Chapter 15

Our Book of Life

We started this book by talking about how living is a series of events, all joined together to form the great story of our life. From the time I was a young adult, I always likened the entirety of my life to a great big book, its pages filled with experiences, people, and adventures.

We each have our own Book of Life filled with our own stories and journeys. Some of our friends and family will be in our book for many chapters. Some may feature in only a few paragraphs; others will appear for only a few words. There’s a wonderful saying — “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime” — that beautifully describes our relationships through time. Every encounter, discussion, facial expression, and positive or nasty word to another human being goes into their Book of Life, and into ours as well.

I might feature in your Book of Life only for a couple of words, but let me tell you, if I am going to be in someone’s book, I want to be 32-point , not 8-point faded italic! I want to make sure that I give everything I’ve got, as often as I can, to as many people as possible. We all have an effect on each other. Every interaction with another human being helps that person write his or her book, as it helps us write our own. We’re in “metaphoric print” together forever.

The following story demonstrates the impact our influence has on another person’s life. Versions have been widely circulated by e-mail and on the Web; according to snopes.com, it’s “based on a longer first-person account given by Margaret Fishback Powers in her 1993 book Footprints: The True Story Behind the Poem That Inspired Millions.” Regardless of the origin or version, I’m sure all of us can relate to the power of its message. I’m reproducing it just as I received it.

Some time ago, a mother punished her five-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and said, “This is for you, Mama.” The mother was embarrassed by her earlier overreaction, but her anger flared once more when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter harshly. “Young lady, don’t you know that when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside the package?”

The little girl’s eyes filled with tears as she replied, “Oh, Mama, it’s not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full.”

The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees, put her arms around her little girl, and begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.

A short time later, an accident took the life of this child. It is said that her mother kept that golden box by her bed all the years of her life. Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems, she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there. In a very real sense, each of us has been given a Golden Box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends, and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

This story still moves me to tears. We all know times when we have said words that have crushed another person’s spirit. We are all offered opportunities to touch another’s heart and spirit, if we just take the time to notice.

Now that I live in the United States, I’ve noticed many people who are homeless and living on the street. It saddens me greatly. One day I passed a man on a street corner holding a sign that read, “SMILE, your life could be worse, it could be mine!”

It massaged my heart and brought a tear to my eye. He had such a happy face, and I couldn’t get him or that sign out of my head. His simple sign made such an impression that I decided to post it on Flipman’s Facebook page.

The next day when I drove past he was still there, so I stopped the car and gave him twenty dollars — not out of pity, but for using his material!

The Book of Life

Since that experience, the boys and I have created a little dignity pack in which we put a copy of this book, a little Flipman, $10.00, and some dental hygiene products. Whenever we come across someone who is living homeless, we give him or her a pack and, whenever possible, have a conversation. As I drive off each time, I sincerely hope this book helps them to improve their situation. I also just love seeing my boys’ faces, knowing they have helped one life to be a little easier, even if just for a moment.

Note: I am really clear about saying people who are homeless, not homeless people. I know this is a small detail, but I think it’s important that we don’t define anyone by their current situation. Life can change in a heartbeat.

We all can become so easily consumed in the drama of our own life that we stop seeing how we can help another. It doesn’t have to cost anything, but I don’t know any better way to lift my spirit and fill my heart than to help someone who might need a hand.

We all have the opportunity to touch another life, to throw a pebble of love, even if just for a moment. That moment may be just what that someone needed to turn the corner in life. Every day we have that metaphoric pen in our hand, ready to write.

So the next time you do or say anything, ask yourself, “How do I want to appear in this person’s Book of Life?”