3/17/15

The Hand of Friendship...An Irish Blessing

If you dig around in your Family Genealogy Records long enough and search far, far and away...you might discover your Irish Roots.  Or, if you are like me...your Scottish Roots and your Irish Kissin' Cousins. 
  Wannabe Irish/Scottish? 
Just Share the Blessings!
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer.  One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog.  He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.  There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself.  Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
 
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings.  an elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.  "I want to repay you," said the nobleman.  "You saved my son's life."
 
No, I can't accept payment for what I did, the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer.  At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.  "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.  "Yes," the farmer replied proudly.  "I'll make you a deal.  Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy.  If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of."  And that he did.
 
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
 
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.  What saved his life this time?  Penicillin.  The name of the nobleman?  Lord Randolph Churchill...His son's name?  Sir Winston Churchill.
 
Someone once said...
What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
The Irish say...
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
Pass it on...Happy Saint Patricks Day!

7 comments:

  1. Awesome, Sue! 🍀

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    1. Thanks Karen! The Irish are smiling on YOU and ME and our Friendship!

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  2. Great story! Happy St Patty's Day!

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    1. I thought it was an amazing story, too. I had not heard it before. Luck of the Irish to you!

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  3. Aye - I"ve got the Emerald Isles in my blood - mix of English, Scots, and Irish. I try to not have the Irish temper. I can blather on a bit. And my mother's hair was a dark red. I've got the fair skin (and that's not good in hot Texas). Enjoy St.Pat's and I wish you sunshine at the end of the rainbow.

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    1. Your blather is always so entertaining. I wish you sunshine at the end of the rainbow, too....but please wear a wide brim hat and lather up in sunscreen.

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  4. Hi Sue - I'm not sure about Irish roots ... perhaps - but it looks like we're English through and through ... and I love this story - great as it's part of your history ... and a great one to repeat and remind us how lucky we are sometimes - others deeds affect us all .. cheers Hilary

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