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Friday, May 2, 2008

RED MARBLES

Someone sent this to me last week and with the global food crisis that is upon us PLEASE spare a moment to think of those who are less fortunate and do your part to help them ease their burden.

I was at the corner grocery store buying someearly 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 thosepeas?'
'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 isblue 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 thatIdaho 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..

26 comments:

illlaaa said...

nice post....vist my blog tooo..click here

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a story!
Love the music on your blog!

Lucy in Pickering

LadyJava said...

Wah touching story GK..

Just dropped my hot EC card as well...happy weekend GK!!!

Jackie said...

Hi GK,
Well I finally made it over. And, wow what a wonderful and inspiribg story.

I wish that more people around the world knew that America is full of wonderful people.

I pray everyday for all of this nightmare to be over. and, we can once again be a country that in the past always helped so many around the world.

It was so good to see you. I am doing my level best to make the rounds and revisit everyone!!

I hope all is well with you and your lovely family!!

Now I have to go do some drops. I am new to this so it is taking me a while to figure it out.

Peace and blessings to you and yours,
Jackie

Mariuca said...

Thanks for the story GK. I hope you're well-rested and ready for another week of studying, working, blogging and gaming? :)

LadyJava said...

GK!! I need your help

Could you please change the link of the Red Hot Drops badge image to this new one..

Just look for this line...

http://ladyjava.googlepages.com/redhotdrop.jpg

and replace it with this line

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t127/ladyjavva/redhotdrop.jpg

Thank you and please treat this as an urgent request ya :)

LJ

SUSAN SONNEN said...

I'm bawling. Thank you for sharing this.

Mariuca said...

Hi GK! First Time Dad is over at Mariuca's for the first time today YAY! Am sickish la GK, but just wanna drop by and say hello! And alakazam! :):):)

Hazel said...

thanks for sharing, Happy Mother's Day

Anonymous said...

"Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our."

I just hope people who read this post follow Mr. Miller's example. We can all do our part to make our world a better place for our children.

Before reading your blog, I was contemplating in leaving the teaching profession. Most of my students are like those 3 little boys. I guess I'm at the right place all along.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hi There ~ EC Red Hot Dropping in!
Great Read - also, you've been Tagged!

Read the rules on my blog!

Cindi @ Moomettesgram's Musings

Unknown said...

HI Illlaaa! Thanks...will drop by soon! Thanks for the visit! :)

Unknown said...

Hi Lucy!! Yes it was a really touching story! :) In this day and age where we don't have time for each other we should at least spare a thought for the less fortunate! :)

Unknown said...

HIi LJ!! Thanks for the visist and dropping by with the EC card. :)

Nice story huh! :)

Unknown said...

HI LJ!! Sucha nice heart waring story huh!! Thanks for dropping! :)

Adrian said...

HI Jackie!! Nice to see you over here again! :) Yes that story is truly inspiring!

I agree that America is filled with wonderful people and I know quite a few Americans personally too so I'm not just saying that. I think they can be the most hospitable and friendly folks around sometimes!

I hope your prayers ae answered Jackie!! Peace to you and your family! :)

Adrian said...

Hi GP!! It took me a week just to get to my comments so you can only imagine right LOL Been sick and had classes and headache with new maid....tired of complaining!! Cheers and happy that you like the story....not original but still thought provoking! :)

Adrian said...

LJ!! Did what you asked sorry to let you know so late! :)

Adrian said...

Hi Susan Welcome! It's really very touching to see that kindness is so easy to spread and that it can bear fruits if nurtured well! :)

Adrian said...

HI GP!! I Was there to see it...just didn't have time to say so! it did look nice! Thanks for getting me involved in EC! :)

Adrian said...

HI Hazel!! Happy mother's day to you too! :)

Adrian said...

Chris!! Welcome! You know that is the best thing that anyone has said in a long while!! I want to frame it up...because it has made my blogging worth more valuable now! I really appreciate your comment and am so glad that you will continue teaching!

You know I've just started studying myself and it's been tough...but the big difference is now I appreciate my teachers more.

God Bless! :)

Adrian said...

HI Cindi!! Wlecome and thanks for the tag...will try to get to it...really am behind in my tags!! :(

Cheers and happy Mothers day! :)

Mariuca said...

Oh yeah...how's ur new maid coming along? Must be tiring to retrain a new one yeah? Hope wifey is coping alright and Ellie too.

Anyway, in order to cheer myself up from yesterday, I decided to do a meme, and guess what? Yup! You're it! Have fun GK lol... :)

http://mariuca.blogspot.com/2008/05/age-that-i-wish-to-go-back-to.html

Adrian said...

GP! Don't let me get started on th enew maid...if I could turn back the clock I'd probably keep the old one for another year or two or at least until the course ends. The new one is willing...it's her capabilities that we're worried about! Especially in taking cae of the little one and her presence of mind...if there is one DOH!!

Hey thanks for the tag...it loks pretty fun...will try of course to do it but don;t hold your breath LOL Cheers GP! :)

NH Yocal said...

Such a wonderful story.