BIG SISTERS

Memories, they tell me can be both good and bad. There are those memories that make you feel really guilty and depressed. Then there are those memories that make you smile and laugh.

When my mother died, back in 1964, I was left with my Dad and my 5 year old sister - a real bossy sister. Well, so it seemed at the time. Whatever game I wanted to play, she would either say `no' and want it her way, or she would have to be `in charge'. But I admired my sister. She was beautiful, she had lots of friends and she was just so clever.

I remember sitting in Church. Everyone would come up and say how wonderful Mary looked today, sitting so nice and quietly. Me, I couldn't sit still if I tried. At school I was always, `Mary's sister'. The teachers would say, "I wish you were as smart as your sister." I tried, but my brain just didn't work as well as hers.

But what I remember most is my big sister, on my first day of school, holding my hand, making sure I didn't fall over, as I had a habit of doing. I remember her sitting by my bed after I had lost my second baby, holding my hand. I remember her smile, as I went up on the stage to receive my Bachelor of Education.

We didn't like the same music or T.V shows, we could probably only last a couple of weeks staying with one another - but we loved going shopping together.

My sister was beautiful, smart and had lots of friends - she was different to me - and sometimes I thought I could never be as good as her. But it didn't matter, we were still SISTERS.


BIG SISTERS


There were times when I was a little girl
And I needed a friend who would play.
I nearly always had my BIG SISTER,
She hardly ever said, `go away'.

There were days when I would struggle
With homework I just couldn't do.
My BIG SISTER would always be there,
And would say, "Can I help you?"

There were days when I'd be unhappy
The kids had teased me at school.
That's when my BIG SISTER would say,
"Don't worry Sis, you're cool!"

I was always falling over and banging my knee.
And she'd always be my `nurse'.
My BIG SISTER would wipe the blood away,
And say, `Now that doesn't hurt."

I always has lots of jobs to do,
But I'd always make a real mess.
My BIG SISTER would always help me out,
So Dad wouldn't yell and get stressed.

My BIG SISTER never gave me a hug
She said that wasn't her thing.
I never heard her say, `I Love You',
But her other words had love to bring.


Today my big sister and I live apart
We are busy with our own lives.
But I always know at the end of the phone,
She'll be there if I get into strife.

There will always be words of encouragement,
Words of guidance and love.
She will always be there to give me a push,
To say those words `never give up'.

There is no one like my BIG SISTER.
My BIG SISTER is easy to find.
She's my teacher, my nurse and my friend,
MY BIG SISTER is ONE OF A KIND.

* This is dedicated to my sister Mary, who passed away on December 25, 2006, from breast/bone cancer. I read this at her funeral

"For God So Loved the World"

"God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to SAVE it."
JOHN 3:16

I became a Christian as a child. I was a loner - hurt by friends who teased me at school, and blaming it on a mother who had `gone and left me'.

One day, my sister and I saw Dad's wallet on the table. She came up with the idea to steal some money. If we took it to school, we'd be sure to make lots of friends. It worked too, until the money ran out - and so did the friends.

For some reason, I was the one who got into trouble. Probably because I felt guilty. When Dad asked, "Has anyone seen my wallet?", I burst into tears and ran into my room.

Later my step-mum came in and I told her all about the stolen money. I told her how lonely and bitter I felt. I didn't understand why my Mum had to die, and I didn't think it was fare that the kids at school teased me so much. She got down my Children's Bible from the shelf and read me this verse:
"For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son
that whoever believed in Him should not perish, but
will have eternal life." JOHN 3:16.

Mum told me that Jesus loved me, and that if I gave all my lonliness and bitterness to Him, He would take it all away. Jesus wanted to be my friend.

Now I'd heard all this before. I'd always thought it would be pretty good having Jesus as my friend, but I wasn't sure if I could really trust him. Nobody else seemed to care, so why would he? I was just a little kid - why would he want to be my friend. But, I decided I'd give it a try. I had nothing to lose. Mum and Dad certainly believed in Him.

I prayed with my Mum, and suddenly it felt like someone was holding me in his arms. For some reason, I knew that `someone' would never let me go. This was a wonderful relationship between a Father and His new daughter.

JESUS UNDERSTANDS


I'm feeling rejected, hurt and alone,
I just don't know what to do.
"Don't worry daughter, I UNDERSTAND,
Remember, I've been there too."

It feels like nobody really cares,
They've all turned away, it seems.
"Don't worry daughter, I UNDERSTAND,
They did the same thing to me."

I need somebody to carry my cross,
I need someone on which to lean.
"Don't worry daughter, just turn around,
You'll find your very own, Simon of Cyrene."

It doesn't seem fare, and they will not stop
All the insults, laughter and pain.
"Don't worry daughter GIVE THEM TO ME,
Lay them down at the cross again."

"I UNDERSTAND, I KNOW HOW IT FEELS,
All the rejection, pain and fear.
My daughter, I went through it all for you,
So today, you could know I AM HERE.

Ruth Cheater.

I'M HAPPY

"I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for God is right
beside me." PSALM 16:8

Recently, I was asked to give a devotion. So I took out my `BIG BOOK OF FAITH' and was all ready to share one of my stories of how God had blessed me through faith. But, as it often happens, at the last minute, the Lord changed my mind.

Instead, I was given these words: "Get the WORD out - God is with us, we are not alone." I realized, more than anything, this was the basis of my faith.

The death of Jesus Christ is awe inspiring. The thought that HE DIED FOR ME . But even more so is the fact that HE ROSE FOR ME!!

Jesus could have stayed dead, His Spirit going straight to Heaven and that would have been it. We'd be forgiven, but what then. God's plan was just so amazing. Jesus, in the form the Holy Spirit, came back and lives in and with you and me. HE LIVES WITH US. Every time I think about this concept of His omnipresence, my faith and strength grow, but more than that; I am inspired to TELL OTHERS.

The first time this happened to me, I wrote this little song. They tell me `it is very 70's', and I'm not allowed to sing it anymore, but no no one has said I can't write it down.

I'M HAPPY

I'm happy, so very happy,
`Cause I have Jesus living in my heart.
I'm happy, so very happy,
And I know we will never part.
We'll live together, forever,
A new life that's special as can be.
I'll be His child, He'll be my friend,
And we'll be as happy as can be.

I've been born again to a new life,
I can start again with Him.
I can live my life with love, joy and peace,
As I live with Him.

I'm happy, so very happy,
Though I know there will be times along the way.
When I'm not happy, not very happy,
But I know I only have to pray.
I may be lonely and downhearted
And sometimes I'll feel like giving up,
But He'll be there, right by my side.
He'll take my hand and He will lift me up.

I've been born again to a new life,
I can start again with Him.
I can live my life with love, joy and peace,
As I live with Him.

You can be happy, so very happy
If you have Jesus living in your heart.
You can be happy, so very happy
Right now you only have to start.
He's standing here, He's reaching out,
All you must do is take a step in faith,
He'll hold your hand, He'll take you to Him
And you'll be as happy as can be.

You can be born again to a new life
You can start again with Him.
You can live your life, with love, joy and peace,
As you live with Him.

YOU CAN BE HAPPY, SO VERY HAPPY!!

RUTH CHEATER

THE BIBLE

"For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but
will have eternal life." John 3:16

It was a cold winters day in Melbourne; but for me, all I could feel as I came out of those waters of baptism, were the warm, loving arms of my Father surrounding me.

As was tradition in the Church of Christ, back in the 7O's; on the day of your baptism, you always received a Bible. This Bible was special to me, not because it was the first Bible I had received, but because it reminded me of that special day.

The Bible has always been an important part of my life, both as a mother, a wife and especially as a teacher. Whenever I teach about the Bible, I am always reminded of the story of Mary Jones. Mary was a young girl from Wales, who worked as a child to raise money for her first Bible. She walked to a Church, many miles from her hometown, because there were no Bibles in her language. On meeting with the Pastor of this Church, Mary discovered there were no Bibles left. So, the Pastor gave him his Bible and she walked home to share its wonders with her parents.

Not only is this story known as the foundation for the British and Foreign Bible Society, but for me it is inspiration, as I dedicate my life to sharing His word with others.

THE BIBLE

As a child I sat and wondered, feeling alone and scared,
I needed someone to be my friend, someone who really cared.
So I asked my Mum about it, I asked her where I could look,
She said, `Try reading the Bible",
I thought, "Now that's a strange book

But I started from the beginning
And read right through to the end.
I learnt that I had a BROTHER,
And He was my SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.

I never let Him leave me, I always knew He was there,
At home, at school, at work and play
My FRIEND was everywhere.


As I grew older I needed more, someone to guide me along.
There were paths and paths, which one do I take,
I didn't want to go wrong.
This time I asked my minister, he always had lots to say,
He said, "Try reading the Bible".
He said that would show me the way.

So I started from the beginning
And read right through to the end.
I learnt that I had a SHEPHERD
And He was my SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.

I never let Him leave me, I always knew he was there,
At Church, at home, when studying at school,
My SHEPHERD was everywhere.


Now I've come to a mountain, how do I get across,
I need someone to take my hand, to keep me from getting lost.
This time I'll ask my father, `cause I know he really cares,
He'll probably say `read the Bible',
`Cause I know He knows what's there.

So I'll start from the beginning
And I'll read right through to the end.
I'm sure that I'll find my FATHER,
For He is my SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.

I'll never let Him leave me,
I'll always know He's there.
At work, at home, and when I'm alone,
My FATHER is everywhere.

RUTH CHEATER

DEDICATIONS

To my Dad and Mum (s) who without their love, support and teaching I would never have found my faith.



To Aunty Dorothy, who without her love and encouragement I would never have had
so much fun.

THE AUTHORS

Dorathy Gaunson was born on January 10, 1900.
In 1964, after the death of my mother, Aunty
Dorothy (as we called her) came to live with
my sisters and I, and became our Nanny.

It was Aunty Dorothy who first helped me
appreciate music, who taught me to write
and showed me how to love. She was a very
special servant of God who made a big impact
on me and everyone who knew her.

On August 12, 1989, Aunty Dorothy passed away.
She will always be remembered for her faith,
her smile, and her kind words for everyone.

RUTH CHEATER

My name is Ruth - a `beautiful woman of God'. As a wife and mother I have never done anything
famous or won any awards. My only real `claim to fame' is that I love the Lord, I love to read the Bible, and I love to write.

Whenever I wrote anything, played a tune on the piano or tried to sing a song, no matter how simple, Aunty Dorothy would always say, "That was beautiful. Something really special."

That is why I put these poems together. I thank the Lord that I am still around to write and remember.

Why I Wrote this Book?

Just before I introduce you to the authors, I thought I would tell you why I wrote this book.

In the early 90's when my son started school, I felt a little alone and bored. I was going through some old poems of my own, and those of my special `Auntie'. I decided, why not put them together in a book. As I began writing, I started adding more and consequently you have `My Book'.

One of the first people I let read my manuscript was my son's writing teacher. She sent me this little note:

"This book is great! Very uplifting and inspiring. I got out my Bible with fresh enthusiasm. Thank you for the priviledge of sharing them with me. They came to me just when I needed them."


I am not sure about the `great'bit, by I am thankful that I was able to inspire her to read her Bible again. This is why I wrote this book, and why I continue to write.

My prayer is, that in someway you may be inspired too!