[Blindtlk] A Christmas Story & Thank you!

Tue Dec 28 06:06:36 UTC 2010

Thanks.
Sarah
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2010 10:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] A Christmas Story & Thank you!

I hope you feel better soon.

Happy new year in advance.

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

Now A Very Proud and very happy Mac user!!!

Skype Name:
barefootedray

On Dec 28, 2010, at 12:02 AM, Sarah Baughn wrote:

> Mary, that was beautiful, and I thank you for sending it to us.  Right now 
> I am not feeling well, my throat is killing me,, and yet you have lifted 
> my spirits.
> Sarah
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mari Hunziker" 
> <marihunziker at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2010 4:34 PM
> Subject: [Blindtlk] A Christmas Story & Thank you!
>
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> I recently read a touching Holiday story as told by President Thomas S.
> Monson:
> { I share this with you to thank you for showing me and my family
> compassion, charity, and love. We greatly appreciate you and your 
> kindness.
> Thank you and Merry Christmas.
> Enjoy the Story. :o) }
>
> Many years ago he read of an experience at Christmas time which took place
> when thousands of weary travelers were stranded in the congested Atlanta,
> Georgia, airport. An ice storm had seriously delayed air travel as these
> people were trying to get wherever they most wanted to be for 
> Christmas—most
> likely home.
>
> The fact of the matter was that there were more passengers than there were
> available seats on any of the planes. When an occasional plane managed to
> break out, more passengers stayed behind than made it aboard. …
>
> Gate 67 in Atlanta was a microcosm of the whole cavernous airport. 
> Scarcely
> more than a glassed-in cubicle, it was jammed with travelers hoping to fly
> to New Orleans, Dallas, and points west. Except for the fortunate few
> traveling in pairs, there was little conversation at gate 67. A salesman
> stared absently into space as if resigned. A young mother cradled an 
> infant
> in her arms, gently rocking in a vain effort to soothe the soft 
> whimpering.
>
> Then there was a man in a finely-tailored gray flannel suit, who somehow
> seemed impervious to the collective suffering. There was a certain
> indifference about his manner. He was absorbed in paperwork: figuring the
> year-end corporate profits perhaps. A nerve-frayed traveler sitting nearby
> observing this busy man might have identified him as an Ebenezer Scrooge.
>
> Suddenly the relative silence was broken by a commotion. A young man in
> military uniform, no more than 19 years old, was in animated conversation
> with the desk agent. The boy held a low-priority ticket. He pleaded with 
> the
> agent to help him get to New Orleans so that he could take the bus to the
> obscure Louisiana village he called home.
>
> The agent wearily told him that prospects were poor for the next 24 hours,
> maybe longer. The boy grew frantic. Immediately after Christmas, his unit
> was to be sent to Vietnam—where at that time war was raging—and if he didn’t
> make this flight, he might never again spend Christmas at home. Even the
> businessman looked up from his cryptic computations to show a guarded
> interest. The agent clearly was moved, even a bit embarrassed. But he 
> could
> only offer sympathy, not hope. The boy stood at the departure desk casting
> anxious looks around the crowded room, as if seeking just one friendly 
> face.
>
> Finally the agent announced that the flight was ready for boarding. The
> travelers who had been waiting long hours heaved themselves up, gathered
> their belongings, and shuffled down the small corridor to the waiting
> aircraft: 20, 30, 100, until there were no more seats. The agent turned to
> the frantic young soldier and shrugged.
>
> Inexplicably, the businessman had lingered behind. Now he stepped forward.
> “I have a confirmed ticket,” he quietly told the agent. “I’d like to give 
> my
> seat to this young man.” The agent stared incredulously; then he motioned 
> to
> the soldier. Unable to speak, tears streaming down his face, the boy in
> olive drab shook hands with the man in the gray flannel suit, who simply
> murmured, “Good luck. Have a fine Christmas. Good luck.”
>
> As the plane door closed and the engines began their rising whine, the
> businessman turned away, clutching his briefcase and trudged toward the
> all-night restaurant.
>
> No more than a few among the thousands stranded there at the Atlanta 
> airport
> witnessed the drama at gate 67. But for those who did, the sullenness, the
> frustration, the hostility all dissolved into a glow. That act of love and
> kindness between strangers had brought the spirit of Christmas into their
> hearts.
>
> The lights of the departing plane blinked star-like as the craft moved off
> into the darkness. The infant slept silently, now in the lap of the young
> mother. Perhaps another flight would be leaving before many more hours. 
> But
> those who witnessed the interchange were less impatient. The glow lingered
> gently, pervasively in that small glass and plastic stable at gate 67.
>
> Finding the real joy of the season comes not in the hurrying and the
> scurrying to get more done or in the purchasing of obligatory gifts. Real
> joy comes as we show the love and compassion inspired by the Savior of the
> world, who said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of 
> these
> my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). …
>
> As we contemplate how we are going to spend our money to buy gifts this
> holiday season let us plan also for how we will spend our time in order to
> help bring the true spirit of Christmas into the lives of others!
>
>
> { Thank you for reading the story. One persons act of kindness can make 
> all
> the difference. Thank you for your love and kindness. Merry Christmas,
> Love Always,
> Mari Hunziker}
> *
> ~~---~~
> Warm Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season!
> Mari Hunziker
> 512-670-9950 home
> 512-587-1463  cell
> *
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> *Warm Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season!
> Mari Hunziker
> 512-670-9950 home
> 512-587-1463  cell
> *
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