Parable of The Pickle Jar

As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar.  They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty.  Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.

I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate’s treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window.  When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.

Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production.   Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.  Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me – hopefully ‘These coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son.  You’re going to do better than me.  This old mill town’s not going to hold you back.’

Each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank – toward the cashier, he would grin proudly.  ‘These are for my son’s college fund.  He’ll never work at the mill all his life like me.’

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone.  I always got chocolate.  Dad always got vanilla.  When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm.  ‘When we get home, we’ll start filling the jar again.’  He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar.  As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other.  ‘You’ll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters,’ he said.  ‘But you’ll get there; I’ll see to that.’

No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar.  Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar.  To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me ‘When you finish college, Son,’ he told me, his eyes glistening, ‘You’ll never have to eat beans again – unless you want to.’

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town.  Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone.  It had served its purpose and had been removed.  A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood.

My dad was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith.  The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy.  In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me.

The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents.  After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild.  Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad’s arms.  ‘She probably needs to be changed,’ she said, carrying the baby into my parents’ bedroom to diaper her.

When Susan came back into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. ‘Look,’ she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.  To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins.

I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins.  With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room.  Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt.  Neither one of us could speak.  This truly touched my heart.

Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.

Never underestimate the power of your actions.  With one small gesture you can change a person’s life, for better or for worse.  God puts us all in each other’s lives to impact one another in some way.  Look for GOOD in others.

The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched – they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

You Reap What You Sow

“Good morning”, said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground…The man slowly looked up.  This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life.  Her coat was new.  She looked like 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 a 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 about, 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 20 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 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 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 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 and 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 be the glory – 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 thank you for the coffee.”

Have a wonderful day, and 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.

God’s love can cover the whole world, and yet small enough to stay in your heart.   When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go.

One of two things will happen, either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly!  God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.  Remember you to can be a blessing in someones life.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You’ve done enough, you klutz!”

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”  Susie whispers back, “I wet my pants once too.”

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good..

How to start your own business

The Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

‘What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?’

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50′s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

‘Absolutely,’ said the professor. ‘In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant.

They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello.’

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.