TEDDY BEARS ETC.!
Teddy Bears in China
Here I am giving away the Unity bears in Guizhou province. My host's wife worked as an English teacher in the local school, so I asked if she would like us to bring presents to the school kids. This turned out to be a very formal affair. The principal came and wrote a calligraphy on the board for us.
Richard Malloy
"The beanie babies finally arrived in Afghanistan, via the suitcase of the Executive Director of the United Methodist Committee on Relief-Nongovernmental, Jim Cox! Here are some of the best photos I received. I also included a mother in a burqa, as a reminder that, to us all, that not much has changed."
They don't tell you that you have bad breath.
They never borrow money.
They never beat you at checkers.
They don't complain when you eat potato chips in bed.
They don't laugh at your clothes.
They never borrow your favorite sweater.
They don't outgrow you intellectually.
They don't eat all your chocolate chip cookies.
They are never disloyal, critical or ungrateful.
They don't interrupt when you are talking.
They never tell you that you are too fat.
They don't eat all the popcorn at the movies.
They don't get jealous of your other friends.
They don't tell you how to drive.
They don't hog the bathroom.
They don't embarrass you at parties.
They never leave dirty socks on the floor.
They don't get sick.
They never say, "I told you so".
They are not noisy and they don't have fleas.
They listen to all of your problems.
They are always ready to give you a hug.
They always love you, just the way you are.
~ Author Unknown
If teddy bears ruled the world,
Oh my, what a wonderful place.
Everyone would be happy.
There would be a smile on every face.
We would picnic every Sunday
At our favorite old oak tree.
We would sing and dance and prance about,
Just playing joyfully.
We would all be nice to each other
And always lend a hand.
Ready with a bear hug,
We would always understand.
We would all be happy when something nice
Happened for one of our friends
And our friendships would last forever.
Nothing would cause them to end.
We would be kind to everyone,
Not just those in our own home,
But to everyone throughout our world,
Wherever we may roam.
Yes, if teddy bears ruled the world,
What a wonderful life this would be.
Our hearts would always be happy
As we danced by the old oak tree.
~Janis Miner
Copyright 1997
Children's Teddy Bear Prayer
Right now I pray for my teddy,
who comforts me all the time.
So soft and warm and cozy,
the love we share is fine.
To treat it kind and gentle,
by a hug when the day is through.
Then I tell it good night, you know,
cause it has feelings too.
Amen
Please join us in supporting this important ministry and let the spirit of giving inspire you!
Mother Teresa visited Australia.
A new recruit to the Franciscan order was assigned to be her guide. Thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this woman, he dreamed of how much he would learn from her and what they would talk about.
But, he became frustrated. Although he was constantly near her, the friar never had the opportunity to say one word to Mother Teresa. There were always other people for her to meet.
Her tour over; she was due to fly to New Guinea. In desperation, the friar spoke to Mother Teresa. "If I pay my own fare to New Guinea, can I sit next to you on the plane so I can talk to you and learn from you?"
Mother Teresa looked at him. "You have enough money to pay airfare to New Guinea?" she asked.
"Oh, yes," he replied eagerly.
"Then give that money to the poor," she said. "You'll learn more from that than anything I can tell you."
~ Kay Pealstrom
Afghan Action
Arizona State University Career Women
Why Teddy Bears are better than.....
If Teddy Bears ruled the world....
In Memory of
Chaplain Joan Oldenburg
Teddy Bear Ministry
A Little History
In 1902 a cartoon drawn by Clifford Berryman appeared in the Washington Post. The cartoon was titled “Drawing the Line in Mississippi” and showed President Theodore Roosevelt refusing to shoot a baby bear. According to the tale, Roosevelt had traveled to Mississippi to help settle a border dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana, and his hosts, wanting to please this avid hunter, took him bear hunting. The hunting was so poor that someone finally captured a bear and invited Roosevelt to shoot. Roosevelt’s refusal to fire at such a helpless target inspired Berryman to draw his cartoon. The cartoon inspired Morris and Rose Michtom of Brooklyn, New York, to make a bear in honor of the president’s actions. The Michtoms name their bear “Teddy’s Bear” and placed it in the window of their candy and stationery store. Their bear looked sweet and innocent, like the bear in the cartoon. * Everyone fell in love and so history was made.In the fall of 2000, Reverend Julianne Lewis and Chaplain Joan Oldenburg formed the Teddy Ministry at Interfaith Unity Church for the purpose of spreading comfort and compassion. Their furry friends have shared their compassion worldwide extending their love from Arizona to Ground Zero in New York, as well as in China, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Latvia. Our motto: Bears don’t judge; only provide love. The Teddy Bear Ministry provides to people in need of a friend to help them through difficult times, in addition to companionship. We are always in search of those who can benefit from a cuddly friend. Our bears care. Of course, bear donations are always accepted. And, if necessary, we will do the mandatory training required to create the perfect bear and a loyal friend.*Information found in The History of the Teddy Bear by Marianne Clay.
Teddy Bear Mission Statement
My purpose as your furry friend is to provide comfort, warmth and the ability to relieve stress and/or sorrow by giving unconditional acceptance, love, and reassurance. By being soft, fuzzy, and cuddly my unrelenting compassion and under- standing will always love you the way you are, provide relief, make you laugh, give you a hug, and coax a smile.
I promise you can count on me to be an eager listener, confidante, and loyal friend.
8/28/07: We recently delivered teddy bears to Bridging Arizona Furniture Bank.
Visit their website: Bridgingaz.org
Dear Rev, J,
Wanted to share some real Angels that adopted our Church Bears! What a wonderful organization Lisa found to sponsor. What a blessing that evening was!
Love and Angel Hugs,
Patty
