|
03-26-2015, 11:15 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,054
|
A good story.....
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 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. Hmmmmm, 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 town, 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 had nice haircuts, wore 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 those boys. 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.
Send this to the people you'll never forget. I just did...
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.
__________________
Ours: '11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT followed closely by '14 Jeep 4 dr Wrangler.
Hers: '13 Explorer Sport - AWD 365hp twin turbo scooter!
Previous: '13 Ford F350 CC Platinum and '13 38GK
|
|
|
03-26-2015, 11:54 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407
|
Thanks for sharing that....it's appreciated
__________________
SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
|
|
|
03-27-2015, 01:20 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,032
|
Excellent story
Thank You
__________________
2015 36RL pushing a 2015 Denali
|
|
|
03-27-2015, 01:44 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 153
|
Outstanding story! We should all follow the example. Thanks for sharing
|
|
|
03-27-2015, 02:27 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,032
|
I would love to do this but my wife says I have lost all my marbles
__________________
2015 36RL pushing a 2015 Denali
|
|
|
03-27-2015, 02:48 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 747
|
Great story! Thanks for sharing.
Chris
|
|
|
03-27-2015, 04:49 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 500
|
Good story.
Mark
__________________
2013 36RE, 2008 GMC 3500CC DRW
|
|
|
03-27-2015, 04:39 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 545
|
Thank you!
Ken
|
|
|
03-28-2015, 07:59 PM
|
#9
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 44
|
beautiful story. thank you for sharing.
__________________
2013 36FL (my baby) behind 2008 GMC 3500 duramax with Allison transmission (his baby)
|
|
|
03-30-2015, 02:39 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 295
|
Awesome reminder to "pay it forward"... just because.
__________________
2014 RW36FB
2014 F-350 CC DRW, 25K Reese, Roll-n-Loc, Rhino Liner
'Half-timer' - Full time retired, tho!
Ken & Shelley
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|