Every child, deep within, desires the approval and blessing of their parents. Likewise when other older ones show true interest in a child, it goes a long way.

As if yesterday, I can remember my Christian neighbor taking me and my brother out on the lake in his boat. We were poor by today's standards and did not have access to a boat nor did our friends.

On Sundays, at the church meeting, I remember a realtor who always sought me out and gave me a piece of chewing gum each week. It meant a lot.

And an uncle who had US Postal Service First Day Covers sent to me about every month. These are official envelopes which celebrate a new stamp. I became interested in stamp collecting which taught me about history and geography.

Uncle Jim lost all his hearing on a battleship in WW2. He was told that he should look for a factory job. He had other plans, though. He learned to read people's lips and few knew he was deaf.

He became a safety instructor for coal mining at WVA University. Decades later, I also worked in the coal fields as a delivery driver for UPS. When coal miners mentioned to me that they went to WVA for their yearly training. I would ask them if they knew James Stone. Several times they replied in the affirmative with a big smile.

I'm sure there were others - these are the first who come to mind. These were truly caring "elders" who acted out of good instinct. Money for "ministry" was definetely not in the picture.

Now, I must also seek to be a blessing to others. The fatherless and the widows are everywhere and they are hurting - not to mention the homeless.

And I must thank the Almighty for my sheltered background. Imagine this: Among my high school friends, I was not aware of any who came from a broken home. And among my neighbors, all the men around us were practicing Christians. I lived on the campus of a Christian College, you see.

Good memories!