Hope - Ends 17th April

[Inseriousity.]

It seems to be part of British culture to sit on our backsides, complain about the weather and taxes but not do anything about it. Despite all that negativity though, there are good people out there doing extraordinary things. For this competition, you need to tell me the most uplifting story you can find. A story that reignited your belief that human nature actually is something worthwhile after all and gave you hope for the future! It could be a news story or something that happened in your life. Anything at all but it has to be amazing. Good luck!

Prize: 10 credits + 10 rep

[Michael]

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

[:.JessLiu.:]

The Most Valuable Thing

Submitted by (anonymous)

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr.. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday."
Memories flashed through his mind l! ike an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you! were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important, Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old Belser house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture.... Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most, '" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser."
Jack thought to himself, "The thing he valued most was...my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"

[sammyswirl]

My Story is actually a story about my family......My family were always really close, expecially me and my uncle, my uncle moved to go and help with the War when i was a bit younger, he got took away when he was 19 and was away for a couple of years, i only seen him on ocassions like holidays, sometimes he was away on his birthday and christmas. It was hard to not see him. After a few years, my family got a phonecall to ask us to go to a hospital near my home , when we walked in we saw my uncle lieing in a hospital bed, face burnt, cuts everywhere and legs all in casts. He aparently had been in an acedent near a bombed building. Now he is still alive and well, He is in a wheelchair and has a loving family. My family all respect him for the work he has done. I dont see why people should be put threw all they are put threw at war. War has no meaning to me and i do not see the point. The life that my uncle has to live with now isnt the best. They had to move into a bungalow so its easier to access but he is still the most happiest man i know and he has made such an impact on everyone that knows about his life story. This shows that not all ppl are people that sit around and do nothing, people are out there trying to make the world a better place

[hottiesteph423]

My story is about a family friend who has had cancer 5 times and currently has cancer again. She is an amazing women and she really inspires me, she always has a happy smile on her face, she has 2 sons and they are both very strong people they are brave and really kind all because of what they have been through with they're mum having cancer they have no dad to take care of them so the sons have to help take care of they're mum. I feel so lucky to still be able to see my mum and my dad and know that they are ok some people take advantage of that and dont see how lucky they are.

[Yupt]

The story of Alex3213 getting stuck in a Spanish toilet.

[,Love]

My Uplifting story:

Graduation day for me of 2010.
It seems like nothing, but my senior year was horrible.
I would go into details but that would end up into a novel, than a paragraph.
Graduating day for me was the most uplifting stage of my life. Especially noone believed,
I would graduate which sucks, but I did it. I proved everyone wrong,