Page i What People Are Saying About A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul . "From the beginning of time, we have passed on life's most important lessons through stories. This collection will uplift, inspire and motivate you beyond your wildest dreams." Orvel Ray Wilson, CSP coauthor, Guerilla Selling "Chicken Soup for the Soul stories take the unbelievable and make it believable, because the stories really happened." Donna Nelson president, 3N and Associates and international speaker "A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul will make you laugh, cry and positively change your outlook on life. As you read this book you'll find yourself thinking better thoughts, helping others more, and appreciating how fragile yet resilient people truly are. It is a brilliant compilation of emotional sparkplugs that will improve your quality of life." Gordon Pedersen, Ph.D. director, Institute of Alternative Medicine "Chicken Soup for the Soul speaks the language of humanity's soul. These powerful stories remind us that all cultural, national and religious boundaries are illusions. They unite us and remind us of an emerging spirituality that is destined to sweep across the planet." Christopher Naughton host, PBS's New World with Christopher Naughton and NPR's New World Radio "The stories in this book will challenge, motivate and inspire you as they have me." Ray Pelletier, CSP, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame author, Permission to Win Page ii "Holy guacamole! A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul is another must­read and should be mandatory for every living soul. Get your helping today!" Tom Harken literary activist, owner, Casa Ole and winner of the Horatio Alger Award "The Chicken Soup books have won first place in my library. There are quality family values tucked into these wonderful stories. They provide motivation and inspiration for everyone." Bob Proctor author, You Were Born Rich and international public speaker "A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul is a genuine pearl among the many books of inspiration that are available. When you read this book it can change your life. This is not just a read, it's a must­read!" L. W. Paxson chairman, Paxson Communications Corporation "Sometimes the simplest of stories can describe our most complex feelings. The Chicken Soup series gives us laughter, tears and a sense of optimism for our tomorrows. It is literally a one­a­day multiple vitamin." Edwin L. Griffin Jr., CAE president/CEO, Meeting Professionals International "The Chicken Soup for the Soul books are the only ones I read, my wife reads, my kids read, and that we all talk about." Marty Coyne director of development, Ronald McDonald House "You make us cry so much, you'll create the next great flood." Barbara Daugherty Lifestyles reporter, The Valley News Dispatch Page iii A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul® More Stories to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit Jack Canfield Mark Victor Hansen Health Communications, Inc. Deerfield Beach, Florida www.hci­online.com www.chickensoup.com Page iv We would like to acknowledge the following publishers and individuals for permission to reprint the following material. (Note: The stories that were penned anonymously, that are in the public domain, or that were written by Jack Canfield or Mark Victor Hansen are not included in this listing.) The Healing Power of Love. Reprinted by permission of Mary Sherman Hilbert. © 1998 Mary Sherman Hilbert. How Much Love Can You Fit Into a Shoebox? Reprinted by Jim Schneegold. © 1998 Jim Schneegold. Discretion Is the Better Part of Marriage. Reprinted by permission of Rebecca Christian. © 1998 Rebecca Christian. You Do It Quiet. Reprinted by permission of Merry Stockwell. © 1998 Merry Stockwell. Blue Christmas. Reprinted by permission of Terry Andrews. © 1984 Terry Andrews. A Hand to Hold. Excerpted from The Ballad of Gussie and Clyde by Aaron Latham. © 1997 by Aaron Latham. Reprinted by permission of Villard Books, a division of Random House, Inc. (Continued on page 381) Library of Congress Cataloguing­in­Publication Data A 6th bowl of chicken soup for the soul: more stories to open the heart and re­ kindle the spirit / [compiled by] Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen. p. cm. ISBN 1­55874­663­3 (hardcover). — ISBN 1­55874­662­5 (pbk.). — ISBN 1­55874­664­1 (CD audio). — ISBN 1­55874­665­X (audiotape) 1. Spiritual life. I. Canfield, Jack, II. Hansen, Mark Victor. III. Title: Sixth bowl of chicken soup for the soul. BL624.A155 98­55214 158.1'28—dc21 CIP © 1999 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen ISBN 1­55874­662­5 (trade paper) — ISBN 1­55874­663­3 (hardcover) All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc. 3201 S.W. 15th Street Deerfield Beach, FL 33442­8190 Cover redesign by Andrea Perrine Brower Page v With love and appreciation we dedicate this book to the more than 38 million people who have purchased, read and shared the twenty­one Chicken Soup for the Soul books with their families, friends, business partners, employees, students and congregations, and to the over five thousand readers who have sent us stories, poems, cartoons and quotes for possible inclusion in A 6th Bowl of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Although we couldn't use everything you sent in, we were deeply touched by your heartfelt intention to share yourselves and your stories with us and our readers. Love to you! Page vi © 1997 by John McPherson. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page vii CONTENTS Acknowledgments xiii Introduction xvii Share with Us xix 1. On Love The Healing Power of Love 2 Mary Sherman Hilbert How Much Love Can You Fit in a Shoebox? 5 Jim Schneegold Discretion Is the Better Part of Marriage 11 Rebecca Christian You Do It Quiet 14 Cal Fussman as told by Merry Stockwell Blue Christmas 20 Terry Andrews A Hand to Hold 29 Aaron Latham Daisy's Trip 35 Diane Nelson Lilies of the Valley 38 Jacqueline Moffett The $325 Salvation 41 Marvin J. Wolf The Kindness of Strangers 46 Mike McIntyre Los Angeles Gets It Together 52 Paul Dean A Simple Act 56 Reg Green Hope 60 Meg Lundstrom My Father's Gift 64 Michele Morris Sprite 70 Darcie Hossack First­Day Employee 73 Mary Jane West­Delgado Page viii First Night 76 Marsha Arons Missing Pieces 79 Lizanne Southgate A Christmas Adoption Miracle 85 Bill Holton The Storyteller 91 Penny Porter My Second Proposal 100 Donna Smith The Swordsman 103 Mike Lipstock 2. On Parenting Rebuilding a Stairway to Heaven 112 E. J. Montini The Bus Doesn't Stop Here Anymore 116 Denise Syman Crossing Over 119 Angela Martin Through the Years 121 Nancy Richard­Guilford Leading with My Chin 123 Jay Leno Why Monks Sit in the Snow 125 Joan Ryan Making Room for Shooting Stars 129 Mark Crawford My Favorite Father's Day 132 Jerry Harpt Dear Old Dad 135 Erma Bombeck My Name Is Mommy 137 Stacey A. Granger Mikey's Goal 143 Kim Kane One Rose 145 Jolie "Jes" Shafer­Kenney Can I Come with You? 147 Beverly Beckham A Daughter's First Dance 150 Alice Collins Love Notes 152 June Cerza Kolf Rite of Passage 156 Marsha Arons Wishes for My Daughter 159 Rebecca Christian The Handwriting on the Wall 161 Valerie Cox Leftover Halloween Candy 163 Erma Bombeck 3. On Death and Dying Gramma's Blanket from Heaven 166 Bill Holton Homer and the Racing Car 170 Don Burda Page ix Seeing Around the Corner 174 Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. My Mother's Eyes 178 John E. Welshons My Dad 182 Tom Krause Whistling Pete 185 Kathie Harrington Legacy of Love 188 Hope Saxton The Wave Game 190 Misty L. Kerl Season of Miracles 193 John Pekkanen The Gift of Joy 200 C. W. Metcalf Al 202 Michael Haverty The Gift 206 Mildred Shreve Mr. Michael Ted's Big Production 209 Andy Andrews 4. On Teaching and Learning Wrestling 216 Renee Adolph The Cage 218 Regina Clancy­Hiney Don't Touch Me 223 Kay L. Pliszka Two Little Boys Named Chris 227 Delores Lacy Big Heart 228 Heather Bull A Touch of Lemon 230 Rick Phillips The Dustpan Carrier 232 Tali Whiteley The Influence of the Insignificant 236 Robert H. Schuller A Neighbor I'll Never Forget 238 Jack Alexander 5. Overcoming Obstacles Everyday Heroes 244 Shawn Blessing Weep with Those Who Weep 249 June Cerza Kolf Sandy, I Can't 253 Lawrence A. Kross Perfectly Normal 256 Michael Biasini The Pony 260 Regina Brett Consider This 263 Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen Casting a New Mold for Heroes 266 Jerry Harpt Angels All Around 270 Patricia Lorenz Page x The Bicycle 275 Marvin J. Wolf 6. Live Your Dream A Glass of Lemonade 280 Ed Robertson, Vincent Luong and Mary Gardner From Hodgkin's to Ironman 284 Wally Hild The First Step 291 Rabona Turner Gordon I Promise, Mama 293 Jean Oliver Dyer A ''Real" Beautiful Person 297 Dave Carruthers This Is Not a Permanent Situation 300 Krista Buckner The Confidence Course 303 Walter Anderson Twenty Things You Should Do in This Lifetime 304 Mike Buettell 7. A Matter of Perspective My Dream House and My Boy 308 Forrest Baird as told to Linda Lawrence The Tattooed Child 314 Marsha Arons Coat of Many Colors 318 Dolly Parton When Social Security Speaks 322 Ruth Senter Never Give Up 325 Anita Grimm The Little Leaguer I'll Never Forget 329 Jerome Brondfield Hold On to Your Hair! 333 Kathleen M.