Long ago I learned a profound lesson about love. That lesson was powerful and it has stayed with me. The experience that held the message didn’t appear to be all that special – at least I didn’t think it was until much later, when I realized that it helped to shape who I’d become. The [...]
Kristen bounded down the stairs. She failed to show any resemblance to the graceful descent she expected to display the following week when she planned to head off to the senior prom with Jay. Kristen looked forward to the prom more than any other event during her final year of high school. Kristen thought back [...]
A few years ago my dad asked me if I would help him move. He needed me to take the bus to where he lived so that I could drive the U-Haul. I lived at the half way point between his old place and new one. My grandparents lived about 15 miles from my home. [...]
Some time ago, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. Staying near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, “I love you, and I wish you enough.” The daughter answered, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. [...]
Shoun became a teacher of Soto Zen. When he was still a student his father passed away, leaving him to care for his old mother. Whenever Shoun went to a meditation hall he always took his mother with him. Since she accompanied him, when he visited monasteries he could not live with the monks. So [...]
One of my favorite memories is of a family trip to Florida with my older sister, her two children, and my youngest baby brother. This is an event that sticks in my memory for several reasons. But I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when I remember the afternoon we spent at Disney World in [...]
On this morning a year ago (April 16, 2010), my mother quietly passed from this life into God’s arms. She wanted it so badly for many years. We had our differences over the years, but although we were never close, we forgave each other the hurts we caused. It was very sad when we found [...]
Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: “How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?” The surgeon said, “I’m sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn’t make it.” Sally said, “Why do [...]
After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.” The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who [...]
Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench [...]