9780767900041: Earth Angels
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0767900049 ISBN 13: 9780767900041
Verlag: Broadway, 1997

Inhaltsangabe

Discover down-to-earth angels in this joyous celebration of the miracle of kindness.

If you could thank one person who made a positive difference in your life, who would it be?  In Earth Angels, authors Jerry and Lorin Biederman bring us an inspiring collection of true stories about the angels in our midst who have earned their wings--the ordinary people who have made an extraordinary impact in someone's life.

With moving tributes from people who have been touched by an angel just when they needed it most, these heartfelt accounts show that good deeds come in many forms--from life-saving acts to spontaneous gestures of kindness--and that Earth Angels are all around us.

Carol, a teacher, thanks her first college professor whose encouragement inspired a shy and insecure student to pursue her education.  Sheila, a secretary, recalls a stranger whose kind words helped her bravely endure the one-year anniversary of her husband's death and whose words continue to comfort her to this day.  Joe, a reporter, reflects on the love and support he and his sister received from a foster parent who rescued them from a shelter and cared for them for five years.  Pauline, a naturalist, who as a child had polio and meningitis, was determined to walk again when a famous explorer described all the wonderful places in the world she could go.

These heartwarming stories of teachers, coaches, heroes, friends, family, and even strangers from all over the country are sure to bring a smile and sometimes a few tears.  This uplifting book will make you think about that special someone who became your Earth Angel.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Jerry Biederman has written several books, including Secrets of a Small Town.  Lorin Michelle Biederman, after working in the entertainment industry for many years, now devotes her time to her writing.  They live in Woodland Hills, California.

Aus dem Klappentext

n-to-earth angels in this joyous celebration of the miracle of kindness.<br><br>If you could thank one person who made a positive difference in your life, who would it be? In <i>Earth Angels,</i> authors Jerry and Lorin Biederman bring us an inspiring collection of true stories about the angels in our midst who have earned their wings--the ordinary people who have made an extraordinary impact in someone's life.<br><br>With moving tributes from people who have been touched by an angel just when they needed it most, these heartfelt accounts show that good deeds come in many forms--from life-saving acts to spontaneous gestures of kindness--and that Earth Angels are all around us.<br><br>Carol, a teacher, thanks her first college professor whose encouragement inspired a shy and insecure student to pursue her education. Sheila, a secretary, recalls a stranger whose kind words helped her bravely endure the one-year anniversary of her husband's death and whose wo

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Introduction

What are Earth Angels?  Whether you know it or not, you've encountered them throughout your life's journey, and you continue to each day.

An Earth Angel can be a teacher who believes in you, or a truck driver who stops to change your flat tire, a hero who runs into a burning building to save a child's life, or someone who simply holds a door open so it doesn't slam in your face.  An Earth Angel is the family member whom you've known your whole life, or the stranger who sits next to you on a bus bench for only a few minutes.  Every day you are surrounded by Earth Angels--by ordinary people who have earned their wings.

So if you sometimes feel as if you're living in a cold and colorless world, we invite you to take a second look around.  Just think, if a natural disaster occurred at this moment and the roof caved in on you, many strangers, regardless of race, creed, gender, or age would come to your rescue.  All over the world and in different times throughout history we have seen examples of this when a human being is in need, it is another human being's instinct to help.  But you don't need a tragedy to find an Earth Angel.  If you choose to open your eyes to the goodness in the world, you will see them everywhere!

We invite you to look at your world in a different way, and perhaps reflected in the eyes of your Earth Angels, you'll see colors that you've never seen before.


Flowers from Our Garden

Noreen, 48, Waitress

I am in my late forties and have two teenage daughters.  My life has been difficult but, by the grace of God, I am a survivor.  My girls and I spent much of their childhood in shelters and living on the street.  Though we were together six years, I never married the girls' father.  He couldn't hold a job and although I am a hard worker, without a college education, the money just wasn't enough to support us.  He spent most of my money on hard liquor, and he didn't come home for days at a time.

One day, after he had threatened to kill me (he was a violent drunk), I packed up my babies and our belongings and headed for a better part of town.  I figured I would give my girls a good education, even if we had to live on the street.

I managed to find a job as a waitress at a local coffee shop and I enrolled my girls in a good public school.  My job didn't pay enough for rent, so we moved from shelter to shelter.  I was nervous about the address, so I got a post office box and used that address for the school paperwork.

No one suspected we were homeless.  My girls went to school every day.  If the shelter was nearby, we would walk.  If we had to, we took a bus.

My girls were always very presentable.  I let them go to friends' houses as much as possible, and I often tried to buy them special gifts.  But, mostly, the little money we had was put away for their future.

We had made a pact that we would not tell anyone we were homeless because I was sure this fine school wouldn't allow my daughters to remain if they knew about our situation.

One day, several years later, one of the girls came back to the shelter and told me her friend's mother had invited all three of us over for supper the next evening.  I managed to talk the director of the shelter into allowing me to use the kitchen to bake cookies.

We knocked on the door of a beautiful two-story home.  It was spotless and comfortable.  Mary, the mother, was so appreciative of the cookies.  We had a wonderful evening and I knew I had found a friend.

A few days later, Leticia, my youngest, came home and said that Mary had asked for our phone number.  She wanted to call me to get together.  Leticia told her we were having trouble with the phones and she would have me call her.  I hated that my girls had to lie.

I called Mary and again we got together at her house.  She and I became good friends.  I constantly told her that I wanted to have her over to our place, but then I would lie and say we were having trouble with the landlord of our apartment building or that something wasn't working (the stove, the air conditioning...).

Mary came into the coffee shop one day and asked if I could spend my break with her.  We took a walk, and then she stopped at a vacant house a few blocks down the road.  It had a "For Rent" sign out front and was the most adorable little home.

Mary said, "Do you like this place?"

"Oh, very much!" I exclaimed.  "But it's way out of my league."

"Why don't we call and find out?" Mary said.

This was upsetting to me.  I told her that the most I could afford was $350 a month.  No one would rent a house for that little-- especially this house.

The next day, Mary came into the coffee shop with a big grin on her face and a "For Rent" sign in her hands.  She was so excited that she couldn't hold back the news.  "I spoke with the owner of that house and guess what? They're renting the place for $350 a month!  It couldn't be more perfect for you and the girls."

I told her, "That's impossible.  Houses rent for three times that much in this neighborhood."

She explained that the owners didn't really need the money.  They just needed someone who would appreciate living there and would take special care of it.

A few weeks later, we moved in.  We managed to get some furniture from the Salvation Army.  Shari, my oldest, took wood shop in school and made us a fine coffee table.  We fixed the place up, and I even planted some flowers, which made me feel like I was planting my roots.  I hoped to stay here a long time, raise my girls, and always have a place for them to come home to.

But secrets, I've found, don't usually stay secrets.  One month, I had to mail my rent check, but it was during the holidays and I didn't want it to be late so I decided to drop it off at the appropriate post office box.  I was standing in line at the post office when I heard a familiar voice ask for a package from the box where I sent my rent.  I peeked around the line and was shocked to see Mary!

She was thumbing through her mail when I touched her arm.  Tears were starting to form in my eyes and I could barely speak.  "Mary, is it your house we're living in? Did you do this for us?"

She put her arm around my shoulder and walked me outside.  By the time we reached the sidewalk, I was sobbing.  I am a very strong woman and tears don't come easily.  I have been through a lot in my life, but no one had ever been so kind.

Mary told me that Leticia had slipped and told her daughter we were homeless.  She said she never would have guessed.  The girls were always so clean and well-dressed.  She said it was her and her husband's first home and it was very special to them, that they had owned the house for a long time, and it was paid for.  She and her husband had talked about it and wanted to rent the house to us.  She hadn't wanted me to know because she was afraid I would think it was charity.

Shari is graduating from high school this year, and because we were able to save enough money, she is going to college.

Mary is my Earth Angel, and I want her to know that I appreciate...

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Verlag
Broadway
Erscheinungsdatum
1997
Sprache
Englisch
ISBN 10 
0767900049
ISBN 13 
9780767900041
Einband
Gebundene Ausgabe
Auflage
1
Anzahl der Seiten
256
Kontakt zum Hersteller
Nicht verfügbar
Verantwortliche Person
Nicht verfügbar

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