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{Straight From the Heart} *It's Only Money* 4/23/00
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It's Only Money
By: Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
Several months ago when I was seated on the bus at the terminal
and going home from work, a woman showed a kindness that up
to now I cannot forget.
The bus was still not full. I sat on the third row, by the window,
on the driver's side. It was nearly six p.m. but the driver showed
no intention of getting the bus on the road.
I saw a middle-aged woman take a seat at the opposite side. She
was crying. Without directly talking to anyone, she continued to
cry and tell her story.
She came to the city to visit her daughter and was going back
home to the province. On her way to the bus terminal, one of her
bags were snatched and stolen from her.
She weepingly narrated that the bag had half of the money she
brought with her. The other half was rolled in a hankie and hidden
under her blouse so she still had some money left.
The bus conductor, driver and the other passengers all listened to
her tale and tried to sympathize with her. Finally, after a few minutes,
she stopped and took out some cheese bread from her bag and began
to eat. Then I saw an old man in tattered clothes get on the bus and
take the seat directly in front of the crying woman.
A few more minutes and all the seats were already taken and the
driver got behind the wheel and got ready to move. The bus conductor
took out tickets and began asking us where we're getting off.
When he got to the old man, he got suspicious and asked if the old man
had any money with him. The old man said no, but he knew where he was
getting off. He said he spent all his money that morning when he
accidentally got off the wrong bus.
Upon hearing this, the bus conductor told the old man that he couldn't
possibly ride the bus and ordered him to get off. The old man wouldn't
budge. He was near to crying and he begged the bus conductor to let
him take that ride so he could go home. The driver heard what was
happening and approached the old man and he, too, told the old man
to get off.
The woman was listening and observing what was transpiring. When the
bus driver and conductor started to raise their voices at the old man,
she interfered. She said, "Stop harrassing him. Can't you see he's just
trying to go home?"
"He doesn't have money!" the driver told her in a loud voice.
"Well, that's not reason enough!" she insisted. "Where will he get off
and how much is his fare?"
The bus conductor mumbled the fare.
"Fine," said the woman and she reached between her blouse and took
out her only remaining money. She gave it to the bus conductor. "Here's
his fare and mine. I'll pay for him. It's only money. Just stop giving him
a hard time. Can't you see he's old and weak?"
That made all heads turn to the woman. Minutes before, we were watching
her cry over the money she lost and now she was paying for the old man's
fare with what's left of her money. Everyone, including me, felt humbled
by the woman's kindness and unselfishness.
Finally, the bus left the terminal. Not contented to pay for the old man's
fare, she gave him some of her food and a 50-peso bill. She smiled the
rest of the trip.
© 2000
Shery Ma Belle Arrieta
iamshery@msc.net.ph
Send Shery an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
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Shery publishes the daily motivational and inspirational
newsletter, Positive Quotes, where stories such as the
one above appear. To subscribe, send an email to
mailto:positivequotes-subscribe@egroups.com. Visit the
PQ Web site at http://positivequotes.homepage.com .
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REQUEST:
From: missyb@wgmb-wvla.com (MISSY BERNARD)
Dear Michael,
I am 26 years old, mother of two beautiful children. They are not even over
the age of 3. I am in a very physically abusive relationship. I have
finally found the courage to get out of it, although I am petrified that I
will not be able to make it on my own with my children financially. Please
pray that I will be able to keep them fed, sheltered and that we make it
together and that we will be okay.
Also please pray for my spouse, that he gets the help he needs. He too was
an abused child. I still love him so and wish him the best. I just don't
want to be afraid anymore.
Thank You!
Melissa
_
/_/\/\ MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\ / THUNDER27@aol.com http://members.aol.com/Thunder27/index.html
/_/ \ "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \ Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live for the Son
\_\/ of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video
we gave them. They loved it, to say the least! Within thirty
seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too. They said it was
the best Christmas gift we could have given them!! You did such
a beautiful job! They were so suprised and so touched---they
really, really, really loved it. Thanks for helping to make it so
special to us all. My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for
the video too! Thanks again!"
Kelli (RKaGe@aol.com) College Station, TX
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