RED MARBLES

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.

Send this to the people you'll never forget. I

just Did...

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you

are in way too much of a

hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when

they occur.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER

THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE

LIVED