This man's Grandfather worked for the railroad many years ago. Hearing weekly about his Grandfather's stories was the genesis of this man's love and appreciation for trains. When he was a little boy in the 1940's, he lived in a home on the hillside in Provo. There was a train track that ran past his neighborhood. Each day at the same time, he would run as quickly as he could to a spot on the hillside where he loved to watch the train go by. He waved at the conductor each day and the conductor waved back. This happened for over a year. It was the highlight of this little boy's day. He would dream about riding in the engine, imagine pulling the horn and being in control of that huge machine.
One day when he was about eight years old, he took his spot on the hillside as usual, and waved as the train approached. But this day, the screech of the brakes was heard, and the train slowed down. I asked him if he was scared, and he said, "No! This man was my friend. I felt like I knew him."
The train stopped, and wide-eyed, this little boy watched as the conductor walked towards him. They shook hands, and the conductor asked where the boy lived. Together they walked the short distance to his home to get permission for the little boy to ride on the train.
In this day and age, I don't think any mother would let her son accept an invitation like that, but this story happened in the 1940's, when I think there was a lot more decency and trust in the world. The mother agreed to let her son go. As this man was telling me this story from his youth, his eyes lit up and I could tell he was that little boy again for a moment, filled with more joy than a child experiences on Christmas morning.
He spent the rest of the day with the conductor, sitting on a stool, looking out the window, and even pulling the horn each time they approached an intersection.
I met another man that same evening who told me God doesn't give us what we want, only what we need. I disagree. God gave this sweet little boy his wish. Riding on the train wasn't a need. It was a desire. I believe God gives us many of our desires when we open our heart and mind to the possibility of His blessings and love.
The little boy who rode on the train is now a Grandpa sharing his train stories with his grandchildren. The trains he conducts are miniature train sets. He even has one in his backyard that can survive all types of weather. He bought a train set for one of his sons years ago as a Christmas gift. The wife told me they have a picture that is treasured among the family. It is from the 1970's. This grandpa and three other men are on the ground, bottoms in the air, playing with the train and assembling it. His son, who the gift was given to, is standing near them with a look on his face that says, "Hey, isn't this my train?"
Finally, I learned that this man recently shared his hobby with a neighbor who was under doctor's orders to get more exercise. His friend has serious health problems, but liked the idea of building model train sets for his own grandchildren. Today, these two neighbors are known for the multiple hours they spend outdoors in all kinds of weather, bringing joy to children as they teach them there is more to life than video games. His friend's health is improving as his focus has turned to a hobby that brings him satisfaction and exercise.
I think this was a great illustration of how healthy it is to focus on positive images, and actively engage our minds in wholesome pursuits!
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