The Smell of Rain

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery.

Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.
That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.



At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. "I don't think she's going to make it," he said, as kindly as he could. "There's only a 10%
chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one"

Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived.

She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she
would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to
complete mental retardation, and on and on.

"No! No!" was all Diana could say. She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four.

Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away


But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Dana's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby
girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love.

All they could do, as Dana struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.


There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger. But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there.

At last, when Dana turned two months old. her parents were able to hold her in their
arms for the very first time.


And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her
chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life.


She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment. Simply,
she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story.

One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Dana
was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing.

As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent. Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, "Do you smell that?"

Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied,
"Yes, it smells like rain." Dana closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell
that?"

Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like
rain."

Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her
small hands and loudly announced, "No, it smells like Him.

It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."

Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other
children.

Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the
members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.


During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

"I can do all things in Him who strengthens me."

Read more....

57 Cents That Made History

(Editor’s note: Thanks to a reader, we have added information on the true story at the bottom of this post. This version of the story, while popular, is not quite accurate. The true story, however, is still very powerful.)

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it ‘was too crowded’. “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind-hearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribble in childish handwriting which read, “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school.”

For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there!

A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for a 57 cent payment.

Church members made large subscriptions. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000.00 a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300, and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside at Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell.

Contributed by Kay McCrary from http://www.inspirationalarchive.com

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The Chain of Love

He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home.

It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country.

He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on.

You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.

She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "...and think of me".

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much.

Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.

After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you."

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe."

from http://www.inspirationalarchive.com/

Read more....

The Gift of Marriage

I remember when I was little,
the good times we all had...
The best laughter in the whole wide world,
came from Mom and Dad...

And I recall those hard times too
for trials will come to us all...
The rainbow we do not perceive,
until the rain first falls...

Thank you for loving each other
and for every single tear...
For all those times you gave without ceasing
and the times you loved without fear...

For richer or for poorer,
you gave those tears to me...
In each and every trial you had,
I learned from that you see...

God has blessed you with such a beautiful gift
it's so hard to find words to say...
Thank you for loving each other so much,
and for giving me today...

Love,
Sandy

by Sandy G. Quispe from http://www.inspirationalarchive.com/


Read more....

Melangkah lebih Jauh

"Kita tidak akan pernah tahu sejauh mana kita dapat melangkah jika kita tidak mengambil keputusan untuk melangkah lebih jauh" Read more....

Don't Hate Me, Mom

SEBUAH KISAH IRONIS DI IRLANDIA UTARA
YANG TELAH DITERJEMAHKAN KEDALAM BAHASA INDONESIA
-----------------------------------------------------------
SAYA IBU TERBURUK DIDUNIA INI
................................................................
OH TUHAN BIARLAH AKU MENCERITAKAN HAL INI............. SEBELUM AJAL
MENJEMPUTKU..........
20TAHUN YANG LALU SAYA MELAHIRKAN SEORANG ANAK LAKI-LAKI, WAJAHNYA
LUMAYAN TAMPAN NAMUN TERLIHAT AGAK BODOH ....... SAM MEMBERI IA NAMA ERIC
.......
SEMAKIN BERKEMBANG SEMAKIN NAMPAK JELAS BAHWA ANAK INI MEMANG AGAK
TERBELAKANG. SAYA BERNIAT MEMBERIKANNYA KEPADA ORANG LAIN SAJA UNTUK
DIJADIKAN BUDAK/PELAYAN. NAMUN SAM SUAMI SAYA MENCEGAH NIAT BURUK
SAYA.

AKHIRNYA TERPAKSA SAYA MEMBESARKANNYA JUGA. DITAHUN YANG KEDUA SETELAH
MELAHIRKAN ERIC, SAYA PUN MELAHIRKAN KEMBALI SEORANG ANAK PEREMPUAN YANG
CANTIK MUNGIL.SAYA MENAMAKAN IA ANGELICA. SAYA SANGAT MENYAYANGI ANGELICA
DEMIKIAN JUGA SAM, SERINGKALI KAMI MENGAJAKNYA PERGI KE TAMAN HIBURAN, DAN
MEMBELIKANNYA PAKAIAN ANAK YANG INDAH-INDAH ... TAPI TIDAK DEMIKIAN DENGAN
ERIC. IA HANYA MEMILIKI BEBERAPA STEL PAKAIAN BUTUT. SAM BERNIAT
MEMBELIKANNYA.NAMUN SAYA MELARANGNYA.DENGAN DALIH MENGHEMAT KEUANGAN
KELUARGA.DAN SAM SELALU MENURUTI PERKATAAN SAYA. DISAAT ANGELICA BERUMUR 2
TAHUN SAM MENINGGAL DUNIA.DAN PADA SAAT ITU ERIC SUDAH BERUMUR 4 TAHUN.
KELUARGA KAMI SEMAKIN MISKIN DISERTAI HUTANG YANG SEMAKIN MENUMPUK. SAYA
MENGAMBIL SEBUAH TINDAKAN YANG MEMBUAT SAYA MENYESAL SEUMUR
HIDUP. SAYA PERGI MENINGGALKAN KAMPUNG KELAHIRAN SAYA ITU BESERTA ERIC YANG
MASIH TERTIDUR LELAP, DIGUBUK YANG TERPAKSA KAMI TINGGALI ... SETELAH
SAYA MENJUAL RUMAH UNTUK MELUNASI HUTANG-HUTANG ...

SETAHUN ... 2 TAHUN ....... 5 TAHUN ...... 10 TAHUN .....TELAH BERLALU SEJAK
KEJADIAN ITU ... SAYA TELAH MENIKAH KEMBALI DENGAN BRAD, SEORANG PRIA
DEWASA, IA
SEORANG PASTUR DI GEREJA ST .MARIA. 5 TAHUN LAMANYA UMUR PERNIKAHAN KAMI,DAN
BERKATNYA SIFAT-SIFAT SAYA YANG SEMULA PEMARAH, EGOIS, DAN TINGGI
HATI, BERUBAH SEDIKIT DEMI SEDIKIT. SAYA MENJADI LEBIH SABAR DAN
PENYAYANG.ANGELICA TELAH BERUMUR 12 TAHUN DAN KAMI SEKOLAHKAN DIA DI
ASRAMA PUTRI SEKOLAH PERAWATAN. TIDAK ADA LAGI YANG INGAT TENTANG ERIC DAN
TIDAK ADA LAGI YANG MENGINGATNYA.HINGGA SUATU MALAM ............ MALAM
DIMANA
SAYA BERMIMPI TENTANG SEORANG ANAK ....... WAJAHNYA AGAK TAMPAN, IA TAMPAK
PUCAT SEKALI ... IA MELIHAT KEARAH SAYA SAMBIL TERSENYUM IA BERKATA:
"TANTE.TANTE KENAL MAMA SAYA ? SAYA LINDU CEKALI PADA MOMMY"

SETELAH MENGATAKAN ITU IA MULAI BERANJAK PERGI, NAMUN SAYA MENAHANNYA
"TUNGGU...SEPERTINYA SAYA MENGENALMU.SIAPA NAMAMU ANAK MANIS. NAMA SAYA ELIC
TANTE. ERIC...??? ERIC ....... YA TUHAN KAU BENAR-BENAR ERIC ?????
SAYA LANGSUNG TERSENTAK DAN BANGUN. RASA BERSALAH, SESAL, DAN BERBAGAI
PERASAAN ANEH MENERPA DIRI SAYA SAAT
ITU JUGA. TIBA-TIBA TERINGAT KEMBALI KISAH IRONIS YANG TERJADI DULU
KALA, SEPERTI PEMUTARAN FILM LAMA DI KEPALA SAYA. NAMUN BARU SEKARANG SAYA
MENYADARI BETAPA JAHATNYA PERBUATAN SAYA DULU. DAN SAYA MENGAMBIL
KEPUTUSAN UNTUK MATI SAJA SAAT ITU, YAH SAYA HARUS MATI, MATI, MATI
............
SE INCHI JARAK PISAU YANG AKAN SAYA GORESKAN KE URAT NADI SAYA, SAAT
ITU SAYA TERINGAT KEMBALI DENGAN ERIC, YAH ERIC ... ERIC MOMMY AKAN
MENJEMPUTMU ERIC ..........

SORE ITU SAYA MEMARKIRKAN MOBIL CIVIC BIRU SAYA DISAMPING SEBUAH GUBUK,
DAN BRAD DENGAN PANDANGAN HERAN MENATAP SAYA DARI SAMPING. "MARY APA YANG
SEBENARNYA TERJADI MARY" ?????? " OH BRADD KAU PASTI AKAN MEMBENCI
SAYA SETELAH SAYA MENCERITAKAN HAL YANG TELAH SAYA LAKUKAN DULU KALA" TAPI
AKU MENCERITAKANNYA JUGA DENGAN TERISAK-ISAK .... TAPI TERNYATA TUHAN
SUNGGUH BERBAIK HATI PADA SAYA, IA MEMBERIKAN SUAMI YANG BEGITU BAIK DAN
PENGERTIAN KEPADA SAYA ....SETELAH TANGIS SAYA REDA, SAYA KELUAR DARI MOBIL
DIIKUTI BRAD DARI BELAKANG,MATA SAYA MENATAP LEKAT PADA GUBUK YANG
TERBENTANG 2 METER DI HADAPAN SAYA. DAN SAYA MULAI INGAT BETAPA GUBUK
TERSEBUT PERNAH SAYA TINGGALI BEBERAPA BULAN LAMANYA DAN ERIC .... ERIC
...... SA .... SAYA MENINGGALKAN ERIC DISANA 10 TAHUN YANG LALU, .DENGAN
PERASAAN SEDIH SAYA BERLARI MENGHAMPIRI GUBUK TERSEBUT DAN
MEMBUKA PINTU YANG TERBUAT DARI BAMBU ITU. ....... GELAP ...... TIDAK
TERLIHAT APAPUN JUGA !! PERLAHAN-LAHAN MATA SAYA MULAI TERBIASA DENGAN
KEGELAPAN DALAM RUANGAN KECIL ITU, DAN SAYA TIDAK
MELIHAT SIAPAPUN DIDALAMNYA ........ HANYA SEPOTONG KAIN BUTUT DIATAS TANAH.
SAYA MENGAMBILNYA DAN MENGAMATINYA ... AIR MATA SAYA KEMBALI MENGALIR,
KARENA SAYA MENGENALI POTONGAN KAIN ITU ADALAH BAJU BUTUT YANG DULU
DIKENAKAN ERIC SEHARI-HARINYA ..........................

BEBERAPA SAAT KEMUDIAN DENGAN PERASAAN YANG SULIT DILUKISKAN SAYAPUN KELUAR
DARI RUANGAN ITU ..... AIR MATA SAYA MENGALIR DENGAN DERAS.DAN MALAM ITU
SAYA HANYA DIAM SAJA.

SESAAT SAYA DAN BRAD MULAI NAIK KE MOBIL, MENINGGALKAN TEMPAT TERSEBUT,
SAYA MELIHAT SESEORANG DI BELAKANG MOBIL KAMI, DAN SAYA SEMPAT KAGET
KARENA KEADAAN SAAT ITU SUDAH GELAP, DAN TERLIHAT WAJAH ORANG ITU BEGITU
KOTOR,..TERNYATA SEORANG WANITA TUA .... KEMBALI SAYA TERSENTAK KAGET
KETIKA IA TIBA-TIBA MENEGUR SAYA DENGAN SUARANYA YANG PARAU ......
"HEIII....
SIAPA KAMU, DAN MAU APA KAMU KEMARI !" ... DENGAN MEMBERANIKAN DIRI
SAYAPUN BERTANYA "BIBI APA KAMU KENAL DENGAN SEORANG ANAK BERNAMA ERIC, IA
DULU TINGGAL DISINI !". IA MENJAWAB, "KALAU KAMU IBUNYA, KAMU SUNGGUH
PEREMPUAN TERKUTUK. TAHUKAH KAMU 10 TAHUN YANG LALU SEJAK KAMU
MENINGGALKANNYA DISINI. IA TERUS MENUNGGU DAN MEMANGGIL MOMMY ......
MOMMY, KARENA TIDAK TEGA SAYA TERKADANG MEMBERINYA MAKANAN DAN MENGAJAKNYA
TINGGAL BERSAMA SAYA. MESKIPUN SAYA ORANG MISKIN DAN PEKERJAAN SAYA
MENGUMPULKAN
SAMPAH NAMUN SAYA TIDAK AKAN MENINGGALKAN ANAK SAYA SEPERTI ITU.
SAMPAI TIGA BULAN YANG LALU ERIC MENINGGALKAN SECARIK KERTAS INI, IA BELAJAR
MENULIS SETIAP HARI -NYA SELAMA BERTAHUN-TAHUN HANYA UNTUK MENULIS INI
UNTUKMU .... SAYAPUN MEMBACA KERTAS ITU..." MOMMY MENGAPA MOMMY TIDAK PERNAH
KEMBALI LAGI ... MOMMY MARAH SAMA ERIC YAH.. MOM BIARLAH ERIC YANG PERGI
SAJA, TAPI MOMMY HARUS BERJANJI KALAU MOMMY TIDAK AKAN MARAH LAGI SAMA ERIC.
BYE MOM....

SAYA MENJERIT HISTERIS MEMBACA SURAT ITU. "BU TOLONG KATAKAN .... KATAKAN
DIMANA IA SEKARANG ??? ... SAYA AKAN SANGAT MENYAYANGINYA SEKARANG.
SAYA TIDAK AKAN MENINGGALKANNYA LAGI.BU ... TOLONG KATAKAN !!!." ...BRAD
MEMELUK SAYA YANG BERGETAR KERAS..."

"NYONYA SEMUA SUDAH TERLAMBAT, (DENGAN NADA MELEMBUT ) SEHARI SEBELUM
NYONYA DATANG ERIC TELAH MENINGGAL DUNIA. IA MENINGGAL DI BELAKANG GUBUK
INI."
" TUBUHNYA SANGAT KURUS, IA SANGAT LEMAH. HANYA DEMI MENUNGGUMU IA
TERUS BERTAHAN DI BELAKANG GUBUK INI, TANPA BERANI MASUK KEDALAM GUBUK INI,
IA TAKUT APABILA MOMMY-NYA DATANG AKAN PERGI LAGI BILA MELIHAT IA
DISANA... IA HANYA BERHARAP DAPAT MELIHAT MOMMY -NYA DARI BELAKANG GUBUK
INI. ... MESKIPUN HUJAN DERAS, DENGAN KONDISINYA YANG LEMAH IA TERUS
BERSIKERAS MENUNGGU NYONYA DI SANA. "NYONYA DOSA ANDA TIDAK TERAMPUNKAN !!!
"

SAYA LANGSUNG PINGSAN DAN TIDAK INGAT APA-APA LAGI !!

MARRY SCHELEERY


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TUHAN TAHU

Jika kau merasa lelah dan tak berdaya dari usaha yang sepertinya sia-sia ... Tuhan tahu berapa keras engkau sudah berusaha
Ketika kau sudah menangis sekian lama dan hatimu masih terasa pedih ...Tuhan sudah menghitung air matamu.

Jika kau pikir bahwa hidupmu sedang menunggu sesuatu dan waktu serasa berlalu dengan begitu saja... Tuhan sedang menunggu bersama denganmu.
Ketika kau merasa sendirian dan teman-temanmu terlalu sibuk untuk menelpon... Tuhan selalu berada di sampingmu.

Jika kau pikir bahwa kau sudah mencoba segalanya dan tidak tahu hendak berbuat apa lagi... Tuhan punya jawabannya.
Ketika segala sesuatu menjadi tidak masuk akal dan kau merasa pusing atau tertekan... Tuhan dapat menenangkanmu.

Jika tiba-tiba kau dapat melihat jejak-jejak harapan... Tuhan sedang berbisik kepadamu.
Ketika segala sesuatu berjalan lancar dan kau merasa ingin mengucap syukur... Tuhan telah memberkatimu.

Jika sesuatu yang indah terjadi dan kau dipenuhi ketakjuban... Tuhan telah tersenyum padamu.
Ketika kau memliki tujuan untuk dipenuhi dan mimpi untuk digenapi ... Tuhan sudah membuka matamu dan memanggilmu dengan namamu.
Ingat bahwa dimanapun kau atau kemanapun kau menghadap ...
TUHAN TAHU.


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Masih Ada Hari Esok

Pada suatu tempat, hiduplah seorang anak. Dia hidup dalam keluarga yang bahagia, dengan orang tua dan sanak keluarganya. Tetapi, dia tidak pernah mensyukuri betapa baiknya kehidupan yang dia miliki. Dia terus bermain, menggangu sanak keluarganya kalau mereka tidak mau bermain apa yang dia ingin main. Tetapi, ketika dia mau minta maaf, dia selalu berkata,"Tidak apa-apa, besok kan bisa."

Ketika agak besar, sekolah sangat menyenangkan baginya. Dia belajar, mendapat teman, dan sangat bahagia. Tetapi, dia nggak pernah mensyukurinya. Semua begitu saja dijalaninya sehingga dia anggap semua sudah sewajarnya. Suatu hari, dia berkelahi dengan teman baiknya. Walaupun dia tahu itu salah, tapi tidak tidak pernah mengambil inisiatif untuk minta maaf dan berbaikan dengan teman baiknya. Alasan dia, "Tidak apa-apa, besok kan bisa."


Ketika dia agak besar, teman baiknya tadi bukanlah temannya lagi. Walaupun dia masih sering melihat temannya itu, tapi mereka tidak pernah saling tegur. Tapi itu bukanlah masalah, karena dia masih punya banyak teman baik yang lain. Dia dan teman-temannya hampir melakukan segala sesuatu bersama-sama, makan, main, kerjakan PR, dan jalan-jalan. Ya, mereka semua teman-temannya yang paling baik.

Setelah lulus, kerja membuatnya sibuk. Dia ketemu seorang cewek yang sangat cantik dan baik dan segera dia menjadi pacarnya. Dia begitu sibuk dengan kerjanya, karena dia ingin dipromosikan ke posisi paling tinggi dalam waktu yang sesingkat mungkin. Tentu, dia rindu sama teman-temannya. Tapi dia tidak pernah lagi menghubungi mereka lagi, bahkan lewat telepon. Dia selalu berkata, "Ah, aku capek, besok saja aku hubungin mereka." Ini tidak terlalu mengganggu dia karena dia punya teman-teman sekerja selalu mau diajak keluar. Jadi, waktu pun berlalu, dia lupa sama sekali untuk menelepon teman-temannya.

Setelah dia menikah dan punya anak, dia bekerja lebih keras agar dalam membahagiakan keluarganya. Dia tidak pernah lagi membeli bunga untuk istrinya, atau pun mengingat hari ulang tahun istrinya dan juga hari pernikahan mereka. Tapi, itu tidak masalah baginya, karena istrinya selalu mengerti dia, dan tidak pernah menyalahkannya. Tentu, kadang-kadang dia merasa bersalah dan sangat ingin punya kesempatan untuk mengatakan pada istrinya "Aku cinta kamu", tapi dia tidak pernah melakukannya. Alasan dia "Tidak apa-apa, saya pasti besok akan mengatakannya." Dia tidak pernah sempat datang ke pesta ulang tahun anak-anaknya, tapi dia tidak tahu ini akan berpengaruh pada anak-anaknya. Anak-anak mulai menjauhinya, dan tidak pernah benar-benar menghabiskan waktu mereka dengan ayahnya.

Suatu hari, kemalangan datang ketika istrinya tewas dalam kecelakaan. Dia ditabrak lari. Tapi hari itu, dia sedang ada rapat. Dia tidak sadar bahwa itu kecelakaan yang fatal, dia baru datang saat istrinya akan dijemput maut. Sebelum sempat berkata "Aku cinta kamu", istrinya meninggal. Laki-laki itu remuk hatinya dan mencoba mencari menghibur diri melalu anak-anaknya setelah kematian istrinya. Tapi, dia baru sadar anak-anaknya tidak pernah mau berkomunikasi dengannya. Segera, anak-anaknya dewasa dan membangun keluarganya masing-masing. Tidak ada yang peduli sama orang tua ini yang di masa lalunya tidak pernah meluangkan waktunya untuk mereka.

Dia pindah ke rumah jompo yang terbaik, yang menyediakan pelayanan sangat baik dengan uang yang dia simpan untuk perayaan pernikahan ke 50, 60, dan 70 dia dan istrinya. Semua uang itu sebenarnya untuk dipakai pergi ke Hawaii, New Zealand, dan negara-negara lain, tapi kini dipakai untuk membayar biaya tinggal dia di rumah jompo tersebut.

Sejak itu sampai dia meninggal, hanya ada orang-orang tua dan suster yang merawatnya. Dia kini merasa sangat kesepian, perasaan yang tidak pernah dia rasakan sebelumnya. Saat dia mau meninggal, dia memanggil seorang suster dan berkata padanya, "Ah, andai saja aku menyadari ini dari dulu...." Dan dia meninggal dengan airmata di pipinya.

Apa yang saya ingin coba katakan pada kamu, waktu itu nggak pernah berhenti. Kamu terus maju dan maju, sebelum kamu sadar itu, kamu telah maju terlalu jauh. Jika kamu pernah bertengkar, segera berbaikanlah! Jika kamu merasa ingin mendengar suara teman kamu, jangan ragu-ragu untuk meneleponnya segera.

Terakhir, tapi ini yang paling penting, jika kamu merasa kamu ingin bilang sama seseorang bahwa kamu SAYANG jangan tunggu sampai terlambat. Jika kamu terus pikir bahwa kamu lain hari baru akan memberitahu dia, hari ini tidak pernah akan datang. Jika kamu selalu pikir bahwa besok akan datang, maka "besok" akan pergi begitu cepatnya hingga kamu baru sadar waktu telah meninggalkanmu.

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A Street Sweeper

If someone is destined to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets like Michelangelo painted what, or compilation works such as Beethoven's music, or as Shakespeare created the poem. He should sweep streets so well and clean so that the entire contents of the heavens and the earth stopped for a moment to say, a street sweeper has been running a very good job. (Martin L. King, Jr.) Read more....