FReeper Canteen~HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!~15 June 08

The Canteen Crew ^ | June 14, 2008 | Serving the Best Troops in the WORLD!

[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

 

[stand watie]

hoping it is the BEST yet but NOT as grand as those to come.

you are my HEROINE!!!

free dixie,sw

[mylife]

Cali is a good base of operations for the weekend trip

[mylife]

I did a weekend with some freepers in port aransas a while back.

200+ bucks for fuel

[Kathy in Alaska]

Well, hello there....have you been resting today? ((HUGS))

I will pass on your good wishes to him. Thank you.

Thinking of Poppa this day, as he keeps watch over you and Bob. ((HUGS))

[stand watie]

on this Father's Day, i also remember the honorable service of SSG James C. Grymsley, 18th ABN Corps, Korean War.

free dixie,sw

[ThomasPaine2000]

This was a “Great Father’s Day” for me. I have three Great kids (and four “grand”children).... My eldest daughter treated me and the wife to a “Chicago and The Doobie Brothers” concert at the Woodlands Pavillion Center in Texas last night.. It was a very special treat.. (Watching other old men love what they still do, LOL) I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT!!!

Check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgG6_GWibFs

[Brad’s Gramma]

THAT was beautiful!!! He left you far too young...I’m sorry for that.

We’ll be flying thru O’Hare this summer....there are SO MANY FRs I’d love to meet, you included...HOWEVER, our time will be SO short...

Happy HAPPY EveryDayFather’s Day to ya!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Um. However. YOU’RE IN TEXAS! (I should’ve checked earlier.....)

Guess THAT wouldn’t work no matter HOW much time we had!

Ha!

[ThomasPaine2000]

No relation, but I thought it appropriate today. It touched by old bones.. Thanks

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Lord’s Day to you, sw.....a day late. I’m behind on everything this weekend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Hope, for our Father’s Day pledge.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

Thanks, Mac, for Amazing Grace and her words. I never tire of it.

[Kathy in Alaska]

A day late, but Good Lord’s Day and Happy Father’s Day, Mayor. Thank you for the day’s sustenance for body and soul.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I’m late with everything this weekend....Happy Father’s Day, TS.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Father’s Day, Mac....a day late.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hope you had a Happy Father’s Day, Sand.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my, TS....what a great X, why cartoon about Dads. Eddie's Father....Best Friend

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, AZ, for LeAnn’s Amazing Grace...she can sing.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Wow! Allen Brothers steaks.....not bad. Happy Father's Day, and thanks to your son for choosing to serve our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click