Chocolate for a Woman's Blessings: 77 Heartwarming Tales of Gratitude That Celebrate the Good Things in Life
304
Chocolate for a Woman's Blessings: 77 Heartwarming Tales of Gratitude That Celebrate the Good Things in Life
304Paperback(Original)
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
Chocolate is a blessing. It makes us feel warm and wonderful. But as we learn from the true stories in Chocolate for a Woman's Blessings, our greatest blessings often come from our greatest challenges. Gathered together by Kay Allenbaugh, creator of the beloved national bestsellers Chocolate for a Woman's Soul and Chocolate for a Woman's Heart, these 77 all-new, real-life tales are as varied as they are heartwarming. Here are women who have survived and thrived, lost and loved, cried and laughed, and most of all, discovered the infinite joys of living. This inspiring collection is infused with a grateful spirit that will inspire you to count your blessings, just as you count your chocolates.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780743203081 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Touchstone |
| Publication date: | 01/05/2001 |
| Series: | Chocolate Series |
| Edition description: | Original |
| Pages: | 304 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Chapter One: Goodie Bags from the Heart
Nineteen years old and newly married. I remember waving goodbye to my husband one hot summer day while standing on the front porch of our small home in California. As I stood outside, I noticed the saddest sight across the street in the fast-food parking lot. He appeared to be homeless in his grubby, dirty clothes and long gray hair. In the heat of the day, he wore a tattered black jacket that I'm sure must have been one of his most treasured possessions that kept him warm in the cooler months. His fiercely thick gray beard hid part of his face, and frankly he looked quite frightening to me. I quickly turned and stepped into the house, shutting and locking the door behind me.
As I stood at my living room window staring in bewilderment, he rummaged through the garbage cans in the parking lot. Wrappers, cups, napkins — he went through all of it in hopes of finding food, and when he did find a morsel or two, it looked as though he had found a Thanksgiving dinner. Not feeling afraid any longer, I wondered just how long it had been since this poor man had had a decent meal.
The next day while sending my husband off to work, I spotted the man again. He was sitting on the curb with cups and wrappers in his lap, eagerly eating the unwanted scraps of strangers as if there were no tomorrow. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and it was at that very moment that I knew what I had to do, and I hoped that my plan would work.
The next day I found myself packing two lunches instead of just the usual one for my husband, and thinking to myself, Oh, I hope he shows up. When I finished my task, I hurried across the hot pavement and slipped one of the brown paper bags into the garbage can. I laughed to myself and thought, Boy, I must look like I'm up to something strange. I sent my husband to work and quickly went to the living room window to watch and wait for my homeless friend.
In a matter of minutes he arrived and immediately found the sack with the lunch inside. I stood there with a huge smile on my face, my heart pounding as he opened the bag and peered inside. He sat down on the curb of the busy intersection happily eating his lunch, oblivious to the passing cars just feet in front of him. He munched contentedly on a bologna sandwich, chips, a soda, and whatever other goodies I had happened to find in my cupboard that morning.
We didn't have much money or food back then, just starting out as a young couple. But for the next two weeks I scrounged through my kitchen cupboards and always managed to find something to slip into a goodie bag for the old man. And, of course, I placed it in the very same garbage can every day. I watched him savor every bite day after day, and it did my heart a world of good.
I used to wonder if he thought it was odd having lunches appear, but he never once looked around in curiosity. Then one day I slipped a lunch into the garbage can and he failed to show up, and I worried about him. I said a prayer for him in hopes that he had just decided it was time to move on.
Years later, when I was thirty-four years old, my children, ages eight, ten, ten, and twelve, were teasing me one day, saying, "Mom,
name one good deed you've ever done." My face lit up, and I knew at that moment what I would say.
PAULA J. TOYNBEE
Copyright © 2001 by Kay Allenbaugh
Table of Contents
ContentsIntroduction
ON HIGHER GROUND
Goodie Bags from the Heart Paula J. Toynbee
Joanna Judi Sadowsky
Made for Water Luci N. Fuller
Kevin and the Saint Michele Wallace Campanelli
Driving Denny Betty Auchard
Thinking of Others, Six-Year-Old-Style Brenda Grant
Taking Stock Suzy Ryan
TURNING UP YOUR LIGHT
Circle of Plenty Debbie Petricek
Doing the Hokey Pokey Debra Ayers Brown
Caviar and Moonshine Myra Winner
Pennies from Heaven Kay Allenbaugh
A Second Chance Clara Olson
The Gathering Penne J. Laubenthal
Out of Darkness Kate Murphy
Giving It Away Sheila Stephens
OUR FAVORITE FURRY ONES
My Guiding Light Aerial Gilbert
Frisky Debbie Clement
Early Morning Take-Out Lee Ann Woods
Caught on Film Christi Kromminga
The Divorce Dog Linda L. S. Knouse
A Different Kind of Mother Amy Munnell
Running Free Mary M. Alward
THE ANSWERS ARE WITHIN
A Girl Named Tomm Talia Carner
Coming Home Luci N. Fuller
A Place to Be JaNell Davis Mathews
Mirror Image Burky Achilles
The Mustard Seed Patricia Anand
A Gift of Grace Jennifer Boykin
What Do You Do? Alaina Smith
SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL
All That's Gold Does Not Glitter Candis Fancher
Mom, My Mother, and I Robin Michelle Silk
Picture Perfect Carol Newman
Don't Be Gruel Judith Bader Jones
From Suits to Sweats Barbara Dalbey
First Love, Lasting Love Annie Wilson
In God's Timing Kathryn Lay
ONE STEP AT A TIME
The Queen-Size Bed Myra Winner
Discovering My Special Delivery Debra Smith
Boot, Backs, and Bills Judith Bader Jones
The Road Leading to Spandex Janice Norman
A Cleansing 2000 Style Melanie Anderson-Caster
A Study in Character Nikki Jenkins
Gone Fishin' Jean Schneider
No Ordinary Year Holly Fedak
HOLIDAYS, HOPE, AND HOLLY
Savor the Sweetness Margaret J. (Mimi) Popp
Courting Faith Valentina A. Bloomfield
Steeped in Tradition Nancy Butler
A Christmas to Remember Ruth Rocker
Giving Thanks Carole R. Rotstein
A Time for All Seasons Alberta James Daw
TOUGH ON ISSUES, SOFT ON PEOPLE
The Terrible Whys Laurie Hopkins Etzel
The Invisible Woman Sande Boritz Berger
My Daughter, the Ragged Individualist Elizabeth McGinley
Finding the Music Dawn Kreiselman
Lessons from the Water Fountain Linda Resh
One More Mile Donna Hartley
I Learned It on the Farm Deborah Mills-Elder
KEEPING THE MEMORIES ALIVE
A Father's Lens Karen C. Driscoll
Making a Difference Emily Sue Harvey
Winifred's Legacy of Love Barbara Davey
Love Always, Mom Kim Dixon Waldman
A Charmed Life Mari Pat Varga
Oh, So Sweet Jenny Kreftmeyer Althen
DANCING WITH ANGELS
When Interpretation Counts Judy Torres
Gold Lamé Fairy Dust Tannis Benedict
A Holy Encounter Francine M. Storey
Timely Matter Tara Glennon Ott
Angels in Tow Antionette Vigliaturo Ishmael
The Presence of an Angel Nancy B. Gibbs
Following the Whispers Karen Walker
Que Será Será Cammie Walker
LIFE'S LITTLE IRONIES
Maternal Instincts Gone South Betsy Humphreys
Chocolate Blues Claudia McCormick
Just Kidding Sheila S. Hudson
City Slicker Robin Ryan
A Real Corker of a Day Gracie Cauble
Open Up! Margaret J. (Mimi) Popp
More Chocolate Stories?
Contributors
What People are Saying About This
The truth about learning to live and love from women who have been there.
— (Iyanla Vanzant, author of Don't Give It Away! and Until Today)