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
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.