FBL : Values

THE JUDGE

I was hired after my very first interview. I would be wearing a suit and tie every day. Well, I was flat broke and had no clothes suitable. ... read >

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WHAT I LEARNED FROM CARL

The occupant of the seat next to the one I was going for was an older man in a grey suit, well-worn dress shoes, and a black hat like I always pictured reporters wearing, but without the little press card. ... read >

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LEARNING A VALUABLE LESSON

It was harvest time near Quincy, Florida, picking season for hundreds of migrant workers. ... read >

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SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY

I expressed my downcast state to my mother, hoping for some pity. Instead, she said, "I heard Jamie was having a difficult day too. Why don't you make her some cookies and we'll take them to her this afternoon?" ... read >

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GOLDEN RULE

Three years ago I was invited to join a group of individuals that were of diverse faiths. These wonderful people each have different beliefs and worship individually according to their faiths traditions. ... read >

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TOOTHLESS GRIN

I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces. A nicely dressed little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well, with a roll of money clamped tightly in her little hand. ... read >

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LOVE AND CHARITY

My 3-year-old showed me just how good it feels to give to others when we went to the store for our 'treat day' (Fridays). ... read >

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RIGHT PLACE - RIGHT TIME

A few years ago when my youngest son Matthew was about 8 or 9 years old, we were getting things together to take to the Salvation Army at Christmas time. ... read >

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LEARNING TO GIVE

The town in which we stayed, Satu Mare, was filled with gypsies begging on tile streets. The road we traveled on the two hour bus ride to the village was lined with small two-room houses which house entire families. ... read >

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A SMALL FIRE

When I got there, the roof was in flames, four fire engines were at work, and there were people standing around, watching. ... 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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SHARING

When I heard the doorbell ring, I went promptly to the door. As I opened it I saw a young man, about 24 years of age, standing there quietly. ... read >

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DREAS DO COME TRUE

Married with two children at thirty-eight, I grew restless. I was unhappy with my job and felt exhausted at the end of the day. I wanted to do something creative with my life. “Life begins at forty” became my mantra. ... 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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SHARING THE FEELING

A bowl of curd rice, a promise, and a valuable lesson learned. ... 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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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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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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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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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 >