love and acceptance that I felt
from Dad came through again, and I became, once more, grateful for the
years we had.

On Father's Day I always reflect on what I've learned about fatherhood.
I've learned that it is not dependent on biology or even on raising a
child. Fatherhood is a matter of the heart. Bob's gift from the heart
will warm my soul for eternity.

By Sherry Lynn Blake Jensen Miller
from A 5th Portion of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright1998 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
--
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Joshua Li
420 James Road #1
Palo Alto CA 94306
(650)565-8674
Permanent Email: joshli@post.harvard.edu
http://personal.anderson.ucla.edu/joshua.li/