It was one of the hardest days of my
young life. I was a 13 year old freshman trying out for the high school football
team. It was the first day of full contact in helmets and pads and my 110 pound
body had been knocked to the ground more times than I could count. It had become
clear as the practice went on that there was no way I was ever going to be able
to compete against the bigger, faster, and stronger boys. My dream of being a
high school football star had been crashed to the ground along with my bruised
and battered body.
I made it home sore, sullen, and sad and my Mom met me
at the door. She could see I was troubled in a glance and had me sit at the
kitchen table. I think she knew all along what was going to happen that day. She
warmed me up a bowl of soup to hold me until dinner. While I sipped at its warm
broth I felt her hand gently rubbing my aching back. We never said a word, but
by the time the soup was done I was feeling better again. I knew I was loved and
that was all that mattered.
I have carried that memory in my heart all of these
years. Even today, no matter what problems or difficulties life throws at me a
bowl of soup always raises my spirits. Sometimes I can even feel Mom’s gentle
hand rubbing my back from Heaven and see her beautiful face smiling down on me
with love.
In this world all of us have had our dreams crashed to
the ground at one time or another. Sometimes it takes a lot of broken dreams
until we find our true purpose in life too. God is always there, though, to
comfort us, to remind us that we are loved, and to help us back to our feet
again. May you always rejoice in the love God has for you and may you always
share your own love freely be it with a kind act, a gentle touch, or even a bowl
of soup.
Joseph J. Mazzella joemazzella@frontier.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.