Babs Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. 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 and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. 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?"

"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."

"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?"

"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."

"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, perhaps."

I left the stand 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.

Several years went by, each more rapid that 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 viewing 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 mentioned the story she had told me about the 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.

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 right where you left them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY…

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.  Ps. 69:10

The canoe creaked once, twice, then a seam began to split. Water rushed in through the gap and filled the bottom of the small boat. The nearest bank was hundreds of feet away, and the current was swift. Jill and Ann began to scream and bail water as fast as they could. Trying to fight panic, they grabbed hold of their life jackets and plunged into the river.  Their camp counselor saw their plights and acted. She moved up on them quickly and fished them out of the strong current.  As we fight to stay afloat in life, it seems like new leaks spring up every day.  Luckily, the Lord of the fleet is watching over us, and He will never let the water rise above our heads.  His loving kindness keeps us afloat and rescues us when troubled waters threaten us.  

Thank You, Lord, for being an island in the stream, where I can climb out of the water, rest from the struggle, and renew myself for the swim ahead.

I love the bamboo story - I heard it a few years back - it was a GREAT re-visit!

Cheers

Sometimes we think we can't make a difference in our world. But that is blatantly untrue.

Many years ago there was fifth grade school teacher who had one of those 'unlovable' students. He didn't get along with the other students. His clothes were always messy and he was constantly in need of a bath. He was an unpleasant boy and a constant irritant. It got to the point where she actually enjoyed marking huge X's across his papers and finished them off with big, red F's at the top.

One of the school's requirements for teachers was that they review each child's past records. But she had put off reading his until last; the first semester was nearly done and she knew she had to fulfill this duty. As she read through the years of teachers' notes she found that he had been a well-liked and excellent student but had suffered through his mother's terminal illness and death. His resultant behavior was not understood by the other students and he was treated poorly. His grades began to suffer and he became withdrawn and apathetic toward school and life.

His fifth grade teacher was now embarrassed and disturbed by her own behavior. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas gifts. Most were nicely wrapped in colorful paper and pretty bows. But one was wrapped clumsily in a brown paper bag. The teacher recognized it immediately and made a point of opening it in the middle of all the others. Within it she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a partial bottle of perfume. She didn't hesitate to dab the perfume on her wrists and put on the bracelet.

After class that day, the young boy lingered after class and told her she smelled just like his mother.

On that day she quit teaching math, reading and writing and started teaching children.

She paid particular attention to her "new-found" student and he began to thrive under her tutelage. The more she encouraged him the faster he responded and by the end of the year he was her best and brightest student.

As the years went by, she would receive notes and letters from him telling her how she had changed his life and that she was the best teacher he'd ever had. Eventually he graduated college, and became a medical doctor.

Then one spring day she received a letter stating he was getting married. His father had since died and he wanted to know if she would agree to sit in the place usually reserved for the groom's mother.

Of course she did. And she wore a rhinestone bracelet with some stones missing and the perfume he'd given her so many years ago.

After the wedding service, the newly married doctor whispered in her ear, "Thank you for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

With tears in her eyes she whispered back, "You have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

We make choices every day of how we will treat others. Here at Together We Can Change the World -- we believe it takes each of us choosing to treat one another with respect to make a difference in our world.

Will you join us in making the choices that build bridges instead of walls? Will you join us in reaching out a helping hand instead of turning away in judgmental indifference?

You may not be able to change the world -- but the smallest word or gesture of kindness can change the world for someone else!

For more information on Together We Can Change the World, just click on the link at the bottom of this post.

http://www.mypowermall.com/mall/2036