Without a Prayer?

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Ten years. Ten beautiful, priceless years with my best friend. Happy anniversary to my husband, Stephen! You are my walk on the child side.

Folks, I am pleased as punch to introduce to you a special, inspirational friend of mine, Jaye Lewis, whose story below reflects the power of a stranger's kindness all those years ago.

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WITHOUT A PRAYER?

I often wonder how they did it -- my parents. How did they squeeze four kids and themselves into an old Lafayette automobile, and all their worldly possessions into a couple of wash baskets tied to the roof of the car, and head for no destination, except Florida? What were they thinking? I only knew that we'd lost our house, and I thought that we were traveling along -- on less than a shoestring -- trying to find it.

With no money to get us there, my Dad hit on every church he could find, the entire 1500 miles; borrowing ten dollars here and twenty dollars there. We finally wound up at Jacksonville Beach, and we stayed there for two weeks, just camping out and sleeping on the beach.

I was three years old, and I just hated the feel of salt and sand, and I hated the way my bathing suit stuck to my skin. My mother tried to wash me off under the boardwalk shower, but I had my own plans. As soon as my mother's back was turned, I'd pull off that bathing suit and streak down the beach -- my brother Michael making hot feet after me! For two weeks they battled with me to keep me dressed!

Every day my mother insisted we pray and ask God for His mercy. For two Sunday mornings, she marched us into the nearest church, all the way up front - a rag-tag bunch, if there ever was one; but nothing could shake her faith.

One day, while streaking down the beach, swinging my bathing suit over my head, I found myself suddenly swooped up into a pair of strong arms. My brother caught up to me and peeled me out of the arms of the smiling man. Hastily, Michael slipped me back into my bathing suit, as the man, now laughing, introduced his wife, who was nearly doubled over with glee.

"She's been doing this every day for two weeks!" my harried brother explained. "She takes off her suit and runs with me chasing after her. I'm getting tired of this." He was only eleven years old, but he was my favorite brother, and he always took care of me.

"My name is Conroy," said the man, holding out his hand. "Do y'all live near here?"

"No, sir," Michael said. "My Dad is looking for work, and until then, we have to sleep on the beach."

A pained look crossed the features of Mrs. Conroy's face as she said, "Y'all don't have a home?"

"No, ma'am," Michael said. "Not yet."

A look passed between Mr. and Mrs. Conroy as we waved "good-bye," and we strolled back to our folks away down the beach.

As the sun drifted low in the sky, we ate the last of two cans of pork and beans and drank water that my mother had begged off of a lemonade stand, and we prepared for a long, dark night that would bring us inches from the waves -- a trigger for nightmares that would haunt me for years to come. Again, my mother insisted on praying, and we all knelt in the sand with me murmuring my strange petition that we "find that house we lost."

Suddenly, there was a shadow hovering over us in the last dying rays of the sun. Looking up, there were Mr. and Mrs. Conroy, smiling down at us.

"We have two extra bedrooms--" began Mr. Conroy, hesitating.

"What I mean to say--" he began again.

Mrs. Conroy stooped down to my level, and she looked at my Mom and Dad and me.

"We'd like to offer you our home," she said. "To give you a start. Not charity."

Guessing at my father's pride, she added, "A loan." She smiled.

It didn't take long for my parents to say "yes" with much gratitude. So we all went home with the Conroys that night -- four young kids and two penniless parents out of luck, but never without a prayer.

Jaye Lewis
[email protected]
Copyright © 2002 by Jaye Lewis. All rights reserved.
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Looking out my window, across the mountainous landscape, dotted with farms and single family homes, I feel very safe, in southwestern Virginia. Not much happens here. Our family is small, but close, and we love to get together and talk about old times. I'm a far cry from that little girl, who only had pork and beans to eat, but I know that there are those who still
live in want. I hope that by my reaching out, I can be a blessing to them, even as Mr. and Mrs. Conroy were to us, over fifty years ago.

Jaye Lewis is a writer/poet, who celebrates seeing life from a unique perspective. She writes and lives with her family in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia. Jaye also shares her life with a cat, a kitten, a bird, a big "special" dog, and, of course, her constant companion, her "tweenie" dachshund, Happy Dog.

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ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ROGER DEAN KISER, SR.

The Sad Orphan Foundation has been established to specifically help orphans in the United States of America.

The intent of this organization is to make sure that a minimum of 90-95% of all the donations received go directly to the children. Not to groups, organizations and/or Societies who tend to pay themselves large salaries and in the end leave the kids getting little or nothing. I want these kids to know, without any doubt, whatsoever, that the world outside the orphanage really cares about them. I want them to know that not having a mother and a father is lonely, yet it is survivable.

The foundations books will be available on the Internet 24/7. All transactions will be posted on this web site (in simple plain English) for everyone to view.

I am not exactly sure what all "The Sad Orphan Foundation" can accomplish. It is not easy trying to establish such an organization and to find honest, capable people who are willing to give that much of their time. Oh! there are those who are willing to help if it makes them look like a big shot in the community. I don't need or want people like that in this organization.

The kids that I am trying to help did not do anything wrong. They are innocent children who were abandoned. I do not want them to ever have to feel that they have to bow down to anyone who offers them help or kindness. I, and my orphan brothers and sisters were made to beg for whatever kindness was given to us. I will never forget the feeling of having to look at the ground every time kindness was shown to me.

Even today as a fifty-six year old man that aspect of me has never changed. I still get embarrassed, and I look down at the ground, when kindness is shown to me.

What I plan to do for these children may not have much of an effect right now. But in the years to come they will remember the kindness that was showed to them. I know this for a fact. Common sense tells us that we never harm those who are kind to us. Kindness is the only path leading into the heart of the orphan, or abused child. It is then, and only then, that we can start to build a lasting relationship based on love and trust.

I will be there myself, and I will tell them that it is YOU who have helped them. That YOU do care about them and that they do not owe you anything for helping them.

The money given to this foundation will not be wasted. There will be no fancy envelopes or stationary. These items, if necessary, will be purchased from the dollar store.

Should the time come that the organization grows and needs any type of paid help. The president of the company down to the last man on the totem pole will receive minimum wage. There will be no bonuses for anyone, ever.

I will not spend one penny on anything that the orphanage itself should have purchased for the children.

If by chance, these children are taken to Disney World, Universal Studios, a water slide, movie or the like, I, as the President of the foundation, will make sure that the lowest possible fare(s) have been achieved.

It is hoped that someday computers will be placed in the orphanages and that I can start a program, which I will call "e-doptions." I want the children in these orphanages to have access to the people who are helping them. I want them to look forward to receiving e-mails and encouragement from those who care about them. When the day comes for these children to leave the orphanage, I do not want them to feel, as I did, that it really does not matter if they go North, South, East or West. I want them to know that no matter what direction they travel in (to make a life for themselves) that there is someone near who cares for them.

That is the seed that I want to plant now.

Have you have ever wondered why a young person goes off the deep end and hurts others. I can tell you the reason because I have been there. When all has failed in a child's life and they feel that they have nothing to lose. The next thought is to hurt someone or to get even with the world. At this point they do not need a reason to do it because they feel that they already have one. Now their mind searches for a reason not to do it. This is the critical point in the process of decision. 'Love' at this point is totally worthless to that child. However, kindness always seems to shine through and gives the child 'a reason' not to hurt someone.

The brilliant minds of today, and yesterday, as well as all the educated scholars have had their chance and they have all failed. It is time for a new approach. It is time to allow some of us who have ridden on the train to have a chance to stop it.

Most of you have read my stories and you know of my past. It has not been an easy road for me to travel. I am not very well educated, but on the other hand I am not stupid. I hope that you will give us former orphans a chance to see if what we know, and what we have learned, can make a difference in this world.

In closing, I would like to add this: "The Sad Orphan Foundation will never be allowed to become more important than its purpose."

Those who wish to make a donation please send a check or money order to:

THE SAD ORPHAN FOUNDATION
c/o Author, Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.
100 Northridge Drive
Brunswick, Georgia 31525

THANK YOU,

Author, Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.

NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS: Please do not send cash. Your check or money order will be your receipt for your tax deductible contribution.

For more information please visit Roger's web site at:
http://www.geocities.com/trampolineone/foundation.html

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FROM OUR FRIENDLY E-MAIL CARRIER:

In regards to "Heave Ho" --
(http://geocities.com/jenniferioliver2001/012802.htm)

Dear Jennifer, I love your stories. I wrote to Betty King and printed out your newsletter so I would have the address to help the orphans when I get the money. Keep on making people happy. I am forwarding you a story under separate cover I received from a friend today. I thought you might enjoy it. - Freda

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Hi Jennifer, I couldn't get my computer to lock onto the submission page of StoriesofHeart. You are one talented lady, and a blessing to me. I love StoriesofHeart, and I shall not miss any. I wish you, not only, enough, but more than enough. May God bless you in this. - Jaye

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LOVE,
JENNIFER I. OLIVER AND FAMILY
[email protected]
When you are born, you cry and everyone is happy. So live your life
in such a way that when you die, everyone cries and you are happy.

- Unknown

The quote is derived from "To live that in thy last long sleep, Smiles
may be thine wile all around thee weep." - Nellie L. Wallace, June
24, 1873
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