Quote from Forum Archives on March 7, 2003, 1:24 pm

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

~**~ The Inheritance ~**~

We converged from far distances, some from across the wide Pacific Ocean, each enduring the hardships of travel to this remote island in the south of the country. But, we all did it willingly to say a final adieu to the world's greatest heroine: Our mom.

 

After we had put our mom to rest and took care of countless details, we settled around a big brown milk box. What would it be like inside, we wondered. My father absented himself because he knew mom specifically left the box for us.

 

It was a precious moment. With our throats dry and our eyes full of unshed tears, we carefully opened it. To be honest, we all thought mom had left us a windfall. We knew she had several stock certificates, money, and jewelry. But what we saw were faded photographs, Christmas, birthday and valentine cards, and a few documents tied with a blue ribbon -- all crammed inside that box. There were also letters for each of us, as she had promised.

 

By the time we finished going through everything, we realized the box held more than all the treasures of the world put together. It held a fortune that money could never purchase. It held the finest inheritance anyone could ever leave us: the gift of love and self-sacrifice.

 

The faded photographs were of us, in the small house of our childhood. Oh, how happy we looked in those humble surroundings. Those pictures spoke volumes of her never-ending sacrifices as a parent coping with five children, with only the modest remittances from our father who worked far away. We never had much, but I distinctly remember that we were happy.

 

Her jewelry was simple and nothing extravagant or very expensive. What made them priceless were the tags each had on them. The girls knew what they got and so did our brothers. We could tell that she spent a lot of time dividing them fairly -- she always was a fair mother. But more than anything, the simplicity of her ornaments bespoke of her choice to feed and educate us, rather than decorate herself.

 

As for her money, there was a letter attached to some passbooks and instructions with what to do with her money. Most of it was to pay off funeral expenses. She didn't want us to have to pay for anything. She didn't leave us any loans.

 

The stock certificates were there all right -- duly signed and transferred to her nine grandchildren.

 

But the most precious things were our diplomas and graduation pictures that she treasured. She had bequeathed to us an indestructible weapon with which to face the world -- a legacy with a lifetime guarantee against ignorance.

 

Going through that treasure chest was an experience that will forever be engraved in our hearts and minds. I don't even remember when we stopped crying. But sometimes through our tears, we laughed at some funny pictures or we read aloud poignant poems from cards or letters. Somehow, we had this wonderful sense of connection. It made us feel like we always belonged together. By the time we finished going through it all, there was something that extended beyond that moment. Everything in that box made us feel cherished.

 

In the end, we once again separated into the far distances of our homes, as the richest people in the world, having learned that the bond that held us together was not just of blood, but of joy and respect in each other's lives.

 

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~

 

~**~ It's Time To Throw It Out ~**~
 
Last week I threw out Worrying,
It was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me;
I couldn't do things my way.

 

I threw out those Inhibitions;
They were just crowding me out.
Made room for my New Growth,
Got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

 

I threw out a book on My Past
(Didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with New Goals,
Started reading it today.

 

I threw out childhood toys
Remember how I treasured them so?
Got me a New Philosophy too,
Threw out the one from long ago.

 

Bought in some new books too,
Called I Can, I Will, and I Must.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
Wow!, You should've seen the dust.

 

I picked up this special thing
And placed it at the front door.
I Found It - its called Peace
Nothing gets me down anymore.

 

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place
For things like Worry and Trouble
There just isn't any place.

 

Its good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter.
Thank You God for cleaning up my-self.

 

~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~

 

 ~**~ To Walk In Anothers Shoes ~**~

Bill Andrews was a big, awkward, homely guy. He dressed oddly with ill-fitting clothes. There were several fellows who thought it smart to make fun of him. One day one fellow noticed a small tear in his shirt and gave it a small rip. Another worker in the factory added his bit, and before long there was quite a ribbon dangling. Bill went on about his work and as he passed too near a moving belt the shirt strip was sucked into the machinery. In a split second the sleeve and Bill were in trouble. Alarms were sounded, switches pulled, and trouble was avoided. The foreman, however, aware of what had happened, summoned the men and related this story:

 

In my younger days I worked in a small factory. That's where I first met Mike Havoc. He was big and witty, was always making jokes, and playing little pranks. Mike was a leader. Then there was Pete Lumas who was a follower. He always went along with Mike. And then there was a man named . . . Jake. He was a little older than the rest of us -- quiet, harmless, apart. He always ate his lunch by himself. He wore the same patched trousers for three years straight. He never entered into the games we played at noon, wrestling, horse shoes and such. He appeared to be indifferent, always sitting quietly alone under a tree instead.

 

Jake was a natural target for practical jokes. He might find a live frog in his dinner pail, or a dead rodent in his hat. But he always took it in good humor. "Then one Fall when things were slack, Mike took off a few days to go hunting. Pete went along, of course. And they promised all of us that f they got anything they'd bring us each a piece. So we were all quite excited when we heard that they'd returned and that Mike had got a really nice big buck. We heard more than that. Pete could never keep anything to himself, and it leaked out that they had a real hopper to play on Jake. Mike had cut up the critter and had made a nice package for each of us. And, for the laugh, for the joke of it, he had saved the ears, the tail, the hoofs -- it would be so funny when Jake unwrapped them. "Mike distributed his packages during the noon hour. We each got a nice piece, opened it, and thanked him. The biggest package of all he saved until last. It was for Jake.

 

Pete was all but bursting; and Mike looked very smug. Like always, Jake sat by himself; he was on the far side of the big table. Mike pushed the package over to where he could reach it; and we all sat and waited. Jake was never one to say much. You might never know that he was around for all the talking he did. In three years he'd never said a hundred words. So we were all quite astounded with what happened next. "He took the package firmly in his grip and rose slowly to his feet. He smiled broadly at Mike -- and it was then we noticed that his eyes were glistening. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down for a moment and then he got control of himself.

 

"I knew you wouldn't forget me," he said gratefully; "I knew you'd come through! You're big and you're playful, but I knew all along that you had a good heart." He swallowed again, and then took in the rest of us. "I know I haven't seemed too chummy with you men; but I never meant to be rude. You see, I've got nine kids at home -- and a wife that's been an invalid -- bedfast now for four years. She ain't ever going to get any better. And sometimes when she's real bad off, I have to sit up all night to take care of her. And most of my wages have had to go for doctors and medicine. The kids do all they can to help out, but at times it's been hard to keep food in their mouths. Maybe you think it's funny that I go off by myself to eat my dinner. Well, I guess I've been a little ashamed, because I don't always have anything between my sandwich. Or like today -- maybe there's only a raw turnip in my pail. But I want you to know that this meat really means a lot to me. Maybe more than to anybody here because tonight my kids," he wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, "...tonight my kids will have a really..." He tugged at the string.

 

We'd been watching Jake so intently we hadn't paid much notice to Mike and Pete. But we all noticed them now, because they both dove at once to try to grab the package. But they were too late. Jake had broken the wrapper and was already surveying his present. He examined each hoof, each ear, and then he held up the tail. It wiggled limply. It should have been so funny, but nobody laughed -- nobody at all. But the hardest part was when Jake looked up and said thank you while trying to smile. Silently one by one each man moved forward carrying his package and quietly placed it in front of Jake for they had suddenly realized how little their own gift had really meant to them ... until now....

 

This was where the foreman left the story and the men. He didn't need to say anymore; but it was gratifying to notice that as each man ate his lunch that day, they shared part with Bill Andrews and one fellow even took off his shirt and gave it to him.

 

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

 

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