Rice and Peas For The Soul 2: A Collection of 100 Motivational, Inspirational and Moving Stories That Reassure, Empower and Engage

By Delroy Constantine-Simms

Due to the exquisitely palatable success of the first edition of Rice and Peas for the Soul Book, the editorial chef has chosen to cook up a second collection of more than 100 Motivational Inspiration and Moving stories (MIMS) with a few moral lessons. So, using the tried and tested rice and peas recipe, just like the stories, rice and peas have

• Language: English
• Publisher: Think Doctor Publications
• Release date: Nov 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781684181759

Delroy Constantine-Simms

Delroy Constantine Simms C. Psychol; MSc Occupational and Organizational Psychology; BA (Hons) Social Sciences; BSc (Hons) Psychology; Constantine-Simms has previously taught sociology, psychology, at the Open University; The University of Stirling; Westminster College; and Barnet College. He is also a freelance print and photo journalist, whose work has been published in The Voice Newspaper, Black Britain, The Post, The Gleaner, Miami Times, The Amsterdam News, Pride Magazine. His photos have been distributed through photo agencies such as Demotix, Corbis and Getty images. He is a regular contributor on several radio and TV stations, including the BBC, Channel Four, BBC Radio 1, Three Counties Radio, and has been featured in the Guardian and cited in the Mirror, The Evening Standard, The Metro, Constantine-Simms has presented academic papers in Germany, South Africa, The USA, Jamaica, Gambia, and Ethiopia on a variety of psychology and sociology related topics.He is also the recipient of the 2001 Lambda Book Award for Best Anthology (The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities). Mst recently, received two Black Excellence Awards (Middle East) Best Photographer Award (2021), and Best Author Award (2021) after writing and editing two consequential books, #Take A Knee Political Awakening of Colin Kaepernick, and The Brazilian Covid Catastrophe. He currently lives in the United Arab Emirates.See https://www.betterhelp.com/delroy-constantine-simms/

Book preview

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Delroy Constantine-Simms is a UK registered Counselling Psychologist and a qualified Therapeutic Career Coach. Constantine-Simms has previously edited the following books and Co-edited Teachers for the Future (1995) The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities (2001) Hip Hop Had a Dream: Vol. 1 the Artful Movement (2008) Constantine-Simms is the recipient of the 2001 Lambda Award for Best Anthology for his book: The Greatest Taboo: Homosexuality in Black Communities (2001). He is also as freelance print and photojournalist, whose work is regularly submitted and distributed by photo agencies such as Corbis Images and Demotix. His articles and images have appeared in British and international publications such as the Word (Canada) The Big Issue, The Guardian, The Voice Newspaper, Miami Times, and many other publications. 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/DELROY+CONSTANTINE+SIMMS

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE EDITOR

INTRODUCTION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DIRTY LAUNDRY

TWO FRIENDS AND THE BEAR

THE CACTUS AND THE BALLOON

I AM GETTING A DIVORCE!

THE BIRDIES

A TEST OF LOVE

DEAR FRIEND

BONNY'S BUNNY

PAPPY

THE WEIGHT OF RESENTMENTS

A GOOD LESSON

POWER OF CHARISMA

THE LIST

PURE BLOOD

I FORGOT!

MY 18 BIRTHDAY!

LOST CONTACT

MR TUPPER’S STORY

THE MARY ASH STORY

IRENA SENDLER

ALWAYS BUSY

GOOD HEALTH

HASTE MAKES WASTE

IMITATION

SERIOUS BUSINESS

SATAN IN DISGUISE

ONE NUT AND TWO BOYS

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

THE GOLDEN WINDOWS

A LESSON IN HEART

PRISON HELP!

GIVE TIME TO OUR FAMILY

A GIFT OF LOVE!

THE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE

LIFE AND WORK

TIME AND FAMILY

GLASS OF MILK – PAID IN FULL

ILLUMINATED BY BLINDNESS

LIFE IS A GIFT.

PUPPIES FOR SALE

HOW RICH ARE WE?

THE PORTRAIT

THE BANK BOOK

PARABLE OF THE PENCIL

HAVE  AN  INSPIRATIONAL DAY

HOUSE OF 1000 MIRRORS

RESCUE AT SEA

THE CARPENTER'S HOUSE

THE ANGELS

THE APPLE TREE

THE BIG ROCKS

THE REAL MEANING OF PEACE

WHAT IS HAPPINESS?

INTEGRITY

WANT TO!

FLOWERS ON THE BUS

BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT

A TEAR TO THE EYE

A TEN-CENT IDEA

A TRAGEDY OR BLESSING?

A WORLD OF SMILES

ALABASTER BOXES

ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

ANGELS UNAWARE

BUILD ME A TEMPLE

DEATH ROW

DON'T CHANGE THE WORLD

A LESSON FROM A FROG TALE

WET PANTS

MY RESIGNATION LEAP FOR JOY

WHAT AM I

I HAVE A CHOICE ABOUT TODAY

RECIPE FOR FOREVER

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

THE RICHEST MAN

BOUNCING BACK

GIVING UP TOO SOON

THE MAN, BOY, AND THE HOTEL

THE BEAR AND TWO FRIENDS

AWESOME

A LATE BLOOMER

THREE MARBLES

EVERY DAY LIFE

WE WILL SEE

EPILOGUE

INTRODUCTION

Due to the exquisitely palatable success of the first edition of Rice and Peas for the Soul, book, the Editorial Chef has chosen to cook up a second collection of more than 100 Motivational, Inspirational and Moving Stories (MIMS) with a few moral lessons. So, using the tried and tested Rice and Peas recipe, the stories just like the peas have been carefully selected, soaked, boiled and strained to remove any harmful toxins that could offend delicate taste buds. Yes! These MIMS have had the Editorial Chef labouring intensely. The rice has been washed thoroughly and added to the peas, and just like the rice, these stories are of the highest quality. However, using basic ingredients for this latest edition of Rice and Peas won't suffice.  The Chef has been motivated and inspired just like his choice of MIMS and as such has added an exotic touch to enhance the flavour of these MIMS.

Creamed coconut blends the MIMS mix; a touch of salt and a sprinkling of  black pepper is like the underlying theme of hope while and thyme provides that deep inspirational fragrance like the sweetener of empowerment and success found in every MIM story. Many of these stories have been cooking for generations and certainly are not new. As with all dishes, the stories have been adapted to cater for a variety of intellectual culinary tastes, and after consumption, the reader will certainly  feel content and sufficiently energized and prepared for future editions of Rice & Peas publications.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The editor of this publication would like to thank God Almighty and all the anonymous and unknown contributors that have made this publication possible. THANK YOU!

DIRTY LAUNDRY

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. That laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap. Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hangs her wash to dry, the young woman makes the same comments.

A month later, the woman is surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and says to her husband: Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? The husband replies, I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows. And so it is with life... What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through we look.

TWO FRIENDS AND THE BEAR

Vijay and Raju were friends. On a holiday they went into a forest. They were enjoying the beauty of nature. Suddenly they saw a bear coming at them. They were frightened. Raju who knew climbing trees ran up to a tree and climbed up quickly. He did not think of Vijay. Vijay did not know tree climbing. Vijay thought for a second. He had heard animals do not prefer dead bodies. He fell to the ground and held his breath.

The bear sniffed him and thought he was dead. So, he went away. Raju asked Vijay, What did the bear whisper into your ears? Vijay replied, The bear asked me to keep away from friends like you" and went on his way.

MORAL: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

THE CACTUS AND THE BALLOON

The Cactus fell in love with the balloon, but they could never touch, or else the balloon would die. They were so in love that they decided that dying with the knowledge of holding someone you love is better than dying without the feeling of ever holding the one you love. So they hugged and the balloon died.  The cactus felt like it was his entire fault and blamed him for not doing a better job of protecting the balloon. Then one night, the balloon’s ghost comes to him in a dream saying You’ve given me the greatest gift in the word. You’ve shown me that it’s possible for someone to sacrifice who or what they love just to make their loved one happy. You were selfless and I love you. The cactus woke up and cried. His tears left his dry body and the cactus withered away in the desert sun.

The cactus and the balloon met in heaven where they could hug and cuddle.

MORAL: Love Conquers All

I AM GETTING A DIVORCE!

An elderly man in Oklahoma calls his son in New York and says, I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 45 years of marriage... and that much misery is enough! Dad, what are you talking about? the son yells. We can't stand the sight of each other any longer, the old dad explained. We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her! Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. Like heck they're getting divorced, she shouts, I'll take care of this. She calls her elderly father immediately, and screams at him, You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, you hear me? she yelled as she hung up the phone. The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. Okay, he says, it's all set. They're both coming for Christmas and paying their own air-fare.

THE BIRDIES

Throughout our lives we are blessed with spiritual experiences, some of which are very sacred and confidential and others, although sacred, are meant to be shared.  Last summer my family had a spiritual experience that had a lasting and profound impact on us, one we feel must be shared. It's a message of love. It's a message of regaining perspective, and restoring proper balance and renewing priorities. In humility, I pray that I might, in relating this story, give you a gift my little son, Brian, gave our family one summer day last year.

On July 22nd I was en route to Washington DC for a business trip. It was all so very ordinary, until we landed in Denver for a plane change. As I collected my belongings from the overhead bin, an announcement was made for Mr. Lloyd Glenn to see the United Customer Service Representative immediately. I thought nothing of it until I reached the door to leave the plane and I heard a gentleman asking every male if they were Mr. Glenn. At this point I knew something was wrong and my heart sank. When I got off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said, Mr. Glenn, there is an emergency at your home. I do not know what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to the phone so you can call the hospital.

My heart was now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I followed this stranger to the distant telephone where I called the number he gave me for the Mission Hospital. My call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife