Tuesday, December 09, 2008

What goes around, comes around.......

"The message of this season that is applicable throughout the year lies not in the receiving of earthly presents and treasures but in the forsaking of selfishness and greed and in going forward, seeking and enjoying the gifts of the Spirit, which Paul said are 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
--James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No Presents", Ensign, Dec. 2001, 6

Gal. 5:22–23

Here is a story that pretty much says it all.....
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND


One day a man saw a old lady, stranded on the side of the road. Even in the dim light of dusk, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.'

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty, and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled dow n the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.
Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.

Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road, the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas p umps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard....
She knew how worried her husband was. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.'

Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

~GOD BLESS!~

27 Comments:

At 5:21 PM, Blogger Diane@Diane's Place said...

I've read this one before, but it bears repeating. A great story with lots of meaning. :o)

Have a great week, Lucy.

Love and hugs,

Diane

 
At 9:45 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

My husband and I are strong believers in this way of thinking :) And it does come around... ten-fold.

 
At 10:25 PM, Blogger Fred said...

Yeah, Lucy, you're absolutely on the mark. Disney is where we'll meet up with Mom and Dad to enjoy the holidays.

You know me to well. :)

 
At 4:33 PM, Blogger Oh great One said...

What a lovely story!

 
At 8:37 PM, Blogger Ralph said...

That is a GREAT, GREAT story and so very true. It's be tried and proven true in our lives.
Ralph

 
At 11:49 PM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

I LOVE this...it is kind of what "Pay It Forward" is all about, too.....Doing something for someone just because they need it at that moment. And the whole idea of the person being hekped then helping someone else.
I am always reminded of Catol Burnett's story of the man that helped her to go to New York...way way back. And all he asked of hedr was to remain anonymous and that when SHE was in a position to help someone in the same kind of way....to do so, anonymously and with the same priviso....!
Splendid, isn't it?

 
At 10:24 AM, Blogger Jim said...

Hi Lucy, I'd like to do that too, for Mrs. Jim!
Oh yes, could you loan me about $399.50? Thank you in advance.
..

 
At 8:54 PM, Blogger Marla said...

I read this before, but I love it!

 
At 1:48 PM, Blogger Mountain Mama said...

This is a sweet story. I have read it before but we can all use the reminder.
Thanks

 
At 2:41 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

I am completely and totally a big fan of giving.
Being a giver means so much more than the gift itself.
It means having an attitude of giving and being at the ready to meet a need when it arises before you.
I am convinced that if everyone operated on this principle of giving, that we would see a huge change in our country and the world.
This is not forced giving. It is giving because we've been given to. Some gifts are big and some are very small, but all are valuable.
The giver is joyful, and the receiver is also joyful and grateful.
Terrific post!
I hope you are enjoying this season to the fullest!
:-)

 
At 3:08 PM, Blogger Fred said...

What an awesome story. I need to share this with my students. It's a great way to see them off for the holiday break.

 
At 8:43 AM, Blogger Big Dave T said...

My wife loves those type of stories. She said we need to do a little more on the charity side for Christmas too.

 
At 6:26 PM, Blogger Putz said...

i have never heard this before, i might be one of the few who have never read oh i/m brron anderson and then good night byron anderson

 
At 8:46 PM, Blogger Cliff said...

This is what charity is all about and the best part is it is private. No government needed.
I've been fortunate to be able to participate in some very meaningful experiences. Thru our church at Christmas. One just tonight that I really can't start on because this is a small town but it was so very heart warming.
You can't outgive God.
I know that's true.

 
At 8:00 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

That is a really sweet story. Thank you.

 
At 9:51 AM, Blogger Jim said...

Yes, it comes around and gets around again. Sometimes before we would like.

In the 50's we were returning bottles to buy food for the babies. One baby's hospital stay was paid for by the Red Cross!

In the 70's Mrs. Jim and I started over again when we were married. I had just paid off all debts from a previous marriage and our bank accounts were very close to zero. There were a couple of things like student loans and car payments owed. We each had some small security investment plans.

In the 2000's we retired on fixed incomes, much smaller than our pay had been. We have savings now, small pensions now (17 years with Ford, I get $214 a month), etc. My social security is less than $1000 (27 years paying in), Mrs. Jim's is $214 a month after Medicare (12 years paying in).

Perhaps our New President will put a floor on the SS payments, that would be a nice COME AROUND.
..

 
At 9:55 AM, Blogger Jim said...

Forgot to say "thanks for your nice visit this morning." I got too busy dumping about finances.
I know retired law enforcement people do about like school employees and you guys still have a daughter in school. Good thing for people locking themselves out!
Sorry, :-)
..

 
At 7:28 PM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

Re your comment: "Obsessed"? Well, I guess you could say that...But if I am, so what? It is a Beautiful place with so much History....It involves my life's work and my deep interest in what I have devoted my life to....And it is a Peaceful Pretty Place to visit.....! I will be going back again and again, as long as I am physically able....If you ever come to Los Angeles, you might just pay this amazing place, a visit....! And as I said in my post, for a place filled with dead people there is a whole lot of "life" there.....!

 
At 4:14 PM, Blogger Danny Sims said...

Merry Christmas Lucy!

 
At 10:34 AM, Blogger Big Dave T said...

Hi Lucy, just stopping by again to wish you the best of the holidays (things are really going to be busy between now and then so I wanted to get ahead somehow) and to say that I read TF's post that you forwarded to me. Very good, though I still think that Bush did the right thing.

Speaking of bail-out type stuff though, I'm just wondering what you and TF think about the government continually bailing out those folks that live in the coastal hurricane-prone areas. They had a TV news item recently how some people in the Galveston area are in bad straits because of the damage done by hurricane Ike. I know our government contributed greatly to helping victims of Katrina. Any opinion on how far we should go to help out victims of hurricane Ike, Katrina, etc. I don't have a strong opinion either way myself, but just wondered what you thought.

 
At 5:01 PM, Blogger CozyMama said...

right on

 
At 10:43 PM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

A Very Merry Christmas To You and Yours, Lucy. And a WONDERFUL 2009, as well....May the new year bring great joy to your family and to you!

 
At 6:55 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Nothing new posted here lately.
:-(
Oh well, these are busy times.

I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
God bless you all as you celebrate this blessed season.
May 2009 be a year of good health and continued blogging.

:-)

 
At 12:37 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

That is a wonderful story Lucy!!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!

 
At 2:18 PM, Blogger Putz said...

i just notice that our old church's liberal faust as being quoted on your blog lucy,,, be very careful, you might be monitroed,, i'm kidding honest, i have to be careeful what i say

 
At 9:49 PM, Blogger Jess said...

This was great...Hope you have a Very Merry Christmas! Lots of love to you,
Jess

 
At 2:01 AM, Blogger OldLady Of The Hills said...

A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS, LUCY....!
May The Good Lord Bless You with ALL Good things and may your Christmas be filled with family, friends, aand the Warmth Of The Season....! And a little bit of Chocolate, too! (lol)

 

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