Dare To Do Your Best - Inspirational Stories

The Presence Of His Love

(Unknown Author)

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver, and using her hands to feel the location of the seats, walked down the aisle and found the seat he'd told her was empty. Then she settled in, placed her briefcase on her lap and rested her cane against her leg.

It had been a year since Susan, thirty-four, became blind. Due to a medical misdiagnosis, she had been rendered sightless, and she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness, anger, frustration and self-pity. Once a fiercely independent woman, Susan now felt condemned by this terrible twist of fate to become a powerless, helpless burden on everyone around her.

She would plead, her heart knotted with anger, "How could this have happened to me?" But no matter how much she cried or ranted or prayed, she knew the painful truth her sight was never going to return. A cloud of depression hung over Susan's once optimistic spirit. Just getting through each day was an exercise in frustration and exhaustion. And all she had to cling to was her husband Mark.

Mark was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all of his heart. When she first lost her sight, he watched her sink into despair and was determined to help his wife gain the strength and confidence she needed to become independent again. Mark's military background had trained him well to deal with sensitive situations, and yet he knew this was the most difficult battle he would ever face.

Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to drive her to work each day, even though they worked at opposite ends of the city. At first, this comforted Susan and fulfilled Mark's need to protect his sightless wife who was so insecure about performing the slightest task.

Soon, however, Mark realized that this arrangement wasn't working - it was hectic, and costly. Susan is going to have to start taking the bus again, he admitted to himself. But just the thought of mentioning it to her made him cringe. She was still so fragile, so angry. How would she react?

Just as Mark predicted, Susan was horrified at the idea of taking the bus again. "I'm blind! How am I supposed to know where I'm going? I feel like you're abandoning me," she responded bitterly.

Mark's heart broke to hear these words, but he knew what had to be done. He promised Susan that each morning and evening he would ride the bus with her, for as long as it took, until she got the hang of it. And that is exactly what happened.

For two solid weeks, Mark, military uniform and all, accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could watch out for her, and save her a seat. He made her laugh, even on those not-so-good days when she would trip exiting the bus, or drop her briefcase.

Each morning they made the journey together, and Mark would take a cab back to his office. Although this routine was even more costly and exhausting than the previous one, Mark knew it was only a matter of time before Susan would be able to ride the bus on her own. He believed in her, in the Susan he used to know before she'd lost her sight, who wasn't afraid of any challenge and who would never, ever quit.

Finally, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived, and before she left, she threw her arms around Mark, her temporary bus riding companion, her husband, and her best friend. Her eyes filled with tears of gratitude for his loyalty, his patience, his love. She said good-bye, and for the first time, they went their separate ways. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday... Each day on her own went perfectly, and Susan had never felt better. She was doing it! She was going to work all by herself!

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was paying for her fare to exit the bus, the driver said, "Boy, I sure envy you." Susan wasn't sure if the driver was speaking to her or not. After all, who on earth would ever envy a blind woman who had struggled just to find the courage to live for the past year? Curious, she asked the driver, "Why do you say that you envy me?"

The driver responded, "It must feel so good to be taken care of and protected like you are." Susan had no idea what the driver was talking about, and asked again, "What do you mean?"

The driver answered, "You know, every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely and he watches you until you enter your office building. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute and walks away. You are one blessed lady."

Tears of happiness poured down Susan's cheeks. For although she couldn't physically see him, she had always felt Mark's presence. She was blessed, so blessed, for he had given her a gift more powerful than sight, a gift she didn't need to see to believe - the gift of love that can bring light where there had been darkness.

(This is a reprint from the Becoming Your Best Newsletter, January 2012, Volume 3, Issue 1)

Heart Of Compassion

By George M. Graham Jr.

If you were asked to close your eyes and point to yourself, do you know where you are most likely to point? When asked to do this exercise, many people point toward the center of their bodies - the heart.

Throughout history, writers, poets, and scholars have referred to the heart as the “seat” of man’s identity, soul, or will. They have described it as the symbolic organ associated with love and emotion. The heart is found many times throughout the Bible. Proverbs 15:13 reads, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” In Proverbs 23:7a, we read, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...”

In recent years, research has substantiated that the heart is much more than just an organ that pumps blood throughout the body. There is evidence to indicate the heart has intelligence, is involved with our feelings and emotions, and plays a role in memories. It appears it also has a part in helping our brain interpret the world around us. The heart is now referred to as our second brain.

The heart is part of what is referred to as the enteric nervous system, which includes neurons that extend into our gut. These neurons are identical to neural cells in the brain. The heart continuously communicates with the brain through the connection of the enteric nervous system to the central nervous system through neurological, biophysical, biochemical, and electromagnetic signals. In fact, evidence indicates the heart sends more messages to the central nervous system and brain than it receives. And it appears it can influence our perceptions, decision-making, health, and emotional well-being.

We have all heard expressions such as “follow your heart,” “trust your heart,” or “go with your gut feelings.” These expressions compel us to listen to that still, small voice and follow through with conviction.

Other expressions we often hear are “he has a great heart” or “she has a lot of heart.”  These expressions typically refer to people who manifest lovingkindness and compassion. Compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical, and spiritual traditions. It embodies the Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Compassion means feeling sympathy or shared suffering for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate suffering or show extraordinary kindness. A quote from Leo Buscaglia describes the simplicity of compassion and the impact it can have on another, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa was the epitome of living life with a heart of compassion. She gave of herself unselfishly and dedicated her life to ministering to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying. Her heart of compassion is an example to all.

Although it is not every person’s purpose to be like Mother Teresa, we can develop a heart of compassion to the full potential of what we were called to be. The following story is an excellent example of sensitivity and awareness of opportunities to utilize our heart of compassion.

This story is an excerpt from Steve Goodier’s newsletter—Life Support Systems. It is part of the August 17, 2009 issue in an article entitled “Good People.” (http://www.LifeSupportSystem.com.)

A trucker relates that he was traveling through rural North Carolina on I-95 when a brown sedan merged onto the highway. It weaved back and forth between lanes, causing the truck driver to shift into a lower gear. At first, he thought the driver was drunk, but when he came closer, the trucker saw an old man shaking uncontrollably behind the wheel. He noticed a Citizen’s Band aerial whipping to and fro as the car jerked between lanes, so he called on the radio: “You in the brown Chevy if you can hear me, pull over. Pull off the road!”

Amazingly, he did! The trucker pulled up behind the car and climbed from his cab. The elderly man staggered from his auto and fell into the trucker’s arms. He poured out a story of months of fear and pain that accompanied the illness of his only daughter.

Now he was returning from the hospital, where it was decided that she would cease any further treatment. In the hospital, he remained strong and stoic for his daughter, but out on the road, he fell apart.

The two men talked for the good part of an hour. The father eventually decided to share his pain with his daughter and said he felt good enough to drive home. The men embraced, and the trucker followed him for 50 miles. As they went along, the two talked together on the radio.

The older man finally acknowledged that his exit was ahead and thanked his new friend again for the help. The trucker asked if he could make it home all right, and suddenly, a third voice broke in on the conversation, “Breaker 19, don’t worry, good buddy. Go your way. I’ll see him home!” Glancing in his mirror, he saw a livestock truck move into the exit lane behind the brown sedan.

A heart of compassion is a dynamic force essential to human relationships. It is something that can be nurtured and developed. I would like to share a simple acronym with you that you may find helpful in creating a heart of compassion.

Most of us currently own or have owned a pet at one time or another. We love our pets, and we often feel it gives love back. Having a pet is similar to having a child. You feed it, take care of it, and get it medical attention. Many allow their pet to sleep in bed with them at night time. Most folks are compassionate about their pets because they are very near and dear to their hearts.

Using the word PET as an acronym, we can see an example of simple steps to develop a heart of compassion. P—is the first letter of the word PRACTICE. We can practice having a heart of compassion by being aware of our interactions with others. We can practice simple acts of kindness. As with any activity, you will become more proficient as you practice and develop a habit of living with a heart of compassion.

E—is the first letter of the word EMPATHY. We can empathize with others who are suffering or going through difficult times. We can offer whatever assistance we can give—whether it be as simple as a  listening ear or giving of our time, or in some cases, it could mean financial support. When we focus on the things we have in common with others and not on our differences, it becomes easier to empathize and give from a heart of compassion.

T—is the first letter of the word THANKFUL. When we remember to count our blessings and think about all the things we have for which to be thankful, it is much easier to have an attitude of gratitude. This allows us to function from a place of wanting to give, help, and serve others with a heart of compassion.

Think about the acronym PET to assist you in developing your heart of compassion. You will be surprised by the difference this can make for you and others as you Dare To Do Your Best.