I posted this at 11 pm last night, not to many up to see it, so just in case some others need a break from bad politics, bad news etc. here it is.
These days with so much pain, unemployment and the "whats in it for me" mindset, as i was stumbling i came across two sites that raised my spirits and realized how much good there is in the world. Sites where people tell stories about life, random acts of kindness or things that give them hope.
I want to share them and some of the stories from them here. Follow me below the fold to be inspired, to cry and to smile. 4th in my stumbles series
The first site is dedicated to stories of those helping others
They have kindness ideas, smile cards to hand out so others can pass it on and most importantly wonderful stories by real people.
I am going to reproduce the whole story of Three Red Marbles posted by Shilpa on Jun 15, 2009..i am not sure where to turn it off if i don't, plus its copyleft..others i will just to bits of and link you to the fulls 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' ti me."
"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. 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 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.
http://www.helpothers.org/...
This next story is called You Reap what you Sow.
The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president.. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
For the inspiring end and very special twist in this read the rest here:
You Reap what you Sow
Well here is another that i cant figure where to cut..so will post the whole..
A Baby's unconditional love and trust:
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.
His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.' Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed.
As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.
I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.' Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.' I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'
I had just witnessed real love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was blind, holding a child who was not.
http://www.helpothers.org/...
There is another site called givemehope.com where people send in snippets about those that have given hope to them. Some offerings from their site are:
I have a cousin who was born severely mentally challenged. Her younger brother has been taking care of her ever since he was old enough to understand. To this day, he is patient, he never gets upset when she breaks something or makes a mess, and he will always stay with her when no one else cares to. He's sixteen. His unconditional love GMH.
I have a cousin who was born severely mentally challenged. Her younger brother has been taking care of her ever since he was old enough to understand. To this day, he is patient, he never gets upset when she breaks something or makes a mess, and he will always stay with her when no one else cares to. He's sixteen. His unconditional love GMH.
My friend's father had passed away almost a year ago. His whole family was still upset, and though my friend was greatly affected, he knew his little brother missed his dad even more. He wrote his little brother a "note" from their dad in the heavens. His little brother cried as he read "dad's note". My friend GMH.
My friend's mom had cancer and wasn't given much time to live. The class heard about a legend where, if you make 1000 origami cranes, you get a wish. Her fifth gr class decided to make a thousand cranes to cure her mom's cancer. By the end of the year, there were 300 cranes. Her mom lived for years longer than she was supposed to. Fifth graders
A couple days before Christmas, I was visiting my Dad's house when he gave me the phone. It was my Grandma, diagnosed with lung cancer leaving her unable to speak completely. That night, she said to me perfectly clear, "I love you." She called me the one night she could talk just to tell me that. She never spoke again. Her love GMH.
More of the longer stories of acts of kindness:a few more stories << Prev | 91 - 120 of 671 | Next>>
The Importance of Getting It Right --by jimpa, Mar 22, 2009
A Box of Smiles With A Letter --by MakeSomeoneSmile, Mar 19, 2009
Homemade Smile Cards --by lobsterwife, Mar 17, 2009
The Circle of Giving and Receiving --by timcollardey, Mar 15, 2009
Let Someone Know You Are There --by MakeSomeoneSmile, Mar 13, 2009
Come Out and Play! --by irongrace, Mar 11, 2009
My One Wish For a Genie --by drcary, Mar 9, 2009
To Africa, "With Love" --by sirlancalot, Mar 8, 2009
The Woman Outside the Cinema --by marjincharge, Mar 8, 2009
Two Sides of Wisdom --by misscloud, Mar 6, 2009
Healing the Hurt in Others --by smilingsusan, Mar 4, 2009
Children Watch and Learn From Us --by wayfarer, Mar 1, 2009
Sharing a Mother's Pain --by happytogive, Feb 26, 2009
The Domino Effect of Sack Lunches --by jcole, Feb 24, 2009
Handmade Hugs --by Shannanigans, Feb 22, 2009
The Shop That Stayed Open on Christmas --by UrbanAshram, Feb 19, 2009
Emergency Rescue by a Father and His Sons --by speedi, Feb 18, 2009
Uncovering the Naked Beauty of My Soul --by pulse, Feb 15, 2009
A Touching Gift From My Nurse --by whatthe, Feb 13, 2009
A New Old Friend --by sailorgrl, Feb 11, 2009
You All Are Heroes! --by Lisha, Feb 8, 2009
Scouts Honor on a Full Flight --by makingyousmile, Feb 5, 2009
The Moment That Didn't Need Words --by wayfarer, Feb 2, 2009
Being There When He Needed It Most --by wayfarer, Jan 30, 2009
Walking Away with an Open Heart --by ktt1701, Jan 27, 2009
The Wisdom of Old Ted --by jimpa, Jan 23, 2009
The More I Understand, The Less I Know --by makingyousmile, Jan 20, 2009
My Son, My Hero --by babdiane7, Jan 17, 2009
You Came Here To Do Great Things --by helpinghand, Jan 14, 2009
Uncle Unconditional --by nila, Jan 11, 2009
We need to take the time to read and find and pass on the kindesses that lift our spirits, allowing us to get through the next day or weeks when times are tough.
I just wanted to share some of the many i stumbled upon tonight