Sunday, May 16, 2010

Story About Life

This is a short story about life. Thought you might like to read it.

Lisa Beamer on Good Morning America (if you remember, she's the wife of Todd Beamer who said 'Let's Roll!' and helped take down the plane that was heading for Washington D.C.):

She said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him. She's now the Mom of a beautiful little girl, Mary.

Lisa recalled this story:

"I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddenly of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there.

With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, 'Class is over, I would like to share with all of you, a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment.

Perhaps this is God's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day. Her eyes, beginning to water, she went on, 'So I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice.

It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted.

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

If you like this, please pass it on to a friend. If not, just delete it and go on with your life! Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Paying it Forward since 1977

Back in 1977, we were driving from Minnesota to Great Falls Montana. Along the way, we had some car problems and had a repair bill that took the most of our cash. We got back on the road and thought we had enough cash to get us there. But, when we still had about 200 miles to go, we realized that we didn’t have enough cash to get us the rest of the way. We had a check book, but no gas station would take an out of state check. I got on the CB and started talking to find out if anyone could help us out. We found a trucker who said he would cash a check for us. So, we met him at the next truck stop. When we got there we filled up the car with gas, and he asked us to join him for lunch. When we went to write him a check for the gas and for lunch, he looked at us and said to keep it. The only thing he asked was that someday we would do the same for someone else. We never got his name or where he was from. He got in is truck and headed down the road. We made it the rest of the way to Great Falls, and I have never forgotten what he did for a couple of young kids. And yes, I have paid it forward more than once in my life time. It truly was one of those life-changing times, teaching me to take care of others before I take care of myself. Thank you Mr. Trucker who ever you are or where ever you may be!