Story With A Message

Country music has a unique place in the heart of America. It often tells a story we've been through. It's a music to which we can relate. It's a music we can feel. Sad or glad, it's a music that brings out raw emotion. Thankfully, country music doesn't always take itself seriously. Sometimes, it can be downright funny. Today's podcast is about some of those funny songs. Don't be surprised if some...

Draven Jackson, a blogger and teacher, said, "Throughout my life, I've discovered that in almost any situation I found myself in, it was the words of my mother that were the best advise to remember." I'll bet many of the listeners to this podcast would say the same thing. On this Mother's Day, what a better time to celebrate the wisdom we received from our moms? Her words have always had our best...

Happy Birthday, Carol Burnett! On Apr 26th you turned 90 years old. How fitting that NBC honored you on that very day with a star-studded variety show called Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter and Love . You honored us with your comedic talent for many years. Some of us still watch The Carol Burnett Show in syndication on retro networks. On that show, you aways practiced your not-so-secret secret...

No wonder a child looks forward to a birthday. A birthday means another year has passed, and children love to feel older. It's an opportunity for them to feel special because the day is all about them. It's a day they are celebrated, and that often means they're honored with a party or some other special event. But let's be real. Perhaps the greatest reason they look forward to a birthday is becau...

Today we'll be talking about the song I Hope You Dance sung by Lee Ann Womack. She said, "What's great about I Hope You Dance is that it doesn't have a story, and so every listener can put their own story in it. That's one of the things that made it touch so many people." Vince Gill said, "I know it has hope in the title, but it really is a song of hope of wishing the absolute best for somebody. I...

History teaches us that age isn't always a deterrent to achievement. Stan Lee was almost 40 before his Marvel super heroes became legendary. At 46, Jack Nicklaus became the oldest man to win the Masters. Julia Child didn't publish her first cookbook until she was 50. At 62, J.R.R. Tolkien finished his first volume of the "Lord of the Rings." At 90, William Shatner became the oldest man to go into...

Happy Easter! Thanks for joining me on this most special day. Out of curiosity, I went to a certain website this week and entered in the word "Easter." Boy, did I get more than I anticipated! I want to share my findings with you. Just know... it happened on Easter! Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music p...

This week the unthinkable happened in Nashville, Tennessee. A shooter entered a small private school and took the lives of three 9-year-old children and three adults in their 60's. This senseless, tragic act has left us trying to process what just happened. This morning I want to take you inside me in my own personal struggle to understand. Hopefully, by just talking about it, will help both you a...

There's an ultramarathon called the Barkley Marathons that neither you nor I will ever run. It is an endurance race that only few will dare attempt. But we all are on a journey. You could say we're running an ultramarathon. It's called life. Perhaps we could learn something from the Barkley's. We'll talk about it in today's podcast. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.c...

Author Roy T. Bennett said, "Be an Encourager: When you encourage others, you boost their self-esteem, enhance their self-confidence, make them work harder, lift their spirits and make them successful in their endeavors. Encouragement goes straight to the heart and is always available. Be an encourager. Always." That's pretty much the message of today's podcast. Give it a listen. Want to contact m...

One time someone asked Yogi Berra, the great Yankee catcher, about the curious things he said. Yogi quickly responded, "I really didn't say everything I said!" That was the Yogi we knew and loved, and that was a perfect example of what came to be called a "Yogi-ism." Listen to today's podcast. Boy, do we have some Yogi-isms for you!    Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outloo...

I watched a video of a kindergarten teacher reading a book entitled We Are All Alike. We Are All Different . The illustrated children's book talked about how all children are alike and yet very different. For example, We all have skin, but not the same color. We all like to eat, but we don't like the same foods. We all like to play, but not in the same way. The lesson, of course, is that we're bot...

Someone said, "A hug is worth a thousand words." Someone else said, "A hug can say what words cannot." That's true. Sometimes words are insufficient, but a hug always seems to communicate that which cannot be spoken. Listen to today's podcast to see what a hug can do. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free musi...

Winston Churchill once said, "When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of an old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened." Well that's food for thought. So is today's podcast. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided...

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! This is the day we think about all things super. Super football teams. Super players. Super coaches. Super offenses. Super defenses. Super TV commercials. A super halftime show. Super gameday parties. Super meals and snacks. And, hopefully, a super football game. But all things super aren't just confined to this day or a game. We'll talk about it in today's podcast. Want t...

I was on reddit lately. The question was, "What is something you will never forget as long as you live." One poster said, "I will never forget when I was about five, I asked my blind grandpa why he always smiled. He said, 'Because I never know who is looking.'" I thought that was too cool, and it made me wonder what we consider to be unforgettable. Listen to today's podcast and we'll talk about it...

In his book, Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person , Hugh Prather said, "Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes." Now isn't that the truth? It may have us saying, "Mercy mercy me!" One thing we can count on is change. So, what should be our attitude towards change? Listen to today's podcast for a suggestion. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@...

Freelance writer Regan Olsson said, "While children often look to us as teachers, we often don't consider what they could be teaching us. Kids can teach us so much about living life, about having hope and making the most out of any situation. We could actually relearn a thing or two from them." I agree. And today's podcast makes a case. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlo...

You've heard the old expression "Live One Day at a Time." Well, Abigal Van Buren recommends it, and if Dear Abby embraces it, then maybe we should too. Listen to today's podcast for whole story. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by  ZakharValaha  on  Pixabay . Clink  HERE  for a direct link...

Who doesn't like a bonfire? Its glow is soothing. Its flames and sparks are mesmerizing. Its warmth is welcomed on a cool night. Sometimes a bonfire can even be therapeutic. How so? Listen to today's podcast for the answer. Who knows? Maybe you need a bonfire moment. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music...

I know Thanksgiving Day has already passed, but the time for gratitude is unending. In today's podcast, I simply want to pause, and say, "Thank you!" Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by  ZakharValaha  on  Pixabay . Clink  HERE  for a direct link to the music. The beautiful sunset background...

Sometimes Christmas doesn't find us in our most ideal circumstances. During WWII the small town of Wiltz, Luxembourg didn't have a chance. It had been overrun and occupied by the Nazi army. It had lost its male population, some being conscripted into the German army, some sent to concentration camps and others working in the resistance movement. Spirits were low. Christmas hadn't been celebrated i...

Norman Vincent Peale once said, "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. You know, I believe he's right. There's something about Christmas from it's origin until this present day. It's a magical time of the year that fills us with wonder, gratitude, love and joy. Ready for some Christmas magic? Listen to today's podcast. Want to contact me...

Christmas gifts come in many forms. Some are big, and some are small. Some are expensive and some are thrifty. Some are flashy and some are plain. Some are extravagant and some are modest. Some are expendable and others are needed. Today's story is about a Christmas gift that was needed, and it came at just the right time. Get ready for some Christmas magic as you listen to today's podcast. Want t...

Nanette Mathews said, "If you're always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you're in? Slow down and enjoy the moment you're in and live your life to the fullest." Today's podcast is a story that teaches that very point. Want to contact me? Send an email to  storywithamessage@outlook.com .   The intro and outro tune was adapted from royalty-free music provided by  ZakharValaha  on ...