Potato Garden

An old man lived alone.
He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work.
His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison.
The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his predicament.

Dear Son:
I am feeling pretty bad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant
my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden because
your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be
digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over.
I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.
Love, Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram:
"For HEAVEN'S SAKE, Dad,
don't dig up the garden! That's where I buried the GUNS!"

At 4 A.M. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police
officers showed up and started digging up the entire garden without finding
any guns. Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him
what happened and asking him what to do next.

His son's reply was
"Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad,
It's the best I could do for you from here."


- Moral Of the Story -
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD,
IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING
DEEP FROM YOUR HEART, YOU CAN DO IT.

Sad Story

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after
having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask.
I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me.

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know," the son continued,
"he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine
and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go,
and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking.
Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us.
We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like
this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home
and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard
nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received
a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after
falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken
to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him,
but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know,
their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us.
We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around,
but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable.
We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy,
beautiful, or smart as we are.

Puppies For Sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale."
Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough,
a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign.
"How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."
The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change.
"I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"
The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady,
who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.
One puppy was lagging considerably behind.

Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said,
"What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner explained
that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered
it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.
The little boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy."
The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog.
If you really want him, I'll just give him to you." The little boy got
quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes,
pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me.
That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and
I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month
until I have him paid for." The store owner countered,

"You really don't want to buy this little dog.
He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like
the other puppies." To his surprise, the little boy reached down and
rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg
supported by a big metal brace.

He looked up at the store owner and softly replied,
"Well, I don't run so well myself,
and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"

We ALL need someone who Understands!!