Dont Hope, Decide!

by Stephen on September 26, 2008 191 comments

in Marriage, Motivational stories

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-
changing experiences that you hear other people talk about the kind that sneaks up on you
unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me.

Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a
man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his
family.

First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They
gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each others face, I
heard the father say, Its so good to see you, son. I missed you so much! His son smiled
somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, Me, too, Dad!

Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while
cupping his sons face in his hands said, Youre already quite the young man. I love you
very much, Zach! They too hugged a most loving, tender hug.

While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming
excitedly in her mothers arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her
returning father. The man said, Hi, baby girl! as he gently took the child from her mother.
He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from
side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder,
motionless in pure contentment.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, Ive saved the
best for last! and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever
remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. I
love you so much! They stared at each others eyes, beaming big smiles at one another,
while holding both hands.

For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they
couldnt possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I
was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arms length away from
me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to
hear my own voice nervously ask, Wow! How long have you two been married?

Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those. he replied, without breaking his
gaze from his lovely wifes face. Well then, how long have you been away? I asked. The
man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. Two whole days!

Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed hed been gone for
at least several weeks if not months. I know my expression betrayed me.
I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to
get back to searching for my friend), I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve
years!

The man suddenly stopped smiling.

He looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told
me something that left me a different person. He told me, Dont hope, friend decide!
Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, God bless!
Its Never Too Late
by Stephen

It was an unusually busy day for the hospital staff on the sixth floor. Ten new patients were
admitted and Nurse Susan spent the morning and afternoon checking them in.

Her friend Sharron, an aide, prepared ten rooms for the patients and made sure they were
comfortable. After they were finished she grabbed Sharron and said, We deserve a break.
Lets go eat.

Sitting across from each other in the noisy cafeteria, Susan noticed Sharron absently wiping
the moisture off the outside of her glass with her thumbs. Her face reflected a weariness that
came from more than just a busy day.

Youre pretty quiet. Are you tired, or is something wrong? Susan asked.

Sharron hesitated. However, seeing the sincere concern in her friends face, she confessed, I
cant do this the rest of my life, Susan. I have to find a higher-paying job to provide for my
family. We barely get by. If it werent for my parents keeping my kids, well, we wouldnt
make it.

Susan noticed the bruises on Sharrons wrists peeking out from under her jacket.

What about your husband?

We cant count on him. He cant seem to hold a job. Hes got . . . problems.

Sharron, youre so good with patients, and you love working here. Why dont you go to
school and become a nurse? Theres financial help available, and Im sure your parents
would agree to keep the kids while you are in class.

Its too late for me, Susan; Im too old for school. Ive always wanted to be a nurse, thats
why I took this job as an aide; at least I get to care for patients.

How old are you? Susan asked.

Lets just say Im thirty-something.

Susan pointed at the bruises on Sharrons wrists. Im familiar with problems like these.
Honey, its never too late to become what youve dreamed of. Let me tell you how I know.

Susan began sharing a part of her life few knew about. It was something she normally didnt
talk about, only when it helped someone else.

I first married when I was thirteen years old and in the eighth grade.
Sharron gasped.

My husband was twenty-two. I had no idea he was violently abusive. We were married six
years and I had three sons. One night my husband beat me so savagely he knocked out all my
front teeth. I grabbed the boys and left.

At the divorce settlement, the judge gave our sons to my husband because I was only
nineteen and he felt I couldnt provide for them. The shock of him taking my babies left me
gasping for air. To make things worse, my ex took the boys and moved, cutting all contact I
had with them.

Just like the judge predicted, I struggled to make ends meet. I found work as a waitress,
working for tips only. Many days my meals consisted of milk and crackers. The most
difficult thing was the emptiness in my soul. I lived in a tiny one-room apartment and the
loneliness would overwhelm me. I longed to play with my babies and hear them laugh.

She paused. Even after four decades, the memory was still painful. Sharrons eyes filled with
tears as she reached out to comfort Susan. Now it didnt matter if the bruises showed.

Susan continued, I soon discovered that waitresses with grim faces didnt get tips, so I hid
behind a smiling mask and pressed on. I remarried and had a daughter. She became my
reason for living, until she went to college.

Then I was back where I started, not knowing what to do with myself until the day my
mother had surgery. I watched the nurses care for her and thought: I can do that. The problem
was, I only had an eighth-grade education. Going back to high school seemed like a huge
mountain to conquer. I decided to take small steps toward my goal. The first step was to get
my GED. My daughter used to laugh at how our roles reversed. Now I was burning the
midnight oil and asking her questions.

Susan paused and looked directly in Sharrons eyes. I received my diploma when I was
forty-six years old.

Tears streamed down Sharrons cheeks. Here was someone offering the key that might
unlock the door in her dark life.

The next step was to enroll in nursing school. For two long years I studied, cried and tried to
quit. But my family wouldnt let me. I remember calling my daughter and yelling, Do you
realize how many bones are in the human body, and I have to know them all! I cant do this,
Im forty-six years old! But I did. Sharron, I cant tell you how wonderful it felt when I
received my cap and pin.

Sharrons lunch was cold, and the ice had melted in her tea by the time Susan finished
talking. Reaching across the table and taking Sharrons hands, Susan said, You dont have to
put up with abuse. Dont be a victim take charge. You will be an excellent nurse. We will
climb this mountain together.

Sharron wiped her mascara-stained face with her napkin. I had no idea you suffered so much
pain. You seem like someone who has always had it together.
I guess Ive developed an appreciation for the hardships of my life, Susan answered. If I
use them to help others, then I really havent lost a thing. Sharron, promise me that you will
go to school and become a nurse. Then help others by sharing your experiences.

Sharron promised. In a few years she became a registered nurse and worked alongside her
friend until Susan retired. Sharron never forgot her colleague or the rest of her promise.

Now Sharron sits across the table taking the hands of those who are bruised in body and soul,
telling them, Its never too late. We will climb this mountain together.
The Power Of Mothers Love
by Stephen

When doctors told Carolyn Isbister that her tiny premature daughter would die within 20
minutes, she had to prepare herself for the worst.

Tiny Rachael had just been born minutes before, weighing just 1.4lb (0.64kg), and her heart
was only beating once every ten seconds. But Miss Isbister was determined to have just one
cuddle with her daughter and to savor the one precious moment she had, so she picked up
tiny Rachael and cuddled her close.

And it was a cuddle that has amazed doctors by saving the babys life. The warmth of her
mothers skin actually kickstarted Rachaels heart into beating properly, which allowed her to
take tiny breaths of her own.

Four months later the baby who was so tiny that the doctors gave up on her life has been
allowed home, thanks to that precious life saving cuddle from her mother.

Miss Isbister, 36, from West Lothian, said: Rachael has been such a little fighter it is a
miracle that she is here at all. When she was born the doctors told us that she would die
within 20 minutes because her heart wasnt beating properly and she wasnt breathing. But
that one precious cuddle saved her life. Ill never forget it.

Miss Isbister, a chemist, and her partner David Elliott, 35, an electronic engineer, were
thrilled when she fell pregnant. At the 20 week scan at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary,
doctors told them that she was carrying a girl and they decided to name her Rachael. But at
24 weeks, Miss Isbister went into premature labour after she developed an infection in her
womb.

Miss Isbister, who also has two children Samuel, 10, and Kirsten, 8, from a previous
marriage, said: We were just terrified we were going to lose her. I had been bleeding
throughout the pregnancy, and had suffered three miscarriages before falling pregnant with
Rachael, so we really didnt think there was much hope.

When Rachael was born, weighing 1.4lb, doctors told the couple that their daughter would
only live for 20 minutes. She wasnt breathing and she was grey and lifeless. Her heart was
only beating once every 10 seconds.

Miss Isbister said: The doctor just took one look at her and said no. They didnt even try to
help her with her breathing as they said it would just prolong her dying. Everyone just gave
up on her.

The doctors told the couple to say their goodbyes to their daughter, but Miss Isbister decided
that she would give her daughter the only cuddle she would ever have. So she lifted her out of
her hospital blanket and placed her on her chest, with skin to skin contact.
She said: I didnt want her die being cold. So I lifted her out of her blanket and put against
my skin to warm her up. Her feet were so cold. It was the only cuddle I was going to have
with her, so I wanted to remember the moment.

But after 20 minutes tiny Rachael was still alive. Then a miracle happened. She started taking
tiny breaths on her own, and her heart started beating more regularly.

Miss Isbister said: We couldnt believe it and neither could the doctors. She let out a tiny
cry. When she was still breathing after four hours and her heart was beating more regularly,
the doctors came in and said there was still no hope for her, but I still wasnt letting go of her.
We had her blessed by the hospital chaplain, and waited for her to slip away. But she still
hung on. And then amazingly the pink color began to return to her cheeks. She literally was
turning from grey to pink before our eyes, and she began to warm up too.

After 48 hours, the doctors decided to put her on a ventilator to help with her breathing and
she was transferred to the intensive care unit.

Miss Isbister said: The doctors said that she had proved she was a fighter and that she now
deserved some intensive care as there was some hope. She had done it all on her own
without any medical intervention or drugs. She had clung onto life and it was all because of
that cuddle. It had warmed up her body enough for her to start fighting.

Because Rachel hadnt had any oxygen for four hours, doctors warned the couple that there
was a high risk she had been brain damaged. But a scan showed no evidence of any damage
at all.

As the days passed, Rachael slowly began to gain in strength and put on weight. She had
laser treatment on her eyes to save her sight as the blood vessels hadnt had chance to
develop properly in the womb. And she also had six blood transfusions.

Miss Isbister added: We couldnt believe that she was doing so well. Her heart rate and
breathing would suddenly sometimes drop without warning, but she just got stronger and
stronger.

After five weeks she was taken off the ventilator and Miss Isbister was able to hold and
breastfeed her. Then after four months in hospital, they were finally allowed to take her home
a day which they never thought they would see.
 A Silent Woman

She walked amid the crowd of people who are in the market. It was seen there are some
people who talk about the woman, one of them said, Look at that woman, shes white and
beautiful but unfortunately he had an unhealthy body that is fat. They laughed out loud when
talking about the beautiful woman. On the other hand, the woman looks with confidence to
walk and spread smiles to everyone around her. Due to the nature friendly and polite that she
had, a lot of people who love and appreciate her. Shes also a very hardworking woman.
When she went home, she was not to rest directly. She did other chores such as sweeping,
mopping, washing dishes, washing clothes, and helped her mother to cook.

After completing the homework, time for her to relax while watching her favorite tv shows
that is cartoon. Because the fun watching, she did not know that her mother called her to
make tea. It made her upset, angry and approached Yuanita by saying, You are already 25
years old, but you still watching a cartoon, until I called and you didnt heard, turning off the
TV is being watched Yuanita. She just looked down and apologized to her mother. You are
already adult but you never willing to change your bad behaviour, well you have to make a
tea for me now, said her mother. Yuanita replied, Yes Mom ??as hse walked into the
kitchen.

The incident made Yuanita sad and upset with her mother. Because she never gave enough
time to watch her favorite cartoon. She then went to the room with a scowl, her friendly smile
was gone instantly, and the tears wet in her white cheeks. In her grief, she recalled the same
incident a few years ago. At that time, Yuanita already developing strategies to regulate some
of the activities that should she do to be able to watch her favorite cartoon. All things already
well at the begin. But when 30 minutes after the cartoon began, her mother told Yuanita to
help her who was cooking. Yuanita which is cool to watch tv ignores her mothers orders,
because she had completed all homework which she is responsible. It made her angry and
turned off the tv being watched Yuanita. She was forced to obey orders to help her mother
cook in the kitchen. Because if not, she will get mad and totally forbidden to watch her
favorite cartoon. The incident is still happening until now the cause Yuanita lamenting his
bad luck. Just to watch the cartoon was difficult and full of struggle.

Christy was the younger sister Yuanita. Shes 5 years younger than her sister. She has a
slender body where it is different from the body of her sister. Christy always get whatever she
wants from her parents quickly and without the sacrifices. She also could do whatever she
wanted without any restrictions whatsoever from her mother. Therefore, Yuanita felt that her
mother treated her differently and unfairly. However, she just could silence her mothers
response to all treatments. Because shes not chatty like her young sister who always say
what she thinks. All the events that make Yuanita a quiet woman, aloof, and closed.

When Yuanita studid, she lived with his uncle. She is free from the shackles of her mother
who always gave this command and that command. She can do whatever she wants. She was
able to watch cartoon as much without her mothers know. This she did about 4.5 years. In
college, she began a relationship with a man, john, from other campuses are 1 year older than
her. He has worked in a factory as a laborer. He has a very strong religious knowledge and
understand the unseen. Because of his knowledge, he did bad things, witchcraft, against
Yuanita and the purpose is to draining Yuanitas family money. However, what John did, it is
out of Yuanitas know. Time after time, Yuanitas money owned by john used up to pay the
rent, pay for motorcycle loans, pay debts, and others. And she did not feel that strange things.
Because Yuanita loved him, she did whatever John asked without her parents knowing it.

After graduating, she began working and living back with her mother. Over time, Miss Alya
started treating Yuanita well. She could do anything and watch cartoon as much time not only
at her uncles house but also her parents house. Yuanita very pleased with the change in
attitude from her mother. However, hse still remains closed to her family especially Miss
Alya.

After a while, Miss Alya is getting treated yuanita very well. She often buys gold jewelry to
decorate Yuanitas body to make it look more attractive and elegant. However, every time
Miss Alya told Yuanita buy gold jewelry, gold jewelry as often as it is also missing. Yuanita
always give the reason that gold jewelry is lost on the road when Miss Alya asked. She also
often took the money without their parents knowing it. Because of these, Miss Alya started
to suspect something was wrong with her ??son. She began to investigate how Yuanitas life
outside the home. Because of her perseverance, she can find out what happened to her son.
Miss Alya told her son not to touch with John. Yuanita agreed and was not related to John at
the time. But, a few days later her gold jewelry was missing again and make her mother
angry and upset. So Miss Alya initiatives her son to go to the chaplain and the paranormal to
heal her son. However, it can not change the bad habits of her who always took the money
and gave her jewelry to John. Miss Alya was surrendered to sensitize heal of Yuanita that do
not heal. Seeing that her mother was seriously ill, Yuanita realized and began to change her
bad behaviour.

Several years later, Yuanita met a handsome man, a white, hard-working, and good. The man
named Michael. Yuanita undemonstrative love him. After a long acquaintance, Michael
apparently harbored the same taste with Yuanita. He was applying for and invite Yuanita to
get married. They lives happy ever after.

Cerpen Karangan: Tri Septiarini