| Poignant
Stories
I
enjoy stories that pull at my heartstrings. These are four that
I received or became aware of several years ago. Click on the links
or scroll down to read each story.
Understanding
The
Competition
A
Poem by Mother Theresa
The
Road of Life
|
| Understanding
A
farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising
the 20 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his
yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug
on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy. "Mister,"
he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well,"
said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck.
"These pups come from fine parents, and cost a good deal of
money."
The
boy dropped his head a moment, then reaching deep into his pocket
he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.
"I've got 39 cents. Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure,"
said the farmer, and with that he let out a whistle. "Here,
Dolly!" he called.
Out
from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by 4 little
balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain
link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their
way to the fence the little boy noticed something else stirring
inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one
noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward
manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others doing its
best to catch up.
"I
want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.
The
farmer knelt down at the boys side and said "Son, you don't
want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you
like these other dogs would."
With
that the little boy stepped back from the farmer, reached down and
began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so, he revealed
a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself
to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer he said,
"You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need
someone who understands."
The
world is full of people who need someone who understands.
|
| The
Competition
And
they call some of these people "retarded"...
A
few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants,
all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line
for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly
in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.
All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt,
tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry.
The
other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back.
Then they all turned around and went back.
Every
one of them.
One
girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This
will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked
together to the finish line.
Everyone
in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.
People who were there are still telling the story.
Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life
is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is
helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our
course.
|
A
Poem by Mother Theresa
(engraved on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta)
People
are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If
you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If
you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true
enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If
you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What
you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If
you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The
good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give
the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You
see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
|
| The
Road Of Life
At
first I saw God as my observer, my judge,
keeping track of the things I did wrong,
so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die.
He was out there sort of like a president.
I recognized His picture but I didn't really know Him.
But
later on, when I met Christ
it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride.
but it was a tandem bike,
and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.
I
don't know just when it was that He suggested
we change places,
but life has not been the same since.
When
I had control, I knew the way
It was rather boring and predictable...
It was the shortest distance between two points.
But
when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts
up mountains and through rocky places at break-neck
speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"
I
worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you
taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust.
I
forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, " I'm scared!" He'd lean back and
touch my hand.
He
took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of
healing, acceptance, and joy.
They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine.
And
we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away;
they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did to the
people we met, and I found that in giving I received,
and still our burden was light.
I
did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life,
I thought He'd wreck it; but he knows bike secrets,
knows how to make it bend to make sharp corners,
knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.
And
I am learning to shut up and pedal
in the strangest places,
and beginning to enjoy the view,
and the cool breeze on my face,
with my delightful constant companion,
Jesus Christ.
And
when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,
He just smiles and says . . . .
"Pedal!"
--
-- --
Back
to the top |
|
