I'll never forget these very words that Mom said to me as she lay so uncharacteristically helpless in that hospital bed. It was a saying she often used to lift our spirits and keep us going. At this particular time, I was trying to fill the role as her caretaker, my attempts falling way short of all the care I had received from her for over 35 years. She was right, what goes around does come around. I found the following story on the web (author unknown), which I know Mom would have appreciated:
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer.
One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.
At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of."
And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, he graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time?
Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill.
His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said:
"What goes around comes around."
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
(http://www.wow4u.com/comesaround/index.html)
Is that kewl or what?
6 comments:
Now YOU know... the REST of the story!
Hey, where'd you get the picture of Ma? I don't remember ever seeing it!
Great post!
Hey Tern,
I have scanned all the pictures that Ke has to put them on CD's, but haven't made the CD's, yet. I WILL do it!
I love this picture of grandma!
I never believed “what goes around comes around.” 15 to 20 years ago. Now that I am much older and oh how I wished wiser I do believe.
Yes, I also LOVE the picture.
What a wonderful post, I got goose bumps as I read. It is a wonderful picture of her!
Awwwwww... I love your post Mum. Very endearing - and a most excellent photograph of Grammy, of course - an incredibly photogenic woman if I do say so myself. By the way, you should send this one to Grampy - he would definitely appreciate it.
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