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FReeper Canteen~HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!~15 June 08
The Canteen Crew ^ | June 14, 2008 | Serving the Best Troops in the WORLD!

Posted on 06/14/2008 5:10:05 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma


 
 

 

 


 


THE LOSER WHO NEVER GAVE UP

For "Sparky", school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He flunked physics in high school, getting a grade of zero. He also flunked Latin, algebra and English. And his record in sports wasn't any better. Though he did manage to make the school's golf team, he promptly lost the only important match of the season. Oh, there was a consolation match; he lost that too.

Throughout his youth, Sparky was awkward socially. It wasn't that the other students disliked him; it's just that no one really cared all that much. In fact, Sparky was astonished if a classmate ever said hello to him outside of school hours. There's no way to tell how he might have done at dating. He never once asked a girl out in high school. He was too afraid of being turned down... or perhaps laughed at. Sparky was a loser. He, his classmates... everyone knew it. So he learned to live with it. He made up his mind early that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.

One thing WAS important to Sparky, however -- drawing. He was proud of his artwork. No one else appreciated it. But that didn't seem to matter to him. In his senior year of high school, he submitted some cartoons to the the yearbook. The editors rejected the concept. Despite this brush-off, Sparky was convinced of his ability. He even decided to become an artist.

So, after completing high school, Sparky wrote Walt Disney Studios. They asked for samples of his artwork. Despite careful preparation, it too was rejected. One more confirmation that he was a loser.

But Sparky still didn't give up. Instead, he decided to tell his own life's story in cartoons. The main character would be a little boy who symbolized the perpetual loser and chronic underachiever. You know him well. Because Sparky's cartoon character went on to become a cultural phenomenon of sorts. People readily identified with this "lovable loser." He reminded people of the painful and embarrassing moments from their own past, of their pain and their shared humanity. The character soon became famous worldwide: "Charlie Brown." And Sparky, the boy whose many failures never kept him from trying, whose work was rejected again and again,... is the highly successful cartoonist Charles Schultz. His cartoon strip, "Peanuts," continues to inspire books, T-shirts and Christmas specials, reminding us, as someone once commented, that life somehow finds a way for all of us, even the losers.

If you follow the comic strip for a while, you will begin to notice one other thing as well. It isn't anger, resentment or in-your-face sarcasm which fuels Schultz's creativity and resilience. It's his faith. In fact, one study of the comic strip, published several years ago, made precisely that point. It eventually became a popular book entitled, "The Gospel According To Peanuts."

Sparky's story reminds us of a very important principle in life. We all face difficulty and discouragement from time to time. We also have a choice in how we handle it. If we're persistent, if we hold fast to our faith, if we continue to develop the unique talents God has given us, who knows what can happen? We may end up with an insight and an ability to inspire that comes only through hardship. (Read Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28.) In the end, there are no "losers" with God. Some winners just take longer to develop!

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: chaplain; fathersday; freepercanteen; lovedad; military; troopsupport
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To: redrock
Hi there, Mike...how wonderful those hugs must be from your girls.
And you deserve them all. Hope you have some nice sun to use with
your really nice lounge chair in the back yard as you heal.
((HUGS)) for you and Mrs Mike and your girls.


121 posted on 06/14/2008 11:55:23 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All


"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." -from THE BIBLE: Mark 10:27

Read THE BIBLE Online (Click Here.)


SPURGEON.org - "SPURGEON'S DAILY MEDITATIONS" (Read More...)

BILLY GRAHAM.org: "DAILY DEVOTION with Billy Graham" (Read More...)


PERSECUTION.org (Read More...)

122 posted on 06/15/2008 2:24:01 AM PDT by Cindy
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To: Lady Jag; Kathy in Alaska; Eaker
((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. How's it going?

A very pleasant good morning and Haooy Father's Day to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STAR!!!!!!!

HAPPY ANNNIVERSARY, KATHY AND EAKER!!!!!!!!

123 posted on 06/15/2008 2:57:48 AM PDT by E.G.C. (To read a freeper's FR postings, click on his or her screen name and then "In Forum".)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

BTTT


124 posted on 06/15/2008 2:58:28 AM PDT by E.G.C. (To read a freeper's FR postings, click on his or her screen name and then "In Forum".)
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To: TheMom; Eaker


Mr and Mrs Eaker
Have A Wonderful Day

125 posted on 06/15/2008 3:37:14 AM PDT by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
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To: StarCMC

To You *StarCMC*

Have a wonderful day!

126 posted on 06/15/2008 3:43:18 AM PDT by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
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To: swmobuffalo

Good Lord’s Day, swmo, and Happy Father’s Day to hubby.


127 posted on 06/15/2008 3:47:42 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All


128 posted on 06/15/2008 3:55:41 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: blackie; Jet Jaguar; Jack Deth; txradioguy; tongue-tied; E.G.C.; Laurita; SoldierDad; Allegra; ...



129 posted on 06/15/2008 4:47:09 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All
Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

How about a donut?

Coffee is always on........

Or a sandwich?


130 posted on 06/15/2008 4:47:40 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Jet Jaguar; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; tongue-tied; Defender2; txradioguy; MEG33; ...
God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.


Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art


131 posted on 06/15/2008 4:52:35 AM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: All; Brad's Gramma; Kathy in Alaska
May God Keep Safe All Who Serve Our Country
Wishing You A Blessed Lord's Day


Happy Father's Day,Dads

132 posted on 06/15/2008 4:56:15 AM PDT by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Morning coffee bump


133 posted on 06/15/2008 5:02:58 AM PDT by E.G.C. (To read a freeper's FR postings, click on his or her screen name and then "In Forum".)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Good Sunday morning Kathy. (59)


134 posted on 06/15/2008 5:15:35 AM PDT by Pusterfuss (Proud member: Minnesotans for Global Warming)
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To: All


135 posted on 06/15/2008 7:18:46 AM PDT by Soaring Feather (I soar- 'cause I can...)
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To: StarCMC


136 posted on 06/15/2008 7:39:36 AM PDT by darkwing104 (Lets get dangerous)
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To: darkwing104; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; Bethbg79; EsmeraldaA; MoJo2001; Brad's Gramma; ...

137 posted on 06/15/2008 7:52:26 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: StarCMC

138 posted on 06/15/2008 8:04:01 AM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: LUV W
That is very cool, Tann!

Thanks.

139 posted on 06/15/2008 8:27:30 AM PDT by Tanniker Smith (Teachers open the door. It's up to you to enter.)
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To: E.G.C.

Good morning EGC! How’s it going? We finally got some rain today.


140 posted on 06/15/2008 8:40:48 AM PDT by Lady Jag (Donate to FR anytime at https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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