My Dream

"...For thine is the kingdom, the power, & the glory forever. Amen"
Mom: Alright Bishoy, are you done praying?
Me: Yes mom
Mom: Alright get to bed now, good night
Me: good night mom, good night dad
Mom & Dad: good night Bishoy
Me: That night I felt I had the Lord right in front of me, watching my every move, making sure I get a good nights rest, but today was a different day. My dream was very long & and it even seemed as though it was about my entire life on Earth. It was very unordinary in the sense that I felt I was awake, you may think its a day dream, but no it isn't which makes it even more confusing. I met a really tall guy with a gentle heart, he helped me up when I was down, he was there as a supporter, as a guider, as everything else, he gave me two wooden tablets with 10 things written on them & then told me to follow them as rules, then he took the honor of opening a door for me, all he said after that was, "may the Lord be with you my son"..."I am always here beside you if you need any help, and if you think I'm not there always remember I am and always will be"..."Rebana ye shagak yabni" I was sort of scared for what was going to happen next, but I was still anticipating it. Right when I entered the place behind the door, it was like a dark valley with 'seemed to be mean people', then I noticed there were 2 places, one with a wide door, that was dark and had a long stairway, and the other a narrow door that was full of light and had a short stairway. I was nervous that I wouldn't know which one to choose, I thought that the only way to pass through all these mean and evil people is to bring them along, so I acquainted with them, then we all decided on what to do, and where to go. We wanted to first get the place with the wide door over with, so all did the sign of the cross and then entered. There were [devils] people with red eyes that were vicious, we tried to be nice to them, they stuck out their tongues at us. We then all rushed out of there, well tried to anyways, then a big devil, I'm assuming possibly the ruler of them shut the door on us. We tried to pray and recite verses, we noticed the more we brought Christ into our hearts and close to them the weaker they became. Each one of us recited our favorite verse and names of our favorite saints, and then in harmony we all then recited Psalm 50 and then the Beatitudes. The ruler became weaker and on accident fell and opened the door for us. We all rushed out of there. We definitely regretted going there in the first place, it was a ridiculous idea, but with a good lesson as to why God made us do that. We got our and thankfully  were safe, but injured from some scares. We rushed into the narrow door. It was a beautiful garden filled with beautiful flowers and great background music, [it was actually the angels singing] we kept on walking all happy, everyone was in a great mood, there I met the Guy that gave me the two tablets. I finally remembered who he was. I knelt down before him and started weeping, he pulled my chin up and asked me why I was crying. I told him that "I don't deserve to be here oh Lord, look at all the amazing things your beloved saints did and I made you get crucified on the Cross because of all the bad things I committed. I wish for true repentance, please oh Lord forgive me and forgive my friends for all our many sins. All of a sudden we all knelt down and then something remarkable happened, all our scares disappeared. We tried to see if any of our bruises were there, they weren't We looked up, God was sitting on the throne, and saint Mary by him, and the marvelous saints surrounding them, and angels surrounding all of them. God opened his arms and we all rushed to hug him, it wasn't that kind of normal hug, no it was warm, cuddly, and soothingly comfy. Jesus fit everyone, he didn't leave any one person he all loved us why would he exclude us from anything. Then I said, "Jesus, why is the world so cruel?" he then replied, "Son, the world is complicated and full of frustration, people have tough lives that they brought upon themselves, I gave them what they needed to be provided with, but they are still greedy, they always need what they don't have." I said, "If just only they felt your hug."..."I am not worthy to be called your son, so make me one of your hired servants." ~Luke 15:19.
Mom: Bishoy, wake up, wake up
Me: Mom!! I HAD THE MOST AMAZING DREAM EVER
Mom: Well, someone is here to visit you
Guest: Hi Bishoy, do you remember me?
Me: YOU'RE THE GUY FROM MY DREAM, MOM THIS IS JESUS, THIS IS JESUS!!!!!!
Mom: Where did he go?? Where did Jesus go??
Me: He disappeared mom!! (in sadness) he disappeared.
[Mom leaves the room]
Jesus: Bishoy
Me: Jesus? Jesus, is that really you?
Jesus: Yes Bishoy it's me, I want you to remember this dream, you may wake up now, you are now with me in the Kingdom of God, wake up my son!!

The Pink Dress

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park.

Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad.

Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by.

She never tried to speak.

She never said a word.

Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if
the little girl would still be there.

Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was
yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl.

For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for
young children to play alone.

As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress.

It was grotesquely shaped.

I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort
to speak to her.

Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you
make a step toward assisting someone who is different.

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my
intent stare.

As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly.

She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.

I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello."

The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare
into my eyes.

I smiled and she shyly smiled back.

We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.

I asked the girl why she was so sad.

The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm
different."

I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled.

The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said,
"Really?"
"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch
over all people walking by."

She nodded her head yes, and smiled.

With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings
to spread, then she said "I am."

"I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things.

She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job
here is done".

I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an
angel?"

She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.

And with that, my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you.

Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you.

Make sure you send it back to the person who sent it to you, to
let them know you're glad they care about you.

Like the story says, we all need someone...

And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way.

The value of a friend is measured in the heart.

I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.

The Girl Next Door

>>I was walking home from school, when I saw a moving truck arrive

>>Than a girl and her family came out of the car

>>I went inside my house, and I asked my parents who they are

>>My mom said, "They are our new neighbors, they just moved in today"

>>Than my dad said, "They have a girl, and she's the same age as you, maybe in Sunday School you might meet her and get to know her better"

>>The next day I went to Church, and I was a deacon there, so after church, Sunday School arrived...

>>The girl next door came in when we just started the lesson, she asked the Sunday School Servant, "Is this the 8th grade room?"

>>Our Sunday School Servant responded, "yes, and what is your name?"

>>"My name is Demiana"

>>Demiana came and sat next to me, she was really intelligent, and also went to my school.

>>It's been 3 weeks since Demiana moved next door, we became best friends and played after we were finished with homework

>>She was a great person to meet, she was very intelligent, and very silent, and she began to teach Sunday School lessons to us!

>>Me and Demiana, always played together after school, she loved to play football, SHE WAS A GREAT QUARTERBACK, she loved to play basketball, SHE LEARNED IN 2 DAYS HOW TO SLAM-DUNK, and her ultimate favorite sport was soccer.

>>Demiana knew how to play the piano really well, she taught
me some of the songs, and she had lots of favorites, she loved to play Carol of the Bells, Fur Elise, and Swan Lake

>>One day, Demiana had an asthma attack, she couldn't breathe when we were in gym, she didn't get hit or hurt, it automatically came, so the gym teacher called 911 and the ambulance came in a flash, I asked the guy if I can come with her in the car, and I asked the gym teacher if I could go with her, she said it was fine, so I went with her, she could hardly see me talking to her, I prayed to God from the time she had it till she was in the hospital

>>When we got to the hospital, the first thing I did was ask the doctors if I can use the phone, they let me, and than I called Demiana's parents, and my parents were at their house, so they came as fast as they could

>>I told them what happened, and than the doctor came and said they need to have her in the room by herself, so we had to get out, than I felt someone's hand grasping at mine and pulling me softly, and than I turned around and saw Demiana wanting me to stay, she kept on pointing and making signals to the doctor so I can stay, she made me stay, so the doctor accepted, Demiana couldn't open her eyes all the way, but she knew who she was talking to!

>>I watched as the doctors put the air tube on her mouth, she looked like there was no hope, but I kept praying, all day

>>The next day I didn't go to school, we slept at the hospital, and the doctors were up all night till 1:00 AM

>>Demiana slept, and the next morning I went to go check on her from the window, she opened her eyes and waved

>>I saw the nurse bringing her the food, and than she asked me "do you want to bring her the food instead?", I replied, "sure"

>>I brought Demiana her food, and said, "good morning, are you feeling any better" she started making hand gestures as a pen and a piece a paper, so I looked in the room and kept on searching for a piece of paper and pen, than I said, "hold on Demiana, I have my backpack outside" I went and got a pen and a piece of paper, and than she wrote down, "...I can't really breathe well, my throat hurts"

>>I said, "May God be with you", than she smiled

>>I fed her, and everytime she looked like she was going to throw up, I said, "are you ok" she nodded

>>I said, "can you try to stand up?", the doctors wanted me to help, because she wanted me to be in the room, if they did anything to her, even to feed her, they wanted me to ask her if she could try to stand, she wrote, "Only if God can help me" I smiled and said, "May God Be With You"

>>She got up very steady, and than she wrote where is the soccerball?" I laughed, I said "be right back" I went and got the soccer ball, than I heard her say, "Please God help me" She could speak now, it was easier for her, when God helped her, I started making communications with her, and she started speaking more often, for some people asthma is continous, and will keep happening, and for others who are lucky it can stop!

>>Demiana is feeling better, and she was on her feet in no time!

>>May the prayers of the saints be with us all AMEN!

One Day

<<One day, I passed by a poor fellow,
<<I asked him what his name was, he didn't answer
<<He had 3 signs next to him,
<<He pointed to the first sign, it read--"My name is Michael"
<<He pointed to the second sign, it read--"I can't hear and can't speak"
<<He pointed to the third sign, it read--"I wish for God to let me hear and speak like everyone else"
<<He would also have paper and pencils next to him, so he can write to people that visit him once in a while!
<<Than he pointed to the sky, and than give me a smile, it was one of those smiles that had great emotion!
<<He had a bed sheet, that he slept on, and a wool blanket the fit him, to cover him, and had a glass of water next to him, that looked like it was very old, so I came by the next day, and brought Michael a clean glass of water, and had a sign that read--"would you like to come with me to the park to play"
<<He wrote, "yes, please"
<<Than he got up, I saw that his shirt was torn up and his pants weren't very clean"
<<I took him to the park, and I brought my football, basketball, soccerball, and volleyball
<<He brought his paper and pencils with too, than I wrote to him, "what game would you like to play first?"
<<He wrote, "soccer"
<<So we played soccer, than football, and than basketball, than he wrote, "I am tired"
<<I wrote, "How about you come home with me tonight?"
<<He wrote, "Sure, if your parents don't mind"
<<I wrote, "Don't worry you can sleep on my bed, and I'll sleep in my sleeping bag"
<<He gave me a GREAT smile!
<<The next day, I woke Michael up, and wrote, "we are going to eat breakfast"
<<He came to the eating table, and didn't even wash his hands
<<I wrote, "come with me" he followed
<<I took him to my room first, gave him some clothes to borrow, and than took him to the bathroom, and made him change and showed him how to wash his hands, he came out, and he showed me something, he gave me a picture, I saw it, and he wrote "this is my family"
<<I smiled and wrote, "where are they now?"
<<He pointed to the sky, he had a mom and dad, and 1 sister, he wrote down his sister's name and where she was, "my sister was my best friend, her name was Marina, and she was an angel, she would teach me, and she was the one that taught me how to write, now I think she is being raised up at my aunt's and uncle's.
<<I wrote, "do you know the names of your aunt and uncle?"
<<He wrote, "yes, Mary Youssef and John Youssef"
<<I gave him a smile!
<<The next day, it was Sunday, I would go to the liturgy, and I asked Michael, "Have you ever been to church before?"
<<He wrote, "yes, I am coptic christian like you"
<<I gave him a smile!
<<He would follow along with the deacons and Abouna as we sang and someone would point to where we are, but he dressed up casually this time, and I let him borrow my Sunday clothes, he wrote, "I can't keep borrowing from you clothes, I think God is telling me that I need to get my own"
<<I wrote, "How about we go shopping, tomorrow"
<<He wrote, "Sure, thank you very much"
<<That night me and Michael prayed, he wrote down something and I would say it, but what was most frequent line he wrote was, "PLEASE GOD, please please let me hear and speak, like everyone else" he kept on pointing to the same paper for many times.
<<The next day I woke up and heard someone talking, I took a glimpse, and then I saw Michael praying, I actually heard him, WOW, I thought to himself
<<I told Michael, "I CAN ACTUALLY speak to you? Can you hear me?"
<<Michael said, "Stephen, I can actually speak now, God made a miracle to me and it HAPPENED"
<<"Before I slept, I called your aunt Mary and uncle John, they had Marina over, Michael I have their address right here."
<<"Stephen, oh my, THANK YOU, I owe you, you are my best friend in the world, would you please come with me to meet my aunt and uncle and my sister?"
<<"I don't know Michael, are you sure I should?"
<<"Of course, you are my brother"
<<"Michael you are truly my brother too, I am an only child, and you are exactly as a brother is to me!"
That after noon..............................
<Knock, Knock>
<<"Aunt Mary, Uncle John, hello?"
<<Aunt Mary and Uncle John, didn't recognize Michael's voice
<Opening Door>
<<Aunt Mary and Uncle John, had this bright smile on their face, they can't believe their eyes when they saw their nephew speaking for the first time, because Michael was deaf and dumb
<<There was Marina, couldn't see her eyes, she saw her brother
<<Aunt Mary and Uncle John told us to come sit down
<<Than Michael talked about his experiences on the street, and than brought up the point when he met me, and how I took him into our house, and let him sleep over for a couple of days, than everyone smiled and Aunt Mary and Uncle John thanked me, and than Marina, hugged Michael, and was very happy and starting bringing down joyful tears
<<She told Michael she was all done with college, but Michael is still going to college, she said she would like to begin a family, as I got to know Marina I began getting interested in her personality, she was very kind, and very sweet, and also polite, she was hoping for a bright future

5 years later

<<Me and Marina are married now, and had 3 children, Mina, and Aleria 4 years old, twins, and Youstina, 1 years old! And me and Michael have finally become brothers-in-law, and Michael finally entered college for 5 years then graduated!!