<\n\n\n\n
Reaching more than 35,500 subscribers in 106 countries, this is…
\n———————————————
\nHeroicStories #615: 10 May 2005 www.HeroicStories.com
\n———————————————<\/p>\n
Dear Readers and Friends,<\/p>\n
I have enjoyed HeroicStories for many years because they give a true picture of what our human family is really about. HeroicStories are about us. About the small and large gestures of love, caring, kindness and compassion which we show to each other, and which are more prevalent in the human condition than we may realize. When I’m feeling in need of cheering and a cleansing tear, I read through some HeroicStories, and before I know it I’m back on track. If you want to receive these jewels of hope and wisdom, sign up for your free subscription at: http:\/\/www.HeroicStories.com<\/p>\n
With blessings,<\/p>\n
Rhio<\/p>\n
Five Bucks<\/strong> Story Editor: Joyce Schowalter<\/p>\n Illinois, USA I decided to call my mother. She had said she couldn’t afford to send me anything the last time I spoke to her, but I thought perhaps her mother could spare twenty bucks.<\/p>\n There was a pay phone in a nearby campus building. My bread and I headed over there. I called my mother collect, but before I could explain that I wasn’t asking her for money, she became very upset and hung up. I called my father to see if he could explain things to my mother. Then I noticed someone else waiting behind me for the phone. This man was probably a teacher between classes. My father put me on hold to call my mother on the other line, and I leaned my forehead against the cool concrete brick wall. I could feel the frustration and hopelessness building up inside me.<\/p>\n The man spoke: “Other people have to use the phone, too, you know.” That was enough to put me over the edge. I turned to this stranger and yelled, “See this bag on the floor? That has all my food in it! I don’t have a phone at home to call from! I’m sorry if your cell phone is broken, but whatever call you have to make is less important than my trying to come up with tomorrow’s meal!”<\/p>\n I turned back to the wall and tried to choke back the tears brought on by my speaking my plight aloud. Very shortly, I realized that I shouldn’t have taken my frustrations out on this person. My father came back to the phone, and I told him I’d call him back. Putting myself back together as well as I could, I hung up the phone.<\/p>\n “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I shouldn’t have done that. You can use the phone.” I stepped back to sit in a window ledge where I could hide my very obvious emotional state, and cried.<\/p>\n I wasn’t paying attention to the man anymore, but he must have finished his phone call quickly enough. His hand tapped my shoulder and I turned. He put a five dollar bill in my hand and said, “Give this to someone else when they need it.” He walked away, neither asking for gratitude nor giving pity.<\/p>\n There could have been no better delivery, and no better gift! Five dollars could last me a week in those days. Somehow this man knew exactly what to say to allow both of us to go through the rest of the day with dignity.<\/p>\n That was many years ago, and I have repaid that gift a hundred fold by now, always delivering it with the same dignity that was afforded me.<\/p>\n ———-==========———-o———-==========———-<\/p>\n Please let us know your thoughts about our story! We can’t print them Joyce Schowalter, Publisher SUBSCRIPTIONS to HeroicStories are FREE. Just send a blank message to COMMENTS about stories are always welcome — please include your first FAIR USE NOTICE<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Spirituality, Inspiration, Transformation & Kindness<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" < Reaching more than 35,500 subscribers in 106 countries, this is… ——————————————— HeroicStories #615: 10 May 2005 www.HeroicStories.com ——————————————— Dear Readers and Friends, I have enjoyed HeroicStories for many years because they give a true picture of what our human … Continue reading
\nBy Chris Kratsch<\/p>\n
\nWhen I was in college I was poor. So poor, in fact, that I often found myself out of food. One day I spent my last two dollars on four loaves of bread, and didn’t know where my next meal would come from once those were gone.<\/p>\n
\nuntil you send them. Your comments are always welcome. Send to:
\ncomments@HeroicStories.com<\/p>\n
\nCo-Conspirator to Make the World a Better Place<\/p>\n
\njoin-heroicstories@lyris.net or visit http:\/\/www.HeroicStories.com<\/p>\n
\nname and location: Comments@HeroicStories.com
\nTO SUBMIT A STORY, see our submission guidelines, tips and information
\nat: http:\/\/www.HeroicStories.com\/submit.html
\nPUBLISHED BY HS & Son, Inc., PO Box 55213, Seattle, WA 98155, USA.
\nHeroicStories is a trademark of HS & Son, Inc. Newspapers can get
\nthe stories as a regular feature column for FREE. For details, send
\nyour paper’s editor to http:\/\/www.heroicstories.com\/column.html
\nCopyright 2005
\nhttp:\/\/www.HeroicStories.com — All Rights Reserved.
\nAll broadcast, publication, or copying to the WWW, e-mail lists, or any
\nother medium, online or not, is prohibited without prior written
\npermission from HeroicStories.
\nHowever, permission is granted to circulate this publication via manual
\nforwarding by e-mail to friends providing that the text is forwarded IN
\nITS ENTIRETY, from the “Reaching more than” line on top through the end
\nof this paragraph, and NO FEE is charged. We request that you forward no
\nmore than three copies to any one person — after that, they should get
\ntheir own subscription.<\/p>\n