What Goes Around.....
What goes around comes around The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. 'Leave me alone,' he growled. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. 'Are you hungry?' she asked. 'No,' he answered sarcastically 'I've just come from dining with the President. Now go away.' The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. 'What are you doing, lady?' the man asked angrily. 'I said to leave me alone. Just then a policeman came up. 'Is there any problem, ma'am?' he asked. 'No problem here, officer,' the woman answered. 'I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?' The officer scratched his head. 'That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?' 'See that cafeteria over there?' she asked. 'I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.' 'Are you crazy, lady?' the homeless man resisted. 'I don't want to go in there!' Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. 'Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.' 'This is a good deal for you, Jack,' the officer answered. 'Don't blow it..' Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. 'What's going on here, officer?' he asked. 'What is all this. Is this man in trouble?' 'This lady brought this man in here to be fed,' the policeman answered. 'Not in here!' the manager replied angrily. 'Having a person like that here is bad for business.' Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. 'See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place.' The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. 'Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?' 'Of course I am,' the manager answered impatiently. 'They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms.' 'And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?' 'What business is that of yours?' 'I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company.' 'Oh.' The woman smiled again. 'I thought that might make a difference.' She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. 'Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?' 'No thanks, ma'am,' the officer replied. 'I'm on duty.' 'Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?' 'Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice.' The cafeteria manager turned on his heel 'I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer.' The officer watched him walk away. 'You certainly put him in his place,' he said. 'That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this.' She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest She stared at him intently. 'Jack, do you remember me?' Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes 'I think so -- I mean you do look familiar.' 'I'm a little older perhaps,' she said. 'Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.' 'Ma'am?' the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. 'I was just out of college,' the woman began. 'I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat.' Jack lit up with a smile. 'Now I remember,' he said. 'I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy.' 'I know,' the woman continued. 'Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything would be all right.' 'So you started your own business?' Old Jack said. 'I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business, that, with the help of God, prospered.' She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. 'When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office.' She smiled. 'I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you.' There were tears in the old man's eyes. 'How can I ever thank you? ' he said. 'Don't thank me,' the woman answered. 'To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus.. He led me to you.' Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways 'Thank you for all your help, officer,' she said. 'On the contrary, Ms. Eddy,' he answered. 'Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee.' If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing. If you have missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh. But, if you have missed knowing my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, you have missed everything in the world. Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always. And don't forget that when you 'cast your bread upon the waters,' you never know how it will be returned to you. (Hope this is repeated many times today!) God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. What do I want you to do with this? Nothing!!! Having read it is simply enough to make you think of my GOD, whom I just want you to know. Have A Blessed Day!
For Grandson, Jamy. 2000-2003
Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fund-raising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!
Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!
Shay, run to third!'
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the 'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process? A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
You now have two choices:
1. Delete
2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.
A look at the past, A view into the future
President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Speaking at the Forest Bend Ward, Salt Lake City UT Sunday, October 12, 2008
Page 2 of 5
“Even though I regularly have the opportunity to attend Fast and Testimony meeting, I don’t
usually stand to speak. But today, I feel moved upon by the Spirit to share a message…
Last weekend’s General Conference was different than any before. We felt that down at Church
Headquarters and have been talking about it all week. We live in troubled times. There is great
financial crisis and we’ve seen something that hasn’t happened in the last 60 years: the world’s
financial markets are collapsing. I was six years old when the Great Depression began: the 10th
of 11 children. My father was a mechanic and times were difficult for all of us. Many families
were suddenly out of work all at once. There were large public projects to try and provide
employment – like the great ditch or canal I remember being dug here in our city. It was at least
six feet deep and dug by hand, with pick and ax. Nowadays, we’d use a piece of machinery to
do it. But in those days, people worked with what we had. They were desperate times for
many. There were things as a child that I didn’t understand and was afraid of. I didn’t like to go
into the basement of our home. I thought the Boogeyman lived there. But as I grew older and
we got some lights down there, I realized that the great dark space underneath the stairs was a
large pile of old shoes. As a pair of shoes we were wearing would wear out or break down, we
didn’t throw them out. We would use a shoe from that old pile as spare parts to repair our shoes
or make new ones. It was just the way you did things in those times.
There’s a scripture that says “Yet learn we obedience by the same things we suffer.” It seems
sometimes that we don’t learn until we need to turn and rely upon the Lord. In the Book of
Mormon, well, if you looked in my copy, in the Book of Helaman about chapter 12 or 13, you’d
see that I’ve written-in a swirling chain of circles across the top of the page. It might look like
old cursive, but that’s not what it’s meant to be. It’s meant to remind me of the cycles of the
people. In times when they were blessed with great prosperity and wealth, they forgot the Lord.
Then when they fell to bad habits which led some to wickedness and placed many in peril, the
righteous would turn/return to the Lord in their humbler circumstances. It’s a cycle of prosperity
and wickedness we see repeated over and over again in the scriptures and now again in our day.
I remember once I went deer hunting with Brother Tuttle and some others. We were up in the
mountains, riding on horseback. He went up one side of the canyon, and I went up the other.
As I was riding, I bent over and just nearly kissed the saddle horn as we passed a low cedar tree
that was right by the path. Well as we passed the cedar tree, there was no more path on the other
side of it and the way before us was just a dropping hillside covered with loose shaley rock. I
kicked my feet clear of the stirrups, just in case the horse reacted badly, and it was a good thing I
did. She reared up and I was thrown back. I hit my head on some rocks and got a cut right
above my eyebrow that was bleeding heavily. I’d been holding my rifle in my hand and as my
hand flew back and hit heavily against a rock, it broke as well. So I was laying there hurt and
shaken. My companions on the other side of the canyon had seen what happened and I heard
Brother Tuttle call out “Are you hurt?” I replied “Yes, I’m bleeding!” He called out again “Are
you hurt?” I called again “Yes, I’m bleeding!”, but the wind was blowing the wrong way and
they couldn’t hear me. The fourth time this happened, I yelled in response “No!” And they
called back “Okay!” and continued to ride on up the mountain. That’s lesson one!
President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Speaking at the Forest Bend Ward, Salt Lake City UT Sunday, October 12, 2008
Page 3 of 5
I finally got myself up, caught my horse down the mountain where she had gotten caught in
some branches, and managed to get into town where I was bandaged up and my hand was tended
to.
Shortly after that, I was traveling on business and was at the airport. A fellow traveler, an older
man not of our faith, saw my bandaged hand and asked if I was all right. I replied rather offhandedly.
And he responded that it was something I would remember all the rest of my days.
He then told me that he had once worked at digging a canal – now that caught my attention
because I remembered the canal I have mentioned. He said that he was out of work at the time
[the Great Depression] and couldn’t find employment. He saw the canal being dug and knew
that if he asked the foreman for a job, he would be turned away. He saw a spare pick laying
there, so he picked it up and started working. A short while later, the foreman walked by and,
not recognizing him, asked him what he was doing. He explained to me that he told the foreman
he was out of work and stated “I need to work. You don’t have to pay me, but I need to work.”
Well, as you might expect, they worked things out and he was paid for his labors. We then
proceeded to talk, this older fellow and I, and I have remembered his counsel. Now I am the old
man giving counsel to you.
In the Great Depression, people were frightened and growing more so. They began to be very
resourceful. They had to be. Looking forward, we’re all going to learn that lesson, one way or
another.
The Church is in excellent condition. You don’t need to worry about that. But as individuals we
will face difficulty. Some will come to the Bishop seeking financial aid and counsel. And as
judges in Israel, the Bishop will respond. The time for financial largess in our ward activities is
over.” [President Packer then turned directly to our Bishop and counseled him that last year’s
youth trip to Nauvoo, which was, President Packer said, a great opportunity for testimonybuilding
and missionary work, will not happen again. Times of/for that sort of expense in the
Church are past.]
President Packer then shared experiences of providing aid and service after the great Tsunami
devastated Indonesia. He recalled... “I was speaking on the phone with a government minister
who said “I’m standing in Banda Aceh and you cannot imagine what I am seeing. A city of a
million people has been swept away and there is nothing.” A week later, I was standing in area
of Banda Aceh and the need was immense.
“What do you need?” I asked. “Body bags” was the reply. So we found 20,000 body bags in
China and had them on a plane the next day.
A call came, “we need 30 [thousand] more.” We found them and they were sent.
The next call “do you have any motorcycles? We need to get back into the mountain villages
with aid and medical supplies, but the roads are gone. Trucks can’t get through and elephants
are too slow. If we had motorcycles, we could get through.”
“Are they to be found in Asia” I asked. “Yes,” he said. So we found the motorcycles and had
them on their way the next day.
The Church is sound and is able to provide these types of aid as a back-up where there is need.
We [as members and in our individual wards] are the back-up position of the Church. Learn to
President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Speaking at the Forest Bend Ward, Salt Lake City UT Sunday, October 12, 2008
Page 4 of 5
apply the old Pioneer adage – “Eat [use] it up. Wear it out. Make do, or do without.” We’re
going to have to learn to do without. Again, “Eat it up. Wear it out. Make do, or do without.”
Even if we have the resources, we need to do more to be thrifty. Others will rely on us. The
Church will rely on us. It is our responsibility and duty to be caring for ourselves, our family,
and those around us. Be watching for need. Set something by that we can be of help to others
when the time comes. Trust in the counsel of our wise elders/older people.
There are nearly 60,000 missionaries serving throughout the world today. The cost to support a
missionary is right about $400 a month today. That’s $4,800 a year. Consider if we have the
resources that there may be others who don’t and who have a need. When Brother Tuttle was a
young man, he had a strong desire to serve a mission. But he didn’t have the money to pay for it,
and his family didn’t have the money for it. So Brother Tuttle thought of who was the richest
man in his town and, after saying a prayer, he approached him. A loan was made, a mission
served, and the loan repaid. Those who need our help may not always ask us.
It’s about time the Lord taught us a lesson. A great catastrophe is coming. Now I probably
shouldn’t say that because then it will happen. But it is going to happen. That’s what it will take
to turn our hearts to the Lord. And we will learn from it.
Our prayers will be different, less selfish. The scripture says “If ye are prepared, ye need not
fear.” Renew your prayers. You can [also] think a prayer. Carry a prayer in your heart
throughout the day. Learn to pray for that which is of worth. Another scripture says “…do not
spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.” (2
Nephi 9:51) That can be applied both spiritually [to prayer] and physically. Use what we have.
If something is broken, fix it. Our young people are going to see different times than what they
are used to. To you teenagers, your life will be different. Things are changing. You will have to
do without some of the things you are used to expecting. Don’t be afraid. Change your life to do
without the extravagances and luxuries that you’ve expected.
Learn to pray. There’s a difference between ‘saying prayers’ and praying. A wonderful time is
coming – it’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be short. But don’t be afraid.
Brother Tuttle was one of the Seventy when there were just seven of them. Now there are eight
quorums of the Seventy called to go throughout all the world. It’s an apostolic calling to teach
the gospel to every nation, people and tongue. They’ll know what to do and will lead and
counsel where they are called.
Take care of what we’ve got. Begin to save. The rainy day is coming – in fact, the snowy day is
already here [in reference to today’s first winter snow]. Reset our expectations. Give up
selfishness. Wickedness is all around us. In today’s world, it’s not safe for children to be
outside alone. We need to be ever watchful. We need to protect ourselves from the wickedness,
avarice, and greed in the world.
Read the scriptures and the revelations. The guidance and counsel are there. Read with new
eyes, and the scriptures, the Book of Mormon, will take on new meaning.
President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Speaking at the Forest Bend Ward, Salt Lake City UT Sunday, October 12, 2008
Page 5 of 5
As President Bush and world leaders gather in the coming week and the weeks ahead, there will
be no easy answers or solutions. Hard times are ahead and it’s difficult for them to see what to
do. It’s important to listen to the Sprit. We are led by prophets and apostles. We can see ahead.
We can be and are prepared.
I pronounce upon you an Apostolic blessing. Comfort our children. Little children can be afraid
of things we might not think of. Comfort them and strengthen our families. Turn off the
television and focus on family. Pay your tithing. The promise is there – pay your tithing and
you’ll be watched over. You’ll be alright. None of us is exempt from trials. If hard times come
upon you and your income dwindles, remember that tithing is equitable for everyone: 10%. If
you have nothing, then it’s 10% of practically nothing. Pay your tithing, do what you’re
supposed to do. You’ll be comforted.
Sure trials will come. Because of them, faith will increase. Happiness will increase. Security
will increase. You’ll be glad to be alive at this time. It’s a good time to be living. To be raising
children. I leave this testimony, counsel, and blessing with you in the holy name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.”
A Father's Love
This is a true story!
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.
They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together.
One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.
For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever.
The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island.
Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race at.....
NOW WATCH THIS VIDEO: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513
