FAITH
My sister was lost but my father never gave up on her. She may not have even known it but his prayers and faith in her may have been the very thing she needed. ... read >
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I CAN'T FORGET AND I WON'T IGNORE
When I decided to volunteer for this program it was not my intention to attempt to find a solution for poverty. I wanted to help some homeless people, feel good about myself, even a little self-righteous, and move on, content that I had done my part. ... read >
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UNEXPECTED GRACE
My destiny changed when the high school librarian took an interest in me and began to influence my life. ... read >
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HELPING ANOTHER IN NEED
My parents always raised me to have strong values and hold firm to my convictions in life, and this was never more exemplified than when a situation arose when it would be easy for most people to ignore it. ... read >
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THE STRANGERS WHO CARED
Two days before Christmas we were in a panic. All the boxes that my father had sent us had arrived except for one. ... read >
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A SMALL GIFT
As a teenager, I worked at a grocery store as a cashier in a local mall. There was a young man who walked around the mall and it didn't look like he had any friends or family. ... read >
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THE MAN WHO TAUGHT ME TO CARE
Two years ago my girlfriend (now my wife) convinced me to return to school and work toward a career that I would find fulfilling. ... read >
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GIFT OF HOPE
This wasn't a normal thrift store, though; it was linked to a community organization that helped to give people with disabilities hope for a better future. ... read >
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FOOD IN THE WORLD OF UNEMPLOYMENT
... read >
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HELPING OR HURTING
Years ago my husband and I were walking in the city when a man approached us asking for money... ... read >
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THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE!
... read >
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MOTHER HEN
I remember that hot summer afternoon when I was finally taken to the hospital to get a glimpse of my much-awaited sibling. I had a baby sister and in my five-year-old mind what was of utmost importance was that now I had my very own playmate at home. ... read >
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THE PARKING METER BANK
My mother gave me a gift that day that will last a lifetime. ... read >
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CARING IS IN THE HEART
With his death, he taught the villagers a valuable lesson: We can never make assumptions about others, for sometimes the most caring individuals are those we wouldn’t suspect. ... read >
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LITTLE MISS MARY
A family friend sent me an email one day about this little girl, Little Miss Mary. The letter said that she was on the list for a lung transplant and requested help from the e-mail’s recipients. ... read >
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MAKING FRIENDS, LOSING ENEMIES
I didn’t wear make-up, and I didn’t wear those awesome bell-bottom pants. I didn’t exactly look like the coolest girl. But, I kept smiling at her, though she rolled her eyes, and I kept telling her she looked beautiful, even if she sighed in irritation ... read >
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NURSES MATTER
She will never know how much that mattered and it has been 25 years later now. ... read >
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ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE
Only a minute after I stopped on the side of the road, a semi pulled up behind me to see I needed help. I explained to him that I had to make my appointment, and that I was to deliver any day now. ... read >
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WHY DO I STUTTER?
I stutter. When I was younger, I didn't know what it was and I was often ashamed of it. I even was home-schooled because of it. I had no friends and thought no one liked me ‘cause I was different. ... read >
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TRUE FRIEND
There is a boy I know who used to always get picked on. He was insulted, he was pushed around, and he was taunted by bullies. ... read >
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A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE
We’d always wanted a real Christmas tree—a tall, lavishly decorated one, like other families had. It would have had singing lights, silver tinsel, blown-glass ornaments, and icicles dressing its snow-tipped branches. ... read >
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FINE EXAMPLES
My mother through her fine example instilled within me the desire to help others. She taught me to notice those whom others ignore ... read >
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IN THIS MOMENT, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT?
Today in the moments of frustration, ask yourself the question, "In this moment, what is most important?" ... read >
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THE GRACE OF SMALL KINDNESS
Just like I knew that Ryan would be fine, I knew that I would be fine, because love and peace aren't just in heaven, they are in every one of us. They were in the people who packed and painted. They were in the people who entertained Ryan in the hospital. They were in the people who reminded me to eat. They were in the people who had moved us. They were in the people who had arranged for hospice. I knew that just as I had needed Ryan to tell me a joke when I was down; I had needed those people, and they had wanted to be there for me. ... read >
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ME, THE COOS BAY BEST WESTERN MOTEL AND GRANDPA
Yesterday I was fortunate enough to find one more person in our world who is genuinely kind and caring. ... read >
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KINDNESS
The whole time we were catching up, I was just stunned that he still remembered me. ... read >
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CANCER AS A BLESSING
When I was 35, I was diagnosed with cancer. It was a nightmare. While you instantly slip into "poor me” or “why me" mode, times like these can also remind you of just how many people care about you and at a time of need, how many people will come out of the woodwork. ... read >
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THATS WHAT PARENTS ARE FOR....
I still remember it so well, that night before my boards exams... ... read >
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BEAUTIFUL
I realized at that moment that no matter how I was feeling, it was what I was doing that was important. ... read >
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KINDNESS
Before the day of the assembly, I had been trying to better myself by simply being kind to others. After the assembly, I got the idea of just saying thanks to the wonderful staff at my high school. ... read >
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SUNDAYS WITH JESSE
The principal had put me down for watching over Jesse. Jesse was like any other 4th grade boy except for one thing: He was profoundly autistic.
... read >
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A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
That Christmas Eve, however, as usual, my father left the house dressed as Santa Claus. He knew that even though our Christmas would be hard, he could not disappoint the other kids in the neighbourhood. ... read >
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THE OLD LADY IN THE WORN BROWN COAT
After a short while, my father had the heater up and running, making great heat for their cold home. I followed my dad upstairs where the lady asked my dad in poorly spoken English how much she owed him for fixing the heater. My dad looked around the house and said that he had to go out to the truck and write the bill. ... read >
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DEALING WITH RACISM
As a result of my actions, I have been friends with that kid for 3 years now. He’s happy I helped him when he was at his lowest point and I’m happy he helped me, too… He inspired me!
... read >
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THE STAMP
I began to look in my wallet and gave him one of my postage stamps, so he could take care of his letter. ... read >
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GUESTS FROM THE CLUB
Despite our financial hardship, though, every year during the holidays the best memories were made. Most of those grand memories take me back to December 25th, when Dad would announce to us after breakfast that he was going downtown to bring home guests for dinner. ... read >
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A TRUE FRIEND
My friend is now working on her Master's and needed a good friend to write a short paper on her integrity. She asked me, and this is the story I told in that paper. When she read it, she had no idea how much her efforts had meant to me then, or how much they still mean in my life. To me, that is what a true friend is. ... read >
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SHARING WHEN YOU CAN
I know it’s not much, but I hope it makes a difference in his life for a bit... Share what you have when you have it when you can, no matter how small. ... read >
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