I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes and, I all of a sudden noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily looking at a basket of freshly picked green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I could not help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’ Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank you. Just admiring them peas. They sure look good.’ ‘They are good, Barry, How’s your Ma?’ ‘Fine, getting stronger all the time.’ ‘Good. Anything I can help you with? ‘No, Sir. Just admiring them peas.’ ‘Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller. ‘No, Sir. Got nothing to pay for them 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 it is. She’s a real dandy.’ ‘I can see that. Hmm, 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 exactly 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 does not 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 with. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about the color or size, they came to pay their debt.’
‘We have 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.
To end this beautiful story is that 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. It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.
“It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived.”
Thank you for sharing this story and writing these words.
Laura X
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Yes absolutely true and agree totally with your beautiful words, Laura and it is so nice to be kind and giving in life.
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any act of kindness last a a lifetime….
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Yes absolutely true and agree totally with your words. Thanks Laura
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Thank you for sharing this. It is a great idea of barter while helping the poor when all they have to give in return is, pure love…
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Yes absolutely true and agree totally with your words of truth Sunith. They have nothing to give but we who have need to give by showing love and compassion
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I fully agree with you.
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Thanks.
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Beautiful story with wonderful meaning. Thank you! 💕
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Welcome so much for your superb words.
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Heart touching message Kamal. Have a good weekend.
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Thanks dear Rupali and u too have a lovely weekend
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Oh what a beautiful post and what a kind heart Mr Miller had, how lovely 😊💕
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Thanks dear Fiona for your great comments and yes Mr Miller was a kind hearted person
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👏👏👏👏👏Thank you Kamal
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Welcome Deshi
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Oh, so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.
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Yes same here Kiwinana the story was so touching and Mr Miller was so kindhearted
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Scatter well. Thank you for sharing this story.
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Thanks for the beautiful comment dear Kris
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Wonderful story with beautiful message !
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Thanks for the beautiful comment Megala.
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What a beautiful story. Although it bought tears to my eyes, they are tears of gladness that there is still simple kindness, generosity of spirit and true gratitude to be found in world.
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Yes absolutely true and agree totally with your words Kim. There sure is kindness and compassion in this world and we have such people who are helping the poor. Thanks for the beautiful comment.
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There is nothing like people coming to pay homage for good deed one has done for others. Life is how many will come to see you says about about ones death.
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Yes absolutely true and agree totally with your words Sunil and when kindness flows then there r many who come to pay their homages too. Thanks for the beautiful comment.
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This is such a wonderful story, Kamal. It has given me goosebumps.
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Thanks for the beautiful comment Robbie and yes same here when I read it. Look at the kindness of Mr. Miller and they turned out to be such wonderful boys.
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Touching story. Thanks for sharing
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Welcome for your great comments
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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thanks Micheal.
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Oh this one made me tear up and silently say “Thank you” for all those who have touched me. You and your readers may enjoy a similar post
https://reallifeofanmsw.com/2015/11/08/unforgettable/
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Thanks for the beautiful comment and yes so true these stories are eye openers in themselves and they speak the truth. Yes will definitely do so
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How thoughtful! 🙂
Deeds, matter. Scatter gathers.
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Yes absolutely true Prakash and they only come fruitful in the end. This story was so true to helping people who are in need. Thanks for the lovely comment.
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True. Pleasure is all mine.. 🙂
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Welcome Prakash.
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Absolutely beautiful, and we should always remember this story.
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Yes absolutely true Michele and these stories are eye openers for us how we need to help people who are not able to take care of themselves in our little ways and encourage them. Thanks for your lovely comments.
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So generous and warm. These acts of kindness remind us that Humanity is keeping the World going
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Yes so true and agree totally with your great feedback, Namrata. These helpers are so needed in our society and they tell such great stories for us too.
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You are gifted with a beautiful way of weaving words together. I very much enjoyed your post.
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Oh thank you so much for your kind words Kathy. These stories are eye openers in themselves and speak the truth.
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Reblogged this on In the World of Thoughts.
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Thanks so much Namrata.
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Was trying to re-blog but couldn’t so have shared it on my post.
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Oh thank you so much Namrata for this wonderful gesture.
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Wow! I am spellbound. Loved how you expressed each n every emotion. With each passing word I got more and more excited to read further. It was beautiful.
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Thanks for your great feedback and yes I do agree with your words these stories are eye openers for all of us.
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A beautiful story. It was impossible to complete with out tearing up. Thank you for scattering. 🌞🌞🌺
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Welcome Mel for your great comments and yes so true these stories are eye openers in themselves and speak the truth.
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Beautiful story with such warm emotions
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Thanks dear Tanveer.
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Gostei o fotos , eu verdadeiramente cоmo o dentre % іmage_title %, perfecto . https://genethai.blogspot.com/
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