Illustrations

A 4-year-old was fascinated by the various appliances that some of the elderly used—canes, walkers, wheelchairs. One day her mother found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. The mother braced herself for the inevitable question that was to come. Instead, her daughter turned and whispered: “The tooth fairy is never going to believe this!”

Source: Unknown

A man stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters what the score was. ”We’re losing 18-0,” was the answer.

“Well,” said the man. ”I must say you don’t look discouraged.”

“Discouraged?” the boy said puzzled. ”Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t come to bat yet.”

Source: Unknown

David Livingstone, pioneer missionary to Africa, received a letter saying, “Have you found a good road to where you are? If so, we want to know how to send other men to join you.”

Livingstone replied, “If you have men who will come only if there is a good road, I do not want them. I want those who will come if there is no road at all.”

Source: The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck

Even though I clutch my blankets and groan when the alarm rings each morning, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are those who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. There are many who are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the physical effort of rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedfast.

A family went out for lunch and wanted dessert. The waiter brought pie and ice cream to a little boy who said, “Thank you!” She said, “Oh, I love to hear thank you!”

The boy replied, “Give me another scoop of ice cream and you’ll hear it again!”

Source: Unknown

One dear lady was not a cook, but the family decided that after many years, they should eat at home for Thanksgiving. She said, “I’ve cooked this turkey for the first time and I’m gonna bring it to the table. If it’s not good, don’t say a word. If it’s not good, there will be no negative comments, we’ll just go to a restaurant and have a meal.” So, she went to the kitchen to get the turkey, only to come into the dining room to see her husband and son at the table with hat and coat on.

Source: Unknown

Sonya Thomas beat men four times her size in an eating contest. Ms. Thomas, who weighed 106 pounds, defeated 400-pound runners-up Ed “Cookie” Jarvis and Eric “Badlands” Booker in New York’s Thanksgiving Invitational by downing 7 3/4 pounds of holiday food in 12 minutes. After the event Ms. Thomas said, “I’m full, but I could eat more.”

Source: World Magazine, December, 13, 2003

After World War II, two families were waiting in line after a church service to greet the pastor. The church was preparing to build a building at that time.

The first family in line said, “Pastor, as you know, our son was killed in the war—we would like to give $200.00 as a memorial gift.”

The second family said, “Pastor we were going to give $200.00, but our son came home—we’ll give $500.00.”

Source: Unknown

Two frogs fell into a tub of cream. One looked at the high sides of the tub which were too difficult to crawl over and said, “It is hopeless.” So he resigned himself to death, relaxed, and sank to the bottom. The other one determined to keep swimming as long as he could. “Something might happen,” he said. He kept kicking and churning, and finally he found himself on a solid platform of butter and jumped to safety.

Source: Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations & Quotes, Robert Morgan

On a wall in his bedroom Charles Spurgeon had a plaque with Isaiah 48:10 on it: “. . . I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” God’s choice makes chosen men choice men. We are chosen, not in the palace, but in the furnace.

Source: Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, Wiersbe