Love Conquers All
Stories
Contents
"Love Conquers All" by Keith Wagner
"Being together gives us Hope" by Keith Wagner
Love Conquers All
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
For me, the heart of the psalmist’s message is his willingness to be a faithful servant, making commitments to God through sacrifice and love. It takes courage to live sacrificially, none the less our faith is strengthened and we become closer to God with our dedication and loyalty.
Karl Menninger once said, “Love cures people, both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.” He organized the work of the Menninger Clinic around love. “From the top psychiatrist down to the electricians and caregivers,” Menninger said, “all contacts with patients must manifest love.” And it was “love unlimited.” Consequently the hospitalization time for patients was cut in half.
One of the patients at the clinic was a woman who sat in her rocking chair for three years and never said a word to anyone. Her doctor called a nurse and said, “Mary, I’m giving you Mrs. Brown as your patient. All I’m asking you to do is love her till she gets well.” The nurse tried it. She got a rocking chair of the same kind as Mrs. Brown’s, sat beside her, and loved her morning, noon, and night. On the third day, Mrs. Brown spoke. Within a week, she was out of her shell and well again.
One time Sixty Minutes had a program about a Vietnam War veteran who was in possession of a diary he had taken off a Vietnamese soldier who he had shot. He thought he had killed the Vietnamese soldier. The diary was written in beautiful script and was very poetic, showing a very high standard of integrity.
After the war the American veteran pursued information about the soldier and found out that he was still living. The American veteran returned to Vietnam and met the man he thought he had killed. The meeting was very emotional as the two men embraced. The American soldier also met the many members of his former enemy's family. Their love for each other was touching.
When the American veteran returned to the States he still wanted to do something for his former foe who was almost blind from a grenade. So the American spent his money to bring his new friend to the United States in order for him to receive top medical help for his eyes. Although tests proved the Vietnamese man's eyes could not be completely healed, it was found that new glasses, glasses he had never had, helped considerably.
Gracie Allen and George Burns were unable to have children. In the mid 1930’s they went to a home for unwanted children in Evanston, Illinois, called The Cradle. First, they adapted their daughter, Saundra. A year later, they returned to find a son. George Burns wrote these words in his memoirs, Gracie: A Love Story: “Gracie picked out Ronnie because he needed her most. The other babies were all chubby and healthy and she knew there was a long list of people wanting healthy babies. Ronnie’s crib was off by itself in a corner. Gracie went over to and looked at him and commented how small he was. But his eyes followed her and she knew she had to take him. Ronnie had been born prematurely but he grew into a 6 foot, 2 inch, young man.
* * *
Being together gives us Hope
by Keith Wagner
Exodus 12:1-14
In 1972, I was aboard an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin. We had been on the line (in the gulf) for a period of six weeks. The crew was tired. The conditions were unbearable, as it was hot and humid. We felt as though the world had forgotten about us. We hadn’t seen a McDonald’s in months. Mail was scarce and we wondered if the folks back home remembered that we were 10,000 miles away, fighting for freedom.
On a stormy day in October a supply ship pulled along our side. Our thoughts were, “more bombs, more repair parts, more fuel, more hard work ahead, with no end in sight.” To our surprise the Supply Officer in charge had arranged for the delivery of a surprise shipment for the crew; 250 gallons of ice cream.
The ice cream was not part of our daily rations. The Captain of the ship knew the crew was overworked in conditions that were difficult. He decided to bend traditional rules and put the morale of the crew over and above the ship’s mission of the ship. In the Navy, distributing ice cream is a tradition for rewarding sailors for a job well done. Through that experience we shared a common bond as we celebrated our togetherness and friendship so far away from home. Most importantly it gave us hope.
I believe the Israelites experienced togetherness with their celebration of the Passover. In spite of the sacrifices that were made the Israelites broke bread together to commemorate their deliverance from the Egyptians and their love of God. It was a moment of thanksgiving as they strived to live through perilous conditions.
One time an anonymous caller called a radio talk show in Chicago and told the story of six year old Susie. She wondered why her mother was baking a casserole for their neighbor, Mrs. Smith. Her mother explained that the woman was very sad since her daughter had died and she had a broken heart. Her mother said, "Because we are part of a community and Mrs. Smith is our neighbor, we need to do something to help her."
She then challenged Susie to do something for her too. Susie went to Mrs. Smith’s house and said, "My mommy says that you lost your daughter and you’re very, very sad with a broken heart. This is for your broken heart." She then gave Mrs. Smith a band aid. Mrs. Smith accepted Susie’s act of kindness and took it one step further. She put the band aid in a key- ring picture frame to remind herself to heal a little every time she looked at it.
By expressing our thankfulness like Eleanor and Susie, we are living witnesses to the grace of God. Giving ourselves to others is a way of worship in which thanksgiving and glory to God is expressed.
*****************************************
StoryShare, April 21, 2019, issue.
Copyright 2017 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
"Love Conquers All" by Keith Wagner
"Being together gives us Hope" by Keith Wagner
Love Conquers All
by Keith Wagner
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
For me, the heart of the psalmist’s message is his willingness to be a faithful servant, making commitments to God through sacrifice and love. It takes courage to live sacrificially, none the less our faith is strengthened and we become closer to God with our dedication and loyalty.
Karl Menninger once said, “Love cures people, both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.” He organized the work of the Menninger Clinic around love. “From the top psychiatrist down to the electricians and caregivers,” Menninger said, “all contacts with patients must manifest love.” And it was “love unlimited.” Consequently the hospitalization time for patients was cut in half.
One of the patients at the clinic was a woman who sat in her rocking chair for three years and never said a word to anyone. Her doctor called a nurse and said, “Mary, I’m giving you Mrs. Brown as your patient. All I’m asking you to do is love her till she gets well.” The nurse tried it. She got a rocking chair of the same kind as Mrs. Brown’s, sat beside her, and loved her morning, noon, and night. On the third day, Mrs. Brown spoke. Within a week, she was out of her shell and well again.
One time Sixty Minutes had a program about a Vietnam War veteran who was in possession of a diary he had taken off a Vietnamese soldier who he had shot. He thought he had killed the Vietnamese soldier. The diary was written in beautiful script and was very poetic, showing a very high standard of integrity.
After the war the American veteran pursued information about the soldier and found out that he was still living. The American veteran returned to Vietnam and met the man he thought he had killed. The meeting was very emotional as the two men embraced. The American soldier also met the many members of his former enemy's family. Their love for each other was touching.
When the American veteran returned to the States he still wanted to do something for his former foe who was almost blind from a grenade. So the American spent his money to bring his new friend to the United States in order for him to receive top medical help for his eyes. Although tests proved the Vietnamese man's eyes could not be completely healed, it was found that new glasses, glasses he had never had, helped considerably.
Gracie Allen and George Burns were unable to have children. In the mid 1930’s they went to a home for unwanted children in Evanston, Illinois, called The Cradle. First, they adapted their daughter, Saundra. A year later, they returned to find a son. George Burns wrote these words in his memoirs, Gracie: A Love Story: “Gracie picked out Ronnie because he needed her most. The other babies were all chubby and healthy and she knew there was a long list of people wanting healthy babies. Ronnie’s crib was off by itself in a corner. Gracie went over to and looked at him and commented how small he was. But his eyes followed her and she knew she had to take him. Ronnie had been born prematurely but he grew into a 6 foot, 2 inch, young man.
* * *
Being together gives us Hope
by Keith Wagner
Exodus 12:1-14
In 1972, I was aboard an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin. We had been on the line (in the gulf) for a period of six weeks. The crew was tired. The conditions were unbearable, as it was hot and humid. We felt as though the world had forgotten about us. We hadn’t seen a McDonald’s in months. Mail was scarce and we wondered if the folks back home remembered that we were 10,000 miles away, fighting for freedom.
On a stormy day in October a supply ship pulled along our side. Our thoughts were, “more bombs, more repair parts, more fuel, more hard work ahead, with no end in sight.” To our surprise the Supply Officer in charge had arranged for the delivery of a surprise shipment for the crew; 250 gallons of ice cream.
The ice cream was not part of our daily rations. The Captain of the ship knew the crew was overworked in conditions that were difficult. He decided to bend traditional rules and put the morale of the crew over and above the ship’s mission of the ship. In the Navy, distributing ice cream is a tradition for rewarding sailors for a job well done. Through that experience we shared a common bond as we celebrated our togetherness and friendship so far away from home. Most importantly it gave us hope.
I believe the Israelites experienced togetherness with their celebration of the Passover. In spite of the sacrifices that were made the Israelites broke bread together to commemorate their deliverance from the Egyptians and their love of God. It was a moment of thanksgiving as they strived to live through perilous conditions.
One time an anonymous caller called a radio talk show in Chicago and told the story of six year old Susie. She wondered why her mother was baking a casserole for their neighbor, Mrs. Smith. Her mother explained that the woman was very sad since her daughter had died and she had a broken heart. Her mother said, "Because we are part of a community and Mrs. Smith is our neighbor, we need to do something to help her."
She then challenged Susie to do something for her too. Susie went to Mrs. Smith’s house and said, "My mommy says that you lost your daughter and you’re very, very sad with a broken heart. This is for your broken heart." She then gave Mrs. Smith a band aid. Mrs. Smith accepted Susie’s act of kindness and took it one step further. She put the band aid in a key- ring picture frame to remind herself to heal a little every time she looked at it.
By expressing our thankfulness like Eleanor and Susie, we are living witnesses to the grace of God. Giving ourselves to others is a way of worship in which thanksgiving and glory to God is expressed.
*****************************************
StoryShare, April 21, 2019, issue.
Copyright 2017 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
