[SIZE=14pt]This story was sent to me by a colleague at work. Enjoy![/SIZE]
[SIZE=14pt]Unopened Packages[/SIZE]
He was born with cancer—a cancer that was incurable. At 17, doctors warned him he didn’t have long to live. He was told he could die at any time. So he stayed home, under his mother’s loving care, and waited. One day he decided to go out, even if it was just once, waiting to die was no way to live.
His mother agreed the fresh air would do him good. Walking down his city block he saw many shops. Stopping at a music store he looked in and saw a very pretty girl about his age. It was love at first sight. He walked into the store and up to the counter where the girl was. She smiled at him and asked "Can I help you with anything?"
The boy could only think that she had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and stuttered, "Well, ummm, I'd like to buy a CD". He grabbed the first one he saw and gave her the money It was near Christmas so the girl asked, "Do you want me to wrap it?"
The boy said yes and the girl went into the back room to wrap it. He took the wrapped CD and walked home, still under her spell.
From that day on he visited the music store every day, and each day he bought a CD. And each day the girl wrapped them up and the guy stored them unopened in his closet. He was a very shy boy, and although he tried he couldn't find the nerve to ask the girl out. His mother noticed this and encouraged him.
The following day the boy didn't visit the store. Someone called the house phone two days later, and his mother answered the phone, wondering who it could be. It was the girl from the music store! She asked to speak with her son and his mother started crying. The girl asked her what was the matter.
"Don't you know? He died a couple days ago."
There was a long silence on the phone.
Later that afternoon the boy's mother entered his room to remember her son. She decided to start with his closet, and to her surprised she saw a big pile of unopened CDs wrapped in festive paper. She was curious because there were so many of them, and she opened one.
As she tore open the package she noticed a slip of paper that said, "Hi! You're cute! I would love to meet you for a burger or a movie. Let's go out some time. Sophie"
The mother started crying as she opened another, and another, and another. Every single CD contained a slip of paper that said the same.
How many unopened gifts do we have in our lives? We all have special people that we rarely take time to see, because we are ‘too busy’ or they are too far away! Forget the excuses… and make the time for family and friends, while you still can (send a card or better yet a handwritten letter to a relative or friend who lives far away… or pick up the phone and touch someone).
Many of us also have talents we seldom or never use. Put your talents to good use… do some volunteer work; stop by an assisted living home and give a lonely sole an hour of your time or entertain them with your singing or musical abilities. Assist with Meals on Wheels, Hospice, etc.; help out in a local school or church; bake a pie or make a meal for a lonely widow or widower.
Mow the yard of an elderly neighbor; donate blood or plasma or volunteer to serve those who do; spend an hour at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter or a battered women’s facility. Get involved with one of the many groups supporting our troops with care packages and\or letters of encouragement, or sponsor a wounded warrior. We have all been blessed beyond measure…what are you waiting for? Don’t miss another opportunity to make a difference… Life is good – Pay it Forward.
God Bless,
BA
[SIZE=14pt]Unopened Packages[/SIZE]
He was born with cancer—a cancer that was incurable. At 17, doctors warned him he didn’t have long to live. He was told he could die at any time. So he stayed home, under his mother’s loving care, and waited. One day he decided to go out, even if it was just once, waiting to die was no way to live.
His mother agreed the fresh air would do him good. Walking down his city block he saw many shops. Stopping at a music store he looked in and saw a very pretty girl about his age. It was love at first sight. He walked into the store and up to the counter where the girl was. She smiled at him and asked "Can I help you with anything?"
The boy could only think that she had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and stuttered, "Well, ummm, I'd like to buy a CD". He grabbed the first one he saw and gave her the money It was near Christmas so the girl asked, "Do you want me to wrap it?"
The boy said yes and the girl went into the back room to wrap it. He took the wrapped CD and walked home, still under her spell.
From that day on he visited the music store every day, and each day he bought a CD. And each day the girl wrapped them up and the guy stored them unopened in his closet. He was a very shy boy, and although he tried he couldn't find the nerve to ask the girl out. His mother noticed this and encouraged him.
The next day the guy set out for the store with a determined mind. Like all the other days he bought a CD and the girl wrapped it as usual. While she was busy he left his telephone number on the counter and rushed out.The following day the boy didn't visit the store. Someone called the house phone two days later, and his mother answered the phone, wondering who it could be. It was the girl from the music store! She asked to speak with her son and his mother started crying. The girl asked her what was the matter.
"Don't you know? He died a couple days ago."
There was a long silence on the phone.
Later that afternoon the boy's mother entered his room to remember her son. She decided to start with his closet, and to her surprised she saw a big pile of unopened CDs wrapped in festive paper. She was curious because there were so many of them, and she opened one.
As she tore open the package she noticed a slip of paper that said, "Hi! You're cute! I would love to meet you for a burger or a movie. Let's go out some time. Sophie"
The mother started crying as she opened another, and another, and another. Every single CD contained a slip of paper that said the same.
How many unopened gifts do we have in our lives? We all have special people that we rarely take time to see, because we are ‘too busy’ or they are too far away! Forget the excuses… and make the time for family and friends, while you still can (send a card or better yet a handwritten letter to a relative or friend who lives far away… or pick up the phone and touch someone).
Many of us also have talents we seldom or never use. Put your talents to good use… do some volunteer work; stop by an assisted living home and give a lonely sole an hour of your time or entertain them with your singing or musical abilities. Assist with Meals on Wheels, Hospice, etc.; help out in a local school or church; bake a pie or make a meal for a lonely widow or widower.
Mow the yard of an elderly neighbor; donate blood or plasma or volunteer to serve those who do; spend an hour at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter or a battered women’s facility. Get involved with one of the many groups supporting our troops with care packages and\or letters of encouragement, or sponsor a wounded warrior. We have all been blessed beyond measure…what are you waiting for? Don’t miss another opportunity to make a difference… Life is good – Pay it Forward.
God Bless,
BA
