Watering the Garden

I received this by email today...thought it was worth passing along. If you like it, contact Bob Perks...you can get a free subscription to his "I believe in you" list. (I get no monetary compensation from this message...just a blessing, if you get blessed!)

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All stories are copyrighted 2001 Bob Perks.
Today's Message:
"Watering the garden"
By Bob Perks
[email protected]

"It's unbearable!" I heard the weather man say. "The heat index is so high you'll be challenged to even make it through the day."

It was hot. But "unbearable"? It does seem most of us made it through. We have in the past and will when it gets hot again.

I always hear people using words like that when describing something outside their comfort range.

"I'll never make it through this day," a young man said to me.

"Most likely you will," I replied. "It's just not the way you like things. But you'll make it."

I guess because I'm in the business of hope, I'm more sensitive to things like this. But I am more sensitive to life, too.

So I thought about what I could do to make things bearable. All the positive talk in the world won't make someone stop sweating. I could see the look on that young man's face when I told him he would make it through. I broke the cycle.

You see people love to complain.

I brought that up when I bought a book at Barnes and Noble the other day. The clerk, doing her best to provide a pleasant customer experience, chit chatted with me about...the weather of course.

"Is it still overwhelming out there?" she asked.

"Overwhelming but bearable," I replied.

"You like this kind of weather?" she asked.

"No, I didn't say that. But I can make it through it. I have to. What else can I do but complain about it? I won't waste my breath complaining."

"That's all I'm hearing today," she said.

"Miss, we complain when it's too hot. We complain when it's too cold and when it's just right we say, "Well, enjoy it, it won't last long," I said laughing.

That experience told me it was time to do something about it.

"What could I possible do about the heat?"

My friend Bob will love this one. I gave away water. (Learn more about water and your health www.watercure2.com )

When I got home I placed our cooler on the front steps with a sign that read, "Free water!"

"Attention: Mailman, UPS, Fed Ex delivery. Take a bottle of ice cold water from this container. As much as you want. I just want you to know we appreciate you."

Later in the afternoon I heard my mailman drive up. I didn't want to rush down there and offer the water to him. He may feel obligated. So I watched him. He took two bottles. He's a very thin, older guy. He needed two bottles. It pleased me to see my experiment work. I am sure that somewhere along his route when he pulled that water out he thought about the gesture.

This morning, with the humidity still high, I greeted the Fed Ex girl out front. As she approached, before she could say a word, I asked her if she could use a bottle of water. She was shocked, "Well,...yes. Thank you so much. She smiled. I was paid back a hundred fold.

"This will be gone quickly. I needed it," she said. "This is so nice for you to do. But why?"

I told her my story and she laughed.

"I couldn't think of another way to reach people so I gave them water," I said.

"You were watering the garden," she told me.

"Well, what's left of it. My tomatoes..." I started to say and she interrupted me.

"No, not that garden. God's garden of people, " she said. "I always looked at Earth as a garden God planted. He grows people here. Just like any other gardener He planted a variety. Some of the people have grown just the way He wanted them to. He loves and protects them all. The challenge is for us to grow fully, to reach the height and depth based on His expectations. Like when you look at the back of a seed packet, it tells you what to expect from the plant. Some will blossom into flowers and add beauty to the world. Others will bear fruit and feed the world. Then there are those who will grow tall to provide shelter from the storms of life," she said, then took a long drink from the bottle.

"Yes, you are watering the Garden," she said smiling. "Thanks. I've got to stay on schedule. Have a great day!"

"You've already made it great, my friend," I told her.

"I believe in you!"
Bob Perks
[email protected]
Please don't remove my name!
If you are about to copy this story to share with your friends, please leave my name, email address, along with this note attached. It is the very least I ask for the time and talent God gave to me and I have given to you freely. It's not only illegal, it's morally wrong. All stories are copyrighted 2001 Bob Perks. You are free to forward this message to anyone as long as the ENTIRE message is sent. No portion of this message maybe copied.




OAB forum

Hi JDB,

Thanks for posting that story, it was terrific (and so very appropriate)...! His gesture of free cold water is a true inspiration -- and a great role-model too!

- Dien

Dear Bob,

I'd like to add my thanks also. What a wonderful story.

I'm always trying to share "perspective" with elementary students. That how we look at things determines how we live. It can be a tricky concept for children and even some adults!

Thanks again!

Blessings,

Brenda


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