FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE LOSER WHO NEVER GAVE UP ~ November 7, 2010

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | Brad's Gramma

[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

[luvie]

Providence~O Come Angel Band.wma

Providence~Mansion Robe And Crown.wma

Providence~Telling The World About His Love.wma

Providence~He'll Understand & Say Well Done.wma

Providence~Amazing Grace.wma

[CMS]

Hi Luv W! *HUGS*

Hi Canteen!!

How is everyone doing?

getting cold here in the 'Stan.

[SandRat]

Prayers please.

On top off everything else that has happened of late that has happened here I had to take Mrs.SR to the hospital yesterday at about 1530 for tingling and pain in her right arm.

I thought it might be a case of TIA; so I took her to the ER.

The ER admitted her and they are running tests (Blood, EKGs, Sonograms on the Carotid arteries) and are going to bring in tomorrow to examine her and run some other tests.

[MEG33]

May God guide her medical providers..Healing prayers for Mrs SandRat..and prayers for strength and comfort for you and the family.
(((HUGS)))

[SandRat]

Thank you.

[SevenofNine]

Who knew Vlady is NASCAR FAN LOL!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_russia_putin_formula_one

[SevenofNine]

Who knew Vlady is NASCAR FAN LOL!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_russia_putin_formula_one

[fatima]

She’s in the best place Sandrat.I will pray for her.((((((Hugs))))))

[SandRat]

((((((Hug))))) Thank you.

[TASMANIANRED]

Prayers for you and your dear wife.

[SandRat]

Thank you TAZ.

I take it that from your position, my layman's prognosis to the symptoms that presented themselves to me that my actions were correct.

[oldteen]

Prayers for Mrs. SR and for you, Sandy! *hugs*

Getting her to the ER was a very wise decision! God Bless you both.

[SandRat]

Thank you teen.

I take it that from your position, my layman’s prognosis to the symptoms that presented themselves to me that my actions were correct.

[luvie]

CMS!!!! ((((hugs))))

It is SO good to hear from you! I have wondered where you
were lately...and now, it seems, I know. Stay safe, friend,
and WARM! I’ll bet there are places there that are truly
cold!

[oldteen]

As a lay(wo)man, I’d say your actions were the only option! Some symptoms are not to be ignored! Delay in actions could always have serious consequences...take no chances! EVER!

[SevenofNine]

More evidence of young OBama being Muslum

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/barack-obama-joined-muslim-prayers-at-school-teacher-says/story-e6frg6so-1225949239614

[TASMANIANRED]

My first thought would be an MI..

Women typically do not have chest pain but arm pain and tingling.

They would have been on that in the er in a flash.

Troponin is an excuisitely sensitive lab test that can rule it in or out fantastically quickly.

TIA is in the realm of possibility,, did she have any speech difficulty,,or balance problems?

They are following the appropriate drill.

She sounds like she is in competent hands.

Hang out with her a lot at the hospital.

Question anything that doesn’t seem right to you.

If they give her any meds, make sure you see them open the unit dose in front of you.

Even in the most competent hospital mistakes are made..and family prevents a bunch of them.

Even the best screws up some time.

[luvie]

Oh, Sandy...prayers going up that the test results will be
normal. I know you are SO worried....and, indeed, on top
of everything else that is happened. I hope she’s not in the
hospital for long.

[GodBlessUSA]

My prayers for your wife and you.
HUGS

[luvie]

I hope you are around if I ever get sick. :)