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Currently, there are two pieces posted here. Directly below this one is a piece titled, "EXCESS CHANCES" about an overweight young lady.
HERE IS THE FIRST "HEART FRIEND":
HIGH SCHOOL CHANGE CADETS
This is fiction but could actually be true:
Edward is an outgoing 15 year old high school student - lanky with vivid blue eyes and shoulder length red hair. He is a Christian, who is a Sunday school aide at Grace and Mercy Full Gospel Church. Edward attends Truman High School. Bullying is a major cause of concern at Truman as there has been an increase in abusive actions.
For the entire school year, Edward has witnessed bullying of fellow students, and some days he joins in the taunting and ridicule. More and more Edward notices a group of students he calls, "GOD fanatics." He especially observes them in the school cafeteria. Daily, the group discusses the gospel, and reads their Bibles as they eat lunch. What most affects Edward is that those in the GOD group never participate in the bullying. In fact, they exhibit care and concern for those who are bullied, and for the bullies. The GOD group has no fear of going against the flow of the bullies. They often invite the victims and the bullies to join them to eat their meals together. Some victims do - some victims don't. None of the bullies join the group – yet. Several of the bullied students joined the GOD group and now regularly discuss the gospel, and read their Bibles together at lunch.
Particularly striking to Edward is that all in the group have this constant glow. What is that?, Edward wonders. Strangely to him, Edward feels drawn to the GOD group but he does not act on the pull. His worry is his taunter peers. He longs to remain in the "loop" with them, but the GOD group is wearing on his heart.
Sunday at Sunday school, the lesson is from Exodus 32:26, "...Who is on the Lord's side?" The teacher lovingly but firmly drives home the point that people cannot serve GOD and the Devil. He broke down the lesson in absolute clear certainty. Edward was deeply convicted. He looked around and became aware that some of the other attendees were convicted, as well. Edward realized that he needed to steadfastly live of the gospel. He also realized that it took no courage to bully but that it did take courage to forsake and resist it. Edward decided to speak up. He confessed his double life style, repented, and asked for prayer. Others followed suit. It was the best Sunday school engagement in the three years that Edward had attended.
On Monday afternoon, Edward went to the "GOD fanatics" lunch table and asked whether he could join them. They heartily welcomed him. His taunter peers registered major surprise. They went to him with robust comments of displeasure. Edward was polite but firm. He made it clear that he was where he belonged; he invited his taunter peers to join them. They refused, sneered, made jokes, and moved on to their preying habits. One of them, though, looked back longingly. Later he would join the "GOD fanatics" as a regular, too.
Edward learns much from the “GOD fanatics” group. He smiles at the truth that he is now one of them. Months later, the united group went to school officials to ask to form an after school program. The administration granted permission. The program is called, "Change Cadets." The goal is to provide refuge, discussions, and solutions about the matter of bullying. GOD indeed is a fan of the "Change Cadets." He shall produce remarkable results!
Sandra
Friday September 24, 2010
© Copyright 2010
HERE IS THE SECOND "HEART FRIEND":
EXCESS CHANCES
This is the story of Tameka Elliott and Heather Dillard who grew up on the same tree-lined street, Magnolia Lane in the heart of the bustling city, Capitol, Michigan. They are college seniors at Prospect University in Emerald, Rhode Island.
Prospect has one of the best business programs in the nation with the renowned business professor Addison Milford to add to its stellar reputation.
Sandy-haired Tameka is golden brown in tone with a vibrant personality that complements her modest demeanor. She is a lovely polite young lady with loads of charisma. Her bright eyes sparkle often with jubilant pleasure.
Some people believe that Tameka’s weight is a hindrance – she is of average height with weight count that is in excess by about 100 pounds.
Tameka’s mother, Cassie, frequently reminds Tameka how beautiful she is – inwardly and outwardly.
Tameka believes that truth as her parents raised her to have healthy self-esteem with most of her concentration on the condition of her heart.
Cassie and her husband, Daniel, instilled in their only child the need to care and share and to be considerate of others. Cassie and Daniel continue to be deeply in love after more than 27 years of blissful matrimony.
The Elliott’s are a God-fearing family, as evidenced by the consistent love in demonstration both at home and elsewhere.
Heather lives with her vain single mother, Rita. Infrequently, the two get along. They do not know the whereabouts of Heather’s father, William. He abandoned wife and daughter when Heather was 10.
Heather and Tameka were once fast friends. Over time, their lives diverged in different directions. Their individual choices affected their close relationship as they embraced lifestyles that were not in common with one another.
Heather, tall, slim, and some consider gorgeous, is into the party and club scene. She has numerous admirers of the male persuasion. They dote on her physical attributes but most of her suitors soon discover that Heather’s beauty is largely surface.
There is one man that Heather pines for – oddly, he is not at all her type. His name is Marcus Chance. He grew up in the neighborhood but moved away for college and landed a lucrative job in Georgia. He is a straight arrow who forsook the party scene years ago. He and his family are close with the Elliott’s.
Tameka has an earnest aim to be a lawyer that specializes in workplace issues.
Heather has her mind set on being a force in the field of public relations.
The week of graduation approaches.
Professor Milford informs Tameka that something in excess of what she expects will be presented on graduation day.
Tameka implores her professor to reveal the information.
He smiles but refuses – she must wait.
Cassie and Daniel decide to invite Marcus and his parents, Edward and Jessica, to Tameka’s graduation ceremony at Prospect.
Tameka is pleased – she has not seen Marcus for more than a year. She has had a secret crush on him since they were adolescents. There goes that sparkle in her eyes!
Heather and Rita head to Prospect - on the way they have an argument. Neither of them is happy with how their lives have developed. They are “gorgeous” women without contentment.
Heather has many male admirers, none of which appeal to her. She thinks of Marcus – the one man that she desires who obviously does not desire her.
At the graduation, the graduates get their diplomas, speeches are made, photos are taken, and much joy is in the air.
The final announcement is the clincher.
John Jacobs, a well-known business millionaire approaches the podium and announces that he will fully finance Tameka for law school.
Tameka is joyously stunned.
Her parents leap from their seats, embrace her, and high five the Chances.
As Tameka, to applause, walks onstage to Mr. Jacobs, Marcus says to himself that he really likes how she has physically filled out. Tameka’s excess weight is a plus for Marcus. He recalls what he remembers about her caring heart. And oh yeah, he thinks, she is pleasingly plump, and bright to boot! He senses within him an urge to engage Tameka on a whole new level!
After the ceremony, the Elliott’s and Chance’s dine together.
Throughout the meal, Marcus and Tameka exchange admiring glances as they catch up on things. They both sense that their friendship has the potential to be more.
A revisit of the earlier statement here in this story, “Some people believe that Tameka’s weight is a hindrance – …with weight count that is in excess by about 100 pounds.” Oh well, so much for what those people believed.
Marcus Chance has excess on his mind, and his heart beats with admiration for Tameka, a plus size lady of beauty. He thinks to himself, This could be an excess Chance!
Forward seven years:
Tameka became a high-powered lawyer who specializes in workplace issues. Her expert skills resulted in judgments for her clients in excess of $37 million. Her success rates and monetary award amounts are unprecedented for her level of experience. She married Marcus and they are expecting their first child who they have decided to name, Justice Excess Chance.
Heather’s career turned into a public relations nightmare. She depended on her looks to the detriment of her career.
Her flame extinguished – she reflected on her unwise choices and sank into deep depression.
Tameka got wind of Heather’s plight and reached out to help her. She found a superb professional to counsel Heather.
It took months, but it proved worth it.
Heather found her true self and became a successful and prominent owner of a public relations firm. She named it Weight Lifted Enterprise.
Sandra
Thursday May 13, 2010 – Revised June 1, 2010
© Copyright 2010
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