A LESSON OF LIFE

Read the following and have a GREAT day!

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I
noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of
fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation
between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas.
They
sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?'

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me
see
it' said Miller.'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I
sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store
owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next
trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.
With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our
community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to
bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they
come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he
doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce
for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip
to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A
short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of
this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.
Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho
community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They
were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to
go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell
into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever
words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army
uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white
shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller,
standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke
briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes
followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed
his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the
mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and
reminded her of the story from those many years ago
and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for
marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand
and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you
about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded'
them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or
size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she
confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in
Idaho .'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her
deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red
marbles.

The Moral :
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that
take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of
coffee you didn't make yourself... An unexpected phone call from an old
friend .... Green stoplights on your way to work...The fastest line at
the grocery store... A good sing-along song on the radio... Your keys
found right where you left them.


IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT
KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that
take our breath.

Napaka ganda ng mensaheng ito, sana ay namnamin natin at isagawa sa pang-araw araw. Ang kabutihan at pagtulong sa kapwa ay parang sa Diyos mo na rin ginagawa!