See It's Already Working

Two classic stories of how Words Can Heal.

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Ken & Marla

Ken sat in a coffee shop staring down at his sandwich. He didn't have an appetite, but he knew he had to eat. This had been the worst month of his life. He had been fired from his stockbrokerage job when his new boss swept the office clean of slow producers. Ken had been in aslump, but during fifteen years of ups and downs, he had shown that he could always bounce back eventually. The new boss wasn't willing to wait.

Ken sipped his coffee. The café was nearly empty. Marla, the waitress, came over and poured more coffee into Ken's cup. Marla had been servingKen for ten years, and they knew about each other's lives. Now, as hewalked the streets looking for work, he came in every day as if nothing hadchanged.

Ken had always felt secure, thinking that if he was ever fired, he couldmake a few phone calls and have another job within a few hours. Now hewas shocked at how quickly his friends had cast him off. How sharp wasthe modern dagger of simply not returning a phone call.

Ken had spent his career making deals on the phone, and now he couldnot even get a single person to call him. His self-esteem had never beenlower in his life.

He bit into his sandwich. Maybe he was just too old. The brokeragehouses all wanted inexperienced, cheap, new hires. How they could employpeople who had no idea what they were doing baffled Ken, but it seemedto be the trend.

Marla came over to him. "Ken, go sit at that table over there with thosetwo men. I think I just got you a job."

Ken stared at her incredulously. "Are you joking?" he asked.

Marla replied, "No, I overheard them say that these new brokers don't know what they're doing, and that they need someone who really knows how to manage people to come in and take charge."

Ken cracked a smile. "So you thought of me? I've never managed people in my life. I wouldn't even know where to begin!"

"Look Ken. All I know is, for ten years, you've always said kind thingsto me. You are the only one who asks me how I am, and you're the onlyone who ever asked to see a picture of my daughter. If there's anyone whoknows how to treat people, it's you. I told Jimmy that, too; he's been a customer of mine for years. "

Ken looked at her with surprise and appreciation. He glanced at themen in the far booth and realized they were waiting for him. "Jimmy" happened to be James Barron, the head of the largest brokerage firm in town. That day Ken started a whole new career as the firm's manager.

We say kind words to be nice,
but we never know when our kind words
will pay us back tenfold.

Ann & Mrs. Morgan

Ann was a terrible student. She was smart, but she just didn't care. Shewas eleven years old and had declined in just about every way since herfather had left two years earlier. Her mother worked two jobs and didn't gethome until eight or sometimes nine at night. Ann had only the TV and astuffed frog for company.

Down the hallway from Ann lived Mrs. Morgan, known as "the crazylady in 1F." Mrs. Morgan had been a recluse ever since her son had diedfive years earlier. She played the piano every afternoon, and Ann made ahabit of sitting in the hallway outside her door listening; she didn't carewhat anyone else thought. It was the most glorious music she had ever heard.

After many weeks, Mrs. Morgan finally let Ann sit on the couch to listen, and Ann was overjoyed. There were piles of piano books everywhere, but Mrs. Morgan hadn't taught anyone in five years.

People often prejudge others and lose awonderful opportunity to be close to them.

Finally, one day, Mrs. Morgan let Ann sit down on the bench next toher. Ann thought her heart would burst. Mrs. Morgan didn't speak to Ann but simply began playing a lighthearted piece by Mozart. Ann couldn't contain her joy, and tears began flowing down her face. When Mrs. Morgan noticed, she stopped her playing and looked at Ann, and then took Ann by surprise. She put both her arms around Ann, and began weeping.

They sat crying in each other's arms, but slowly, their crying turnedinto laughter. The two of them laughed the most full-bodied laugh thateither of them had in years.

From that day forward, Ann had a lesson with Mrs. Morgan twice a week at no charge. They worked through Bach and Mozart, and Ann proved a natural. Mrs. Morgan's encouraging words were like water to a thirsty plant, and Ann began to blossom. Mrs. Morgan told Ann that dreams really can come true if you're willing to work for them. Those words changed Ann's life.

Ann practiced in Mrs. Morgan's apartment for hours, and her dedication was inspiring. Her schoolwork also improved steadily. Mrs. Morgan's faith in her pupil's abilities spread to all areas of Ann's life. It was a proud moment when a photo of Ann and Mrs. Morgan was placed on the piano.

It sat next to the photo of her deceased son.

Then came the sad day when Ann's mother told her that they were moving out of state. Ann cried for hours. On the day they left, Ann sat her frog on the piano to keep Mrs. Morgan company. Mrs. Morgan accepted it with reluctance because she knew how much it meant to Ann. It was the last thing Ann's father had given her.

Many years passed and Mrs. Morgan took Nathan, her top student, downtown. A prominent university was holding auditions in their city. Mrs. Morgan sat down in the auditorium as Nathan went up on stage to sit at the grand piano.

The professor sat in the first row, a large clipboard in her hand. The audition went very well, and the professor walked Nathan over to Mrs. Morgan to share the good news that he was accepted into the university. When they got close enough to recognize each other, Ann, the professor, fell onto Mrs. Morgan's shoulder. Again they cried in each other's arms.

When they composed themselves, Mrs. Morgan was the first to speak. "Ann, I don't know how to ever thank you. You gave me my life back. "

Ann looked at her, astonished that she was the one being thanked. "No. Thank you, "she responded. "You gave me my life. "

It's all in the power of words . . . .

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