IJMC - Parables For Life

Once again, I have a post I'm quite glad to send out for everyone. A few 
short stories about various lessons in life that nowadays we often seem 
too rushed to remember. I hope everyone can take a few minutes and read 
through this as I think it is worth your time. And Becky, you may become 
a little emotional...you've been warned.                           -dave






Some of these are not new, but never get old.

1  Most Important Question

   During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop
quiz.  I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the
questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman
who cleans the school?"  Surely this was some kind of joke.  I had seen
the cleaning woman several times.  She was tall, dark-haired and in her
50s, but how would I know her name?  I handed in my paper, leaving the
last question blank. 

Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count
toward our quiz grade.  "Absolutely," said the professor.  "In your
careers you will meet many people.  All are significant.  They deserve
your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'. 

I've never forgotten that lesson.  I also learned her name was Dorothy. 


2  Pickup in the Rain

   One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing on
the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm.  Her
car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.  Soaking wet, she
decided to flag down the next car.  A young white man stopped to help her
generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s.  The man took her to
safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxi cab.  She seemed
to be in a big hurry!  She wrote down his address, thanked him and drove
away. 

   Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door.  To his
surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.  A special
note was attached.  It read: 

 Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.  The
 rain drenched not only my clothes but my spirits.  Then you came along.
 Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just
 before he passed away.  God bless you for helping me and unselfishly
 serving others.

 Sincerely,
 Mrs. Nat King Cole


3  Always remember those who serve

   In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy
entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table.  A waitress put a glass of
water in front of him. 

         "How much is an ice cream sundae?"
           "Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

   The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number
of coins in it. 

         "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired.

   Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit
impatient. 

           "Thirty-five cents," she said brusquely.

   The little boy again counted the coins.

         "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

   The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and
walked away.  The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and
departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and
then swallowed hard at what she saw.  There, placed neatly beside the
empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies - her tip. 


4  The Obstacle in Our Path


   In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway.  Then he
hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.  Some
of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked
around it. 

   Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none
did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. 

   Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.  On
approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to
move the stone to the side of the road.  After much pushing and straining,
he finally succeeded.  As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he
noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.  The purse
contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the
gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.  The
peasant learned what many others never understand.  Every obstacle
presents an opportunity to improve one's condition. 


5  Giving Blood

   Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I
got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and
serious disease.  Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the
same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness. 

   The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the
boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him
hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying,

       "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liz."

   As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and
smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks.  Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked
with a trembling voice,

       "Will I start to die right away?"

   Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was
going to have to give his sister all of his blood. 



 Attitude, after all, is everything. 
 
          Work like you don't need the money.
          Love like you've never been hurt.
          Dance like nobody's watching
 
 Have a nice day!