A Glass of Milk

A GLASS OF MILK

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Year’s later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:

“Paid in full with one glass of milk”
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.

The Last Taxi Ride

 Found this on Facebook- now isn't this a true story of the Spirit of Christmas???

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:


I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Taking the time to notice

My friend Katie posted this on her facebook yesterday and she kindly let me share it with you!! I think this is a perfect example of how we can help anyone anywhere if we are just willing to look.

"We helped a man out with a motel room tonight. He was mentally ill, and had missed his bus home to Seattle. He needed to catch the next one in the morning... I learned a a few lessons from that man tonight. First, that no matter who you are, it is humiliating to ask others for help when you truly need it and have no other choice, I knew this by the shame in his eyes. Second, that we live in a cruel world full of many people not willing to try and understand those who don't have life as easy as we do. I knew this by the way others laughed and talked about him after his pleas were denied and he was sent away from the establishment. Third, that anyone can be honest. I knew this by the way he did not ask me to pay for the whole room. He pulled every dollar he had from his pockets and then three dollars in change at the counter and said he was only $12 dollars short. I knew this would mean a 16 hour bus ride with no money for food or drink. So we put all but just a few dollars on our card to cover his room only because he insisted on paying some. Fourth, thats contrary to what many people may think, mentally ill people understand and have many feelings, one of which is gratitude. I knew this by the way he could not say thank you enough with tears in his eyes. He shook our hand and handed me a peace of paper he'd ripped of his receipt. It had the last four digits of my card number on it. He told me there was nothing he would need those numbers for. Fifth, that God makes no mistakes. I can not think of one good reason we were at Perkins in Bismarck at 12:30 a.m. other then to have been in the right place at the right time to help that man. I know many people may think I have contributed to a substance abuse problem, but, I know where my money went. I also know I didn't loose anything tonight but rather I gained something. I know how my heart feels now and that that man has a warm place to sleep on this cold foggy night... I hope this can inspire others the way it did for me."

 

Thank you Katie for inspiring us!!!

A great start to a new year!

Today I found a great story about selfless service and the niceness that can be found in the world! 

The story comes from Yahoo!- 

a van will 3 children ( 2- 9 year old girls, and 1- 4 year old boy) rolled in to the Logan river as the driver tried to stop on the icy roads. 

Immediately, passerby's stopped and helped rescue the three children ( the driver was able to get out). The van was UPSIDE DOWN- the passerby's jumped into the freezing water and together, flipped the van over so they could rescue the children.

One girl escaped unharmed. The boy was pulled out unconscious and not breathing but one of the bystanders gave him CPR and he was resuscitated! The other girl was also unconscious. Both were taking to Primary Children's and are out of ICU. 

I love to hear stories of normal people stopping their everyday lives to help others!

click here to read the complete article

What this blog is about...

I have started this blog to chronicle stories of individuals and groups of people who keep the Spirit of Christmas alive all year long! Picture a Christmas is the perfect reminder that we should live Christ-like lives all year through! I hope you enjoy this blog and find a renewal of the Christmas spirit by visiting!!

Please feel free to submit any stories you know and I would love to post them!

Email me at:  pictureachristmas@yahoo.com

Happy Christmas!