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 This
isn't Carol but is a picture of a bell ringer outside a store somewhere
in Indiana. We present this story in honor of all Salvation Army volunteers
(who do much much more that merely ring bells at Christmas time). In particular,
we honor Carol (aka Moonshadow), a "regular" at this site, who
tells this true story about love and its ripple effect. (Thanks to Guy
for getting Carol to share her story with us.)
Carol says: I am going to frame my certificate and keep it on my mantel
next to my bell so I can always remember this beautiful story. Read on,
and you'll understand what she means!
Carol's Ripple
It
was going to be a significant event for the Salvation Army in our town,
with the Chief of Police and the Mayor in attendance, plus an orchestra
in the corner of the hall playing church hymns. I knew I was going to
feel very uncomfortable and out of place at this fancy banquet, so I took
my camera in hopes of remaining anonymous in the crowd. And it's a good
thing because the organizers forgot to arrange for a photographer.
About half way into the program a man named John took the stage and shared
a personal story. He was a regional manager over some Sam's Club and Walmart
stores in our part of the country. Last winter, two weeks before Christmas,
John was at one of his stores and was having a paritcularly bad day. Things
were not adding up right; the bookkeeper wasn't keeping the accounts accurately,
and it was a BIG MESS. John was going to get the blame and could even
lose his job. He went outside, sat down on a bench, and just started to
cry.
A Salvation Army person ringing a bell nearby came up to him and asked,
"Can I help you?" Using rather harsh words, John had told the Salvation
Army worker, "You have no clue what I do here... There is NOTHING you
could possibly do to help me." But the worker replied, "You're right,
I can't help you with your problems, BUT, I could sit here and cry with
you." Speechless for a moment, John got up and walked away.
A week passed and John had to return to this store because of problems
more troublesome than the first. Again he went outside to the bench, trying
to get his temper under control. But he couldn't relax "because of that
damn Salvation Army person ringing that bell and collecting money again!"
Irritated, John had walked up to the Salvation Army worker and said, "Why
don't you get a real job? You shouldn't be out here begging for money!"
Puzzled, the Salvationist had looked at him and said, "I am not out here
for myself. I have seen how this money is used and how many people are
helped in this state and in others. God has told me to do this. And I
feel that if He died on a cross and bled for me, the LEAST I could do
is stand here and beg for money for His work to be done on this earth."
John just walked away speechless again.
Telling the story at the podium, John, by this time had tears running
down his face as he held the microphone--a slight tremble in his hand.
"Everytime I go down to Sam's Club and sit on the bench, I hear that voice
going thru my head, 'I will cry with you'. I believe it was God speaking
to me thru this Salvation Army worker."
There was not a dry eye in the entire banquet hall at this point, including
mine. "I have only two regrets," John continued, "one, that I never put
any money in the pot for the Salvation Army. Two, that I never thanked
that Salvation Army person for helping me remember that God will see me
through the tough times, if I ask." Then John reached into his pocket
and pulled out a check, saying, "As an regional officer of Sam's Club
and Walmart, I would like to present this check for fifty thousand dollars
to this branch of the Salvation Army!"
He handed the check to my boss and continued, "I also have an award I
would like to present! The award is for the most dedicated Salvation Army
bell ringer during the Christmas holidays. It goes to that very same person
I told you about just now. She is in the back of the room...the one with
the camera who is taking all the pictures!"
Read about the beginnings of The Salvation Army
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