Stories Here

NathanStinson

Changing the World, One story at a time
Here comes the first....

 

Billy.....

 

 

<SPAN id=postcolor>*** WARNING TISSUES NEEDED ***

Billy

A number of years ago (1983-1987), I had the opportunity to play the character of Ronald McDonald for the McDonald's Corporation. My marketplace covered most of Arizona and a portion of Southern California.

One of our standard events was "Ronald Day." One day each month, we visited as many of the community hospitals as possible, bringing a little happiness into a place where no one ever looks forward to going. I was very proud to be able to make a difference for children and adults who were experiencing some "down time." The warmth and gratification I would receive stayed with me for weeks. I loved the project, McDonald's loved the project, the kids and adults loved it and so did the nursing and hospital staffs.

There were two restrictions placed on me during a visit. First I could not go anywhere in the hospital without McDonald's personnel (my handlers) as well as hospital personnel. That way, if I were to walk into a room and frighten a child, there was someone there to address the issue immediately. And second, I could not physically touch anyone within the hospital. They did not want me transferring germs from one patient to another. I understood why they had this "don't touch" rule, but I didn't like it. I believe that touching is the most honest form of communication we will ever know. Printed and spoken words can lie; it is impossible to lie with a warm hug. Breaking either of these rules, I was told, meant I could lose my job.

Toward the end of my fourth year of "Ronald Days," as I was heading down a hallway after a long day in grease paint and on my way home, I heard a little voice. "Ronald, Ronald." I stopped. The soft little voice was coming through a half-opened door. I pushed the door open and saw a young boy, about five years old, lying in his dad's arms, hooked up to more medical equipment than I had ever seen. Mom was on the other side, along with Grandma, Grandpa and a nurse tending to the equipment.

I knew by the feeling in the room that the situation was grave. I asked the little boy his name - he told me it was Billy - and I did a few simple magic tricks for him. As I stepped back to say good-bye, I asked Billy if there was anything else I could do for him.

"Ronald, would you hold me?"

Such a simple request. But what ran through my mind was that if I touched him, I could lose my job. So I told Billy I could not do that right now, but I suggested that he and I color a picture. Upon completing a wonderful piece of art that we were both very proud of, Billy again asked me to hold him. By this time my heart was screaming "yes!" But my mind was screaming louder. "No! You are going to lose your job!"

This second time that Billy asked me, I had to ponder why I could not grant the simple request of a little boy who probably would not be going home. I asked myself why was I being logically and emotionally torn apart by someone I had never seen before and probably would never see again.

"Hold me." It was such a simple request, and yet... I searched for any reasonable response that would allow me to leave. I could not come up with a single one. It took me a moment to realize that in this situation, losing my job may not be the disaster I feared.

Was losing my job the worst thing in the world? Did I have enough self-belief that if I did lose my job, I would be able to pick up and start again? The answer was a loud, bold, affirming "yes!" I could pick up and start again.

So what was the risk?

Just that if I lost my job, it probably would not be long before I would lose first my car, then my home...and to be honest with you, I really liked those things. But I realized that at the end of my life, the car would have no value and neither would the house. The only things that had steadfast value were experiences. Once I reminded myself that the real reason I was there was to bring a little happiness to an unhappy environment, I realized that I really faced no risk at all.

I sent Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa out of the room, and my two McDonald's escorts out to the van. The nurse tending the medical equipment stayed, but Billy asked her to stand and face the corner. Then I picked up this little wonder of a human being. He was so frail and so scared. We laughed and cried for 45 minutes, and talked about the things that worried him. Billy was afraid that his little brother might get lost coming home from kindergarten next year, without Billy to show him the way. He worried that his dog wouldn't get another bone because Billy had hidden the bones in the house before going back to the hospital, and now he couldn't remember where he put them.

These are problems to a little boy who knows he is not going home.

On my way out of the room, with tear-streaked makeup running down my neck, I gave Mom and Dad my real name and phone number (another automatic dismissal for a Ronald McDonald, but I figured that I was gone and had nothing to lose), and said if there was anything the McDonald's Corporation or I could do, to give me a call and consider it done. Less than 48 hours later, I received a phone call from Billy's mom. She informed me that Billy had passed away. She and her husband simply wanted to thank me for making a difference in their little boy's life.

Billy's mom told me that shortly after I left the room, Billy looked at her and said, "Momma, I don't care anymore if I see Santa this year because I was held by Ronald McDonald." Sometimes we must do what is right for the moment, regardless of the perceived risk. Only experiences have value, and the one biggest reason people limit their experiences is because of the risk involved.

For the record, McDonald's did find out about Billy and me, but given the circumstances, permitted me to retain my job. I continued as Ronald for another year before leaving the corporation to share the story of Billy and how important it is to take risks.</SPAN>
 
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NathanStinson

Changing the World, One story at a time
<TABLE cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="95%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD width="100%"><B>A Tear to the Eye</B></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD width="100%">Barbara was driving her six-year-old son, Benjamin, to his&nbsp;
piano lesson.&nbsp;

They were late, and Barbara was beginning to think she should&nbsp;
have cancelled it. There was always so much to do, and Barbara,&nbsp;
a night-duty nurse at the local hospital, had recently worked&nbsp;
extra shifts.&nbsp;

She was tired. The sleet storm and icy roads added to her&nbsp;
tension. Maybe she should turn the car around.&nbsp;

"Mom!" Ben cried. "Look!" Just ahead, a car had lost control&nbsp;
on a patch of ice. As Barbara tapped the brakes, the other car&nbsp;
spun wildly rolled over, then crashed sideways into a telephone&nbsp;
pole.&nbsp;

Barbara pulled over, skidded to a stop and threw open her door.&nbsp;
Thank goodness she was a nurse - she might be able to help&nbsp;
these unfortunate passengers.&nbsp;

Then she paused. What about Ben? She couldn't take him with&nbsp;
her. Little boys shouldn't see scenes like the one she&nbsp;
anticipated. But was it safe to leave him alone? What if their&nbsp;
car were hit from behind?&nbsp;

For a brief moment Barbara considered going on her way. Someone&nbsp;
else was sure to come along. No! "Ben, honey, promise me you'll&nbsp;
stay in the car!"&nbsp;

"I will, Mommy," he said as she ran, slipping and sliding toward&nbsp;
the crash site. It was worse than she'd feared. Two girls of&nbsp;
high school age are in the car. One, the blonde on the passenger&nbsp;
side, was dead, killed on impact.&nbsp;

The driver, however was still breathing. She was unconscious&nbsp;
and pinned in the wreckage. Barbara quickly applied pressure&nbsp;
to the wound in the teenager's head while her practiced eye&nbsp;
catalogued the other injuries. A broken leg, maybe two, along&nbsp;
with probable internal bleeding. But if help came soon, the girl&nbsp;
would live.&nbsp;

A trucker had pulled up and was calling for help on his cellular&nbsp;
phone. Soon Barbara heard the ambulance sirens. A few moments&nbsp;
later she surrendered her lonely post to rescue workers.&nbsp;

"Good job," one said as he examined the driver's wounds. "You&nbsp;
probably saved her life, ma'am." Perhaps.&nbsp;

But as Barbara walked back to her car a feeling of sadness&nbsp;
overwhelmed her, especially for the family of the girl who had&nbsp;
died. Their lives would never be the same. Oh God, why do such&nbsp;
things have to happen?&nbsp;

Slowly Barbara opened her car door. What should she tell&nbsp;
Benjamin? He was staring at the crash site, his blue eyes&nbsp;
huge. "Mom," he whispered, "did you see it?"&nbsp;

"See what, Honey?" she asked.&nbsp;

"The angel, Mom! He came down from the sky while you were&nbsp;
running to the car. And he opened the door, and he took that&nbsp;
girl out."&nbsp;

Barbara's eyes filled with tears. "Which door, Ben?"&nbsp;

"The passenger side. He took the girl's hand, and they floated&nbsp;
up to Heaven together"&nbsp;

"What about the driver?"&nbsp;

Ben shrugged. "I didn't see anyone else."&nbsp;

Later, Barbara was able to meet the families of the victims.&nbsp;
They expressed their gratitude for the help she had provided.&nbsp;
Barbara was able to give them something more - Ben's vision.&nbsp;

There was no way he could have known what happened to either&nbsp;
of the passengers. Nor could the passenger door have been&nbsp;
opened; Barbara had seen its tangle of immovable steel herself.&nbsp;
Yet Ben's account brought consolation to a grieving family.&nbsp;
Their daughter was safe in Heaven. And they would see her again.&nbsp;

-- Unknown
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
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Katz68

God's willing servant
Jan 28, 2003
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&nbsp;:cry: I could use an entire box of Kleenex reading those accounts. It always amazes me what God allows us to be a part of. Things like that will stick with us forever.

[align=center]:pray: Prayer Warrior List :pray:
Please stop and pray for these urgent needs now; Together We Can make a Differance. The links will take you to the Prayer Room (PR).
[move]URGENT NEEDS, PLEASE Pray for * (PR) alonesoldier who is leaving for Kuwait to serve this country * Shopgrl15s mom needs prayer for she was recently in a car accident * (PR)Kristine involved in an automoblie accident * (PR)Katz68 husband Don is going through many spiritual battles right now, please pray for all parties involved here * (PR)A baby in Singapore was born with many problems and needs prayer * (PR)aaron has Health concerns for his Mother and Grandmother. * (PR)Two Young Brothers diagnosed with Brain Disorder are needing Prayers * (PR)Ken, Neighbor of HisLamb has Cancer * (PR)Living for Him's Brother, "Rocky", needs urgent Prayers * A Sheep/Tayler, a health request * (PR)close friend of blindfaith has prostrate cancer * (PR)Unspoken * (PR)Blinfaith Spiritual Strenghts * amie (Healing) * (PR)Unspoken * (PR)Diane needs prayer for Christmas*[/move]
:clap: Praise List :clap:
[move]Got a Praise? Let us know and we can list them here. * Check here for a list of answered prayers (also add your own)! * (PR)Auntie is doing much better, she still needs prayers for recovery * (PR)Buggy's brother inlaw is recovering from neck surgery post * The team is growing; now on the team, Buggyman, aaron, spirituality, and kimmee.[/move]
WANTED.. Praying people to help HERE! Also learn "How To Pray"[/align]
 
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NathanStinson

Changing the World, One story at a time
Ok this is the last of the day, I PROMISE! :D

&nbsp;

<SPAN id=postcolor>Bobbie Helton's Story

Life has never been too easy for me. &nbsp;You see I am confined to a wheelchair because I was born without any legs. &nbsp;I have spent the past 16 years feeling sorry for myself. &nbsp;This past summer my parents decided that it would be good if I went to summer camp. &nbsp;Can you believe that they would send me, an invalid, to summer camp! &nbsp;I was so mad at them. &nbsp;I felt as though they were taking away my life. &nbsp;After all, wasn?t camp just a bunch of perfectly normal healthy kids running around and having fun without a care in the world?

This camp that they sent me to, was called Camp Hope. &nbsp;When we got there I saw the most unusual thing; all the kids there were just like me. &nbsp;It was unbelievable. &nbsp;I was put into a cabin with 4 other girls that were all in a wheelchair. &nbsp;Toni was the girl that was in the bunk right next to me. &nbsp;She was so pretty, her hair was blonde and she had blue eyes, and always wore a smile. &nbsp;I wondered how could she be so happy all the time when she is confined to her wheelchair. &nbsp;

Toni was to become my best friend. &nbsp;We did everything together during our time at camp. &nbsp;Toni has cerebral palsy, and that is why she is in a wheelchair, but she had something else that always kept a smile on her face. &nbsp;As the week went by we went swimming (I had never done this before), painted, planted flowers in pots to take home to our mothers, and had a wonderful time. &nbsp;Though the whole time I still wondered why Toni smiled. &nbsp;I must admit that I was glad that my parents sent me to this camp, I now know what it means to have fun and live life.

Late one night Toni asked me if I knew where I would go if I died tonight. &nbsp;I had no idea. &nbsp;She then told me of this man who could heal people and he could make people walk who had never been able to. &nbsp;I wanted terrible to know this man that she was talking about. &nbsp;I had never heard of anyone living or dead who had been able to do the things Toni said that this man could do. &nbsp;I asked Toni if she could give me his address so that I could write to him and tell him about my problems. &nbsp;Do you know what she told me? &nbsp;She said that I could tell him about my problems right now if I wanted to, and she did not have a phone with her!

Toni told me that this man was the Son of God and that his name was Jesus Christ, and if I wanted to I could ask him to be my friend and he would be with me for always. &nbsp;I asked her if it was because of this man that she was always smiling. &nbsp;And she said that yes indeed it was because of Jesus that she always smiled. &nbsp;I wanted that. &nbsp;I asked Toni how could I ask him to be my friend, she told me to pray. &nbsp;She even helped me pray to him.

I smile a lot now, too. &nbsp;When it was time for our parents to come and pick us up, I gave Toni my address and asked her to write to me more about Jesus. &nbsp;When my parents came to pick me up from camp I told them all about Toni and of this man they call Jesus. &nbsp;I was so happy and full of life that my parents went and found a church so that they could learn about Jesus to.

A couple of months ago I got a letter from Toni saying that she was going to be going home to see Jesus soon. &nbsp;Right after camp Toni found out that she had a tumor in her brain and they couldn?t operate on it. &nbsp;I was so sad. &nbsp;Why did God give me Toni if he wasn?t going to let me be her friend for very long? &nbsp;My parents took me to see Toni in the hospital last week, she looked so thin and frail, I just wanted to cry, but I couldn?t because she was still smiling. &nbsp;Why if she is going through all of this pain and suffering can she still smile, it made me so mad that she could be so happy when God was making her so sick. &nbsp;But it wasn?t God that was doing this to her, as she later told me. &nbsp;

Toni died last night; she is now home with God. &nbsp;She told me once that when she got into heaven that she would be able to run and play with the angels. &nbsp;Toni I hope that you are having the time of your life up there.

Written by Bobbie Helton 11-22-02


I love Christ and horses, how 'bout ewe?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him they shall have everlasting life."</SPAN>
 
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This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
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