Red Marbles

I got a forward today that contained a story that I thought I would share.  It reminded me how a person can impact another person's life.  I got this today as my heart is heavy for several people I know who have loss loved ones recently.  One of the lives recently lost was a neice of a lady I work with.  The girl, Sarah, was 30 years old but was diagnosed at the age of 25 with breast cancer which had spread to her brain.  She fought hard for 5 years but left for a better place this morning.  During this time she never loss her belief in God or her willpower to fight.  She was a inspiration to many and touched many peoples lives as she continued to preach and tell God's message.  With this story I was also reminded that even the most simplest gestures count and life is too short to not enjoy day as it comes, good or bad.

Red Marbles

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 appraising 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. 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.

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.