Compiled by the creator of the bestselling Stories for the Heart series, Stories for a Faithful Heart features devotional readings to lift spirits, warm hearts, and touch souls. Highlighting the work of today's most respected Christian authors -- such as Max Lucado, Kay Arthur, and Billy Graham -- Stories for a Faithful Heart offers true inspiration and solid take-away value to readers of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of maturity. Ideal for both personal use and gift-giving, this devotional exposes readers to a wide range of writings, all nudging them ever closer to the Lord. Alice Gray is an inspirational conference speaker and the creator and compiler of the bestselling Stories for the Heart book series, with over 5 million in print. She and her husband, Al, live in Arizona. Stories for a Faithful Heart Over One Hundred Treasures to Touch Your Soul By Alice Gray Multnomah Publishers Copyright © 2006 Alice Gray All right reserved. ISBN: 9781601420039 Chapter One LAVENDER MEMORIES * * * Sandra Picklesimer Aldrich and Bobbie Valentine From Heartprints A s Cotha Prior strolled past the new shop that sold bodylotions and soaps, the lavender-wrapped bars displayedin the window caught her attention. Her daughter, Monica, wouldlike those. Once inside, Cotha picked up the closest bar and held it to hernose. The fragrance carried her back to her childhood. She remembered Margie, the little girl in her fifth grade class whoalways was poorly dressed and whose bathing habits were, well, not one ofher regular habits. Even at that young age, Cotha knew how important theopinions of her friends were, so although she felt sorry for Margie, she couldn'trisk being friends with her. Then one afternoon, as the young Cotha colored the states on herhomework worksheet, she casually mentioned Margie to her mother, whostopped in the middle of stirring the stew to ask, "What's her family like?" Cotha didn't look up. "Oh, really poor, I guess," she answered. "Well, it sounds as though she needs a friend," Mrs. Burnett said. "Whydon't you invite her to spend Friday night with you?" Cotha looked up quickly then. "You mean here? Spend the night withme? But, Mom, she smells ." "Cotha Helen." Her mother's use of both names meant the situation wassettled. There was nothing to do but invite Margie home. The next morningCotha hesitantly whispered the invitation at the end of recess while herfriends were hanging up their jackets and combing their hair. Margie lookedsuspicious, so Cotha added, "My mother said it's okay. Here's a note from mymother to give to yours." So two days later they rode the school bus home while Cotha tried toignore the surprised looks on her friends' faces as they saw the two of themtogether. Have two fifth grade girls ever been quieter? Cotha thought of othertimes when she'd been invited to spend the night with a friend. They wouldtalk and giggle all the way to their stop. Finally Cotha gave a determined little huff and said to Margie, "I've gota cat. She's going to have kittens." Margie's eyes lit up. "Oh, I like cats." Then she frowned as though recallinga painful memory and added, "But my dad doesn't." Cotha didn't know what to say then, so she feigned interest in somethingoutside the school bus window. Both girls were silent until the bus rolled to a stop in front of the whitehouse with the green shutters. Mrs. Burnett was in the kitchen. She greeted Cotha and Margie warmlyand then gestured toward the table set with two glasses of milk and bananabread. "Why don't you girls have a little snack while I tend to dinner," shesaid. When the banana bread was finished, Mrs. Burnett handed each childidentical paper-doll books and blunted scissors. Dressing the paper womenin shiny dresses gave them something in common to talk about. By the timethey washed their hands for dinner, they were chatting enthusiastically aboutschool. After the dishes were done, Mrs. Burnett said, "Time to take a bathbefore bed, girls." Then she held out scented soaps wrapped in lavenderpaper. "Since this is a special night, I thought you might like to use fancysoaps," she said. "Cotha, you first, and I'll wash your back for you." Then it was Margie's turn. If she was nervous about having an adultbathe her, she didn't show it. As the tub filled, Mrs. Burnett poured in a doublecapful of her own guarded bubble bath. "Don't you just love bubble baths,Margie?" she asked as though the child bathed in such luxury every day. She turned to pull Margie's grimy dress over her head, then said, "I'lllook away as you take the other things off, but be careful climbing into thetub. That brand of bubble bath makes it slippery." Once Margie was settled into the warm water, Mrs. Burnett knelt downand soaped the wet washcloth heavily before rubbing it over the child's back. "Oh, that feels good," was all Margie said. Mrs. Burnett chatted about how quickly Cotha and Margie were growingand what lovely young