Red Marbles - Inspirational Story

Red Marbles Red Marbles - Inspirational Story

This is not a joke or a funny story, just a beautiful story that helps put into perspective what should be important in our short lives!

• Mr Miller's Grocery Store in Idaho
• Farmer Jones and the Boy: An Inspirational story
• Another Inspirational Story

Mr Miller's Grocery Store in Idaho

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.

Years later Mr Miller died

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

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

Farmer Jones and the Boy: An Inspirational story

Farmer Jones had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 little pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy, Andy.

'Mister,' Andy said quietly, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.'

'Well,' said the Farmer Jones, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.'

Andy hung his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to Farmer Jones.

'I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?'

'Sure,' said Farmer Jones and with that he let out a whistle. 'Here, Poppy!' he called. Out from the kennels and down the ramp ran Poppy followed by four little balls of fur.

Andy pressed his face against the chain link fence while his eyes danced with delight as the dogs made their way to the fence. He noticed something else stirring inside the kennel. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up.

'I want that one,' Andy said, pointing to the runt. Farmer Jones knelt down at the boy's side and explained, 'Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.'

With that Andy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.'

With tears in his eyes, Farmer Jones reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

'How much?' asked Andy.

'No charge,' answered Farmer Jones, 'There's no charge for love.'

Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a friend.

If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.

• More funny online stories for December

Inspirational PowerPoint Presentations and Motivating Stories

● Red Marbles   ● Chinese Proverb   ● Pot proverb   ● Cookie parable   ● Home

● Eagle Rebirth   ● Questions God won't ask   ● Diet a weigh of life   ● Good Karma

● 7 Wonders of the World   ● Shay's Story   ● Inspirational Story   ● Tortoise & Hippo