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 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 ar e good, Bar
ry. 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 communi ty, 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 v isitation 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. Wi th 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 ordina ry 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.
Send this to the people you'll never forget. I just
Did...
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much
of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.
IT'S
NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE
LIVED
The ordinary miracles are the best ones. Treasures all around us, if we only bother to slow down a minute and look for them. The gracefulness of our cat as she leaps from bookcase to bookcase; the late afternoon sunlight dancing through the trees; seeing my grandmother's features in my youngest son's face, and seeing my husband's features dance across my oldest son's face; the gentle chirping of the crickets and their evening playmates singing me to sleep.
Thanks for posting that!!
What a feel good post- thank you WatchingWolf!Aww...that is what life should be made of. Thanks for posting that WatchingWolf.SOOOOO NICE.
That is beautiful, thak you!!!!!!!!!
Decided to reread this nice post.very niceAgain, another worth while post. Brought tears to my eyes! Thanks.That was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. I'm "teary-eyed" just like Goldie1605.Thanks, I have seen that before but it still gives me 'goosebumps'.
What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing it with us. I needed it tonight.Reread this. Still a nice story.THinking of watchingwolf.Something uplifting!!!I like to reread this.A beautiful story. Thank you for posting it. It's all too easy to forget what is really important. That was such a nice post...worth reading. Thank you.It made me wonder why I've been such an ugly and hateful bitch lately......this place rocks!!!!!!!!!!I was glad when watchingwolf posted this. I like to reread it from time to time because it is such a sweet spirited story.A sweet spirit is just what the Doc ordered..................and gastric bypass surgery followed by a full body lift!!! This place rocks.............but I'm still a fat ass. ha ha ha
Still a good story.Yep, we often miss the little things in life. Bodak-