IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER!

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?'  'Hello, Mr. Miller. I’m just fine, thank ya.  Was jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'  She’s fine and 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. Hmm mmm, 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.’ She said.  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 and resting underneath them 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 traffic lights 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.

Share this with the people you care for. I just did and, if you don't share it with anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.  Remember, it’s not what you gather in life, but what you scatter to everyone that matters!

Now, I do not know who wrote this, but just had to share it.  I sure hope you do the same and y’all can thank my friend Mike Mallory for sharing it with me.  Please start you New Year with this in mind.  It really can do wonders for our world.  The seeds are provided, but you have to plant ‘em.

RECITATION: "I am very proud, that I pray to and worship our Judea/Christian, God Almighty. I am very proud to be an American, who loves all his family and all his fellow patriots. I will defend the original Constitutional. I will defend the rights and lives of patriots to the best of my ability and, if time and resources permit will even defend other Americans, who may fail to believe as I do, but I will never defend a Muslim, believer of the Quran! They are my ENEMY and I DO NOT recognize their beliefs in Islam to be a RELIGION, and I never will! Remember, be proud of, and promote, your beliefs! Be proud you're an American and promote that with pride! Be proud of your families and your fellow patriots and promote that with pride! And last, take some kind of real action and pray “everyday” for God to lead you correctly! Believe me.....this will lead to success.”” -- JOHN L SULAK ...and there you have some more opinions from me, Th' Dumb Ol' East Texas Boy. Take care out there, okay. IN GOD WE DO TRUST!