Comments on: “Tender Hearts”

By: belinda

belinda — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:06:01 +0000

I love this story! Madi is such a sweetheart and such a great reflection of the parents who have raised her. She has two of the best examples on a daily basis to watch, learn from and to help her grow into such a wonderful young lady. You and Russ are two of the most loving and giving people. Madi is following in great footsteps.

By: BrownEyedGirl

BrownEyedGirl — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:15:34 +0000

That post is just beautiful. It warmed my heart. I’m speechless.

Wendy

By: Ben Jones

Ben Jones — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:00:13 +0000

Tori,
I really enjoyed the story and also got a great laugh out of it. With eight children ranging from 19 years to almost 2, my wife has so many stories too as you could well imagine. As I look at my oldest daughter if she were to marry soon, and my wife and I continue to have more children beyond # 9 which is due in January, my youngest child would be younger than my first grandchild. There are no prospects in the wings as of yet though. Anyway, I appreciate the way that you pay enough attention to your daughter and her mind that you wan’t to know what she is thinking, and care what she is thinking. I think that she and my 17 year old daughter Elizabeth would get along great. I have children that have had that same “Tender Heart”. Perhaps it has something to do with them having an excentric Southern Gospel Singing father too. My children give me a hard time about that sometimes, I am always singing and can’t seem to get enough. By the way while I am thinking about it, no I am not related to Guy and Angie (Elizabeth wouldn’t have her feelings hurt if she one day married into his family though. I have the girls and he has the boys. My count is 6 girls to 2 boys.) And when Russ introduced himself to me I think I did hear him call Bill dad. When I see Russ in November, how many glo sticks does he need?
Ben
P.S Elizabeth want’s to know if Madi could e-mail her through my web site. If you need any references as to who I am you could ask any of the Beenes or Rodney Griffin.

By: gracelynn

gracelynn — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:38:35 +0000

That was absolutely beautiful and very heart touching Tori! And themema is right – Madi gets it honestly from her wonderful mother and father because you both have incredibly loving hearts. I look so often at some of the kids I teach and think how wonderful it would be to be able to turn back time and be that age again KNOWING what I know now. If only we could turn back time right? LOL Before the wounds of life have left us battle scarred and weary. It will almost make you envious to see a child like that.

My heart goes out to you Ann. I suffered emotional and verbal abuse as a teen and it leaves lasting scars as well. I am thankful you have found a loving husband to help you through your battle. And God has certainly used and continue to use Tori and Russ in a powerful way to help me with mine.

By: aerobertson

aerobertson — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:31:17 +0000

Hi, Tori, I had the Christian TV station on when Russ was interviewed on M. Carullo’s program today. He spoke lovingly of your encouragement as he fought childhood demons. The past ten years as I have fought the memories of childhood incest, the Lord has used my husband to pour healing and unconditional love from God’s heart. It’s been years since we knew each other at HSHS. (I was the older and “sensitive” one.) Just know I will be praying that God will continually use yours and Russ’s brokeness to bring His healing to others. It definitely keeps us before Him. I appreciate both of you and your ministries. The PTL lyrics still encourage me; I share them verbatim with others. I loved your tender heart essay. God’s arm is not too short and His healing is always complete. In Him, Ann

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:34:48 +0000

The tender heart and the old-soul in Madi are what you sense immediately in this beautiful and seemingly wise-beyong-her-years young girl. I loved the story of her “listening” to the mother duck talk to her. It just shows that Madi hasn’t really changed much through the years. Even to the vocation she has chosen…..working with the less fortunate in life. I believe this precious daughter has taken the very best from her parents and she will take on the world with every confidence in her tomorrow.

By: morgitta

morgitta — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:24:37 +0000

You certainly have a way with words. I envie it.
I recognise the fear for what life will bring to a sensitive child, even with the wisdom and strenght that seems to come along with it.
It took me a lifetime to surrender to life in a way my kids are able to do in their twenties, but as the world gets crazier by the minute …
I only had a brief encounter with Mady on the net, but she struck me as a wonderful person. She’s in my mind a lot.

By: themema

themema — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:25:35 +0000

Another beautiful example of your own tender heart and loving soul. One who never risks love and being hurt, never really lives. And one who can both feel and then write as you do, has a very special gift that comes from God.

I agree with rockin robyn about the older parents. My parents were older…. Mom 39 and Dad 52 when I was his first born. Gads, Dad could have been my granddad, and I have come to realize that his wisdom was one of the greatest blessings of my life. I wish that my children had received the advantage of the wisdom one begins to attain a decade later than I was when I had to learn so much at their expense.

By: LindaB

LindaB — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:07:47 +0000

Well, my goodness, THAT was BEAUTIFUL! When I feel all “lump-in-my-throaty”, I call my mother. YOU write an essay! That is very cool! And “literary”!

You’re right, we mothers are sorta “born” anew when we have kids——-EVERYTHING is different then, we might as well! We even get a new name——MOMMY!

By: rockin robyn

rockin robyn — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:07:59 +0000

That was simply beautiful… what a wonderful study of your child back then.

Not having children of my own I just see/witness so many parents that don’t even know their children, they don’t have a clue who they are or who they have the potential to become.

I think there is something to be said about becoming parents later in life after living life and dealing with lifes battles and the scars earned from them… I think then those children are created to bring peace and a teaching to make life more simpler and serve more as a gift. Tori, you have such a beautiful and special read on your girls and it’s not a sickening brag on “your kids” either and if that is felt by just me as a reader of your “blog” I know it must be genuine. “that they gave birth to you too”… what an awesome thought and I think it could be true!

I think Madi Rose is still talking to the animals… I commented on this before but I think that shark just wanted to kiss an angel here on earth and just got too aggressive with all those teeth!!

By: dijea

dijea — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:53:26 +0000

I truly enjoyed that! Could Madi Rose come help me talk to one of my cats? I just can’t figure out why he’s so skittish.

I totally believe in the “old soul” regardless that its not your run-of-the-mill christian belief. My youngest reminds me so much of my grandfather and he had a look on his face that was soooooo Pop and instead of calling out Hunter. I say “Pop” and he looked up at me and said “Yes.” I know its probably just genetics, but he is so like my beloved Pop that I can’t just help but wonder.