Mahler's Monday Morning Motivator # 24

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 24

A friend sent me this little story and it has a lot of meaning. Many of the things we do don’t make a lot of sense in the scheme of things until you realize that all the little things add up to some major accomplishment. Each of many small actions can combine to impact and change a life. That is how we have to view what we do and how we do it. There are no shortcuts, but each little action for the good eventually pays off. Read this and think about it.

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The Pickle Jar

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom. When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were
dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled. I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank. Taking the coins to the bank was always
a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck. Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back." Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier, he would grin proudly. "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled
around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters," he said. "But you'll get there. I'll see to that." The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood. My dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mama had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, Son," he told me, his eyes glistening, "You'll never have to eat beans again...unless you want to." The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. "She probably needs to be changed," she said, carrying the baby into my parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back into the living room, there was a
strange mist in her eyes. She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand and leading me into the room. "Look," she said softly, her eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser. To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and
pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.
Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings. Never underestimate the power of your actions.

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With one small gesture you can change a person's life or even our life, for better or for worse. We are put into each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Have a great week guys and may all of your actions be worthy to toss into the pickle jar.

In Fitness & Friendship,
Mahler

[Bond007]

Thanks once again for the inspiration, mahler!

[OldGuy]

Another ace, Mahler. Thanks.

[jwrives]

Great story!

[tossedup]

Thanks Mahler I needed that this morning!!

[FlyinM]

This one is very timely for me.

Thanks Mahler.

[laxcdn]

Man, you sure know how to pick em.

[geno]

Nice message, Mahler. I've missed reading these!

[Newlife]

Mahler, This one hit very close to home. Thanks for reminding me...

You are a great man.

[phizer]

Absolutely excellent!

On a slightly unrelated note, does anyone notice how much that avatar that Mahler picked actually looks like him?

Cheers, guys...

[FlyinM]

His avatar kinda reminds me of the 42nd President.......hmmmmmmm.....

[Newlife]

Clinton or Bush???

You may have noticed that the numbering of the Presidents on this site differs slightly from other sources. The reason is because of the two non-consecutive terms that Grover Cleveland served in the late 19th century. When Cleveland began his first term in office he was the 22nd person to hold the office. When Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin Harrison in the next election, Harrison became the 23rd President.

When Cleveland defeated Harrison in the next election and took office for his second term, there still had only been 23 individuals since George Washington to hold the office of President, Cleveland being the 22nd. However, because of Cleveland's non-consecutive terms some sources call him the 22nd and 24th President. This causes the numbering on Presidentsusa.net to differ by one for every President after Cleveland. However, even though George Washington served two terms no one calls him the 1st and 2nd President. The fact that Cleveland's terms were not consecutive is irrelevant.

Because of these facts, Presidentsusa.net describes the current President George W. Bush as the 42nd President of the United States. Many sources refer to him as the 43rd President, even though there have only been 42 individuals that have served as President.

[Mahler]

Oh, well.

Time to get a new avatar.

Mahler

[FlyinM]

Com'on Mahler. You didn't change your avatar because of me, did you? I think you were just looking for the opportunity to post a picture to make the rest of us look bad......

[OldGuy]

Why'd he use popeye's picture?

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Deserve]

"The Best of Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators"

I thought that in the spirit of the MMMM and John being on vacation that I would bump this MMMM. It is one of my favorites originally posted on July 26, 2004.

[Mahler]

Gabe,
One of my all time favorites as well. I wish I had been the author. Thanks for the bump.

John

[K-Court]

I really like this one too. Literally brings a tear to my eye. Nice one.