by Jim Stovall
Dudly repeated, “I object.”
As Hamilton began to speak, I raised my hand to both of them for silence.
“Mr. Dudly, I am going to allow this motion to be presented in this fashion, giving Mr. Hamilton the widest possible latitude based on his experience and reputation before this court.”
Dudly slammed his open hand on the counsel table in frustration and dropped into his chair in resignation.
I then pointed the business end of my gavel at the one and only Theodore J. Hamilton and continued, “But, Counselor, let me warn you, if you are leading this court down an inappropriate path, I will react with every measure and course open to me to the full extent of the law.”
Hamilton nodded, agreeing to the conditions, stepped forward, and handed the single sheet to me. I scanned it once then read it again and, finally, reviewed it a third time to be sure my eyes were not deceiving me.
I nodded to Mr. Hamilton and said, “This motion is accepted as presented. You may call Mr. Stevens to the stand.”
Dudly sprang from his chair, knocking over a pitcher of water, and nearly upending the counsel table. He spread his arms wide, pleading, “Your Honor, there has been a motion before this court, both presented and accepted, without my clients having their right to due process in the matter.”
I nodded in understanding and remarked, “Mr. Dudly, I do acknowledge your position and ask you and your clients to indulge the court for a few moments.”
Jason Stevens had taken the stand, and Hamilton approached, asking, “Jason, would you please share with the court your expression of The Gift of Love as presented to you by your grandfather, Red Stevens.”
Jason said, “I did not learn how to love my grandfather or anyone else in my family until, through The Ultimate Gift, I received The Gift of Love. Love both gives and receives forgiveness, so at this time, I would like to ask each member of my family to forgive me for many years of not showing them respect, much less love.”
Dudly thundered, “Your Honor, that’s all well and good, but …”
I pounded my gavel and held up my other hand for Dudly to be silent.
“Your objection is overruled, counselor,” I stated. I looked back down at Jason, and he continued.
“In addition to asking for forgiveness, I also wanted to ask the judge if I could try to, in some small way, express my Gift of Love to my family.”
Jason looked up at me and asked, “Can I tell them?”
I nodded yes, and Jason Stevens testified.
“I asked Mr. Hamilton to prepare a document and present it to Judge Davis so that, if the judge ruled in my favor, my family would not lose all of the assets they have inherited.”
A multitude of questions and uncertainty could be heard throughout the courtroom. I pounded my gavel for order and nodded toward Mr. Hamilton.
“Jason, in order to clarify, are we to understand that you are asking your family to forgive you and you’re giving them back their entire inheritance, regardless of the outcome of this case?”
Jason’s gaze moved to each member of his family in the courtroom as he stated, “Yes. These people are my family, and at the end of this day, no matter the outcome, they will still be my family, and I want them to know I love them, and I want them to have the inheritance my grandfather gave to them.”
Everyone sat in stunned silence. Finally, Jason turned to me and spoke.
“Your Honor, can I ask you a question?”
I chuckled and said, “Son, after a year of answering everyone else’s questions, I think you’re entitled to one.”
Jason asked, “Is it true that judges can marry people? I mean can you perform a wedding?”
I laughed aloud and replied, “Son, I haven’t married anybody since before you were born, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do it.”
Jason declared, “Well then, sir, if it’s agreeable to Alexia, I think we would like you to do the honors as soon as possible.”
Alexia rose from her chair at the counsel table, nodding her head vigorously, saying, “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
Applause rose from the gallery. I let it die down and then rapped my gavel and declared, “We will address the marriage situation shortly, but first I have a decision to hand down.
“It is the judgment of this court after reviewing each aspect of The Ultimate Gift as set forth in the last will and testament of Howard ‘Red’ Stevens that Jason Stevens is, indeed, the legal heir of his grandfather’s estate and entitled to be awarded with all of his grandfather’s assets by this court.
“His earlier motion has been accepted by the court, thus restoring all previously held assets to the Stevens family.
“Jason Stevens, you will have full control of several billion dollars in the Red Stevens Charitable Trust. This court hopes you will act responsibly with it as your grandfather would were he here.”
I smiled at Jason and concluded, “And son, after spending more than a year with you here in the courtroom, I don’t believe there’s a better man anywhere for the job.”
That which was the end was also the beginning.
It was only a few days later that I was enjoying a glorious sunrise in the Howard “Red” Stevens Urban Park. I couldn’t believe so many people had gathered at that hour. All of the single moms and their kids from the day-care co-op had showed up, along with two busloads of students from the school for the blind. There were numerous wheelchairs and walkers in evidence, demonstrating a great turnout from the senior citizens center. The inner-city kids from the Saturday School were down front, along with many other friends and guests. I recognized the Stevens clan, fully decked out for the occasion. Of course, Theodore J. Hamilton and Margaret Hastings were there, along with Jeffrey Watkins. And, most amazing, was the fact that all of the partners and support staff from the entire legal firm of Dudly, Cheetham, and Leech were there.
Despite the best efforts to keep the media back from the proceedings, many of them had filtered through into the crowd. And standing before me, with as much joy and promise as the sunrise, were Jason and Alexia.
After welcoming everyone and making a few initial statements, I asked, “Jason, do you take Alexia to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Jason declared.
“And Alexia,” I asked, “do you take Jason to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
She gazed up at him lovingly and promised, “I do.”
I concluded, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride, and please accept my most sincere wishes for a healthy, happy, and Ultimate Life.”
About the Author
Jim Stovall is among the most sought-after motivational speakers anywhere. Despite failing eyesight and eventual blindness, Jim Stovall has been a national champion Olympic weight lifter, a successful investment broker, and an entrepreneur. He is the cofounder and president of the Narrative Television Network, which makes movies and television accessible for America’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people and their families. Although NTN was originally designed for the blind and visually impaired, more than 60 percent of its nationwide audience is made up of fully sighted people who simply enjoy the programming. The network’s programming is also available free of charge, 24 hours a day, via the Internet at www.NarrativeTV.com.
Jim Stovall hosts the network’s talk show, NTN Showcase. His guests have included Katharine Hepburn, Jack Lemmon, Carol Channing, Steve Allen, and Eddie Albert, as well as many others. The Narrative Television Network has received an Emmy Award and an International Film and Video Award among its many industry honors. It has grown to include more than 1,200 cable systems and broadcast stations, reaching more than 35 million homes in the United States, and it is shown in eleven foreign countries.
Jim Stovall joined the ranks of Walt Disney, Orson Welles, and four U.S. president
s when he was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans by the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1994. He has appeared on Good Morning America and CNN and has been featured in Reader’s Digest, TV Guide, and Time magazines. He is the author of previous books titled You Don’t Have to Be Blind to See, Success Secrets of Super Achievers, The Way I See the World, and the prequel to this book entitled The Ultimate Gift. The Ultimate Gift has sold in excess of 2 million copies in more than a dozen languages and has been made into a major motion picture starring James Garner, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy, and Abigail Breslin. The President’s Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Jim Stovall as the 1997 Entrepreneur of the Year. In June 2000, Jim Stovall joined notables such as President Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa when he received the International Humanitarian Award.
Jim Stovall can be reached at 918-627-1000.
THE ULTIMATE LIFE
Published by David C Cook
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The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you. These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
LCCN 2007930614
Hardcover ISBN 978-1-4347-9990-6
Paperback ISBN 978-0-7814-4547-4
eISBN 978-1-4347-6662-5
© 2007 Jim Stovall
Cover Design: The DesignWorks Group
First Edition 2007
Photo courtesy of Rick Stiller,
August 2007.
Jim Stovall has enjoyed success as an author, athlete, investment broker, and entrepreneur while dealing with the challenge of his own blindness. During his remarkable life, Jim has been a national champion and Olympic weightlifter as well as the author of several books. In addition to his personal achievements, Jim was honored as the 2000 International Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan, and Mother Teresa as a recipient of this prestigious award.
As cofounder and president of the Narrative Television Network (NTN), Jim has also helped make movies and television accessible for America’s 13 million blind and visually impaired people and their families. Jim developed The Ultimate Gift Institute, which allows participants the opportunity to mirror Jason Stevens’ experiences in The Ultimate Gift, a book with over 3 million copies in print, and the inspiration for the major motion picture starring James Garner and Oscar-nominated Abigail Breslin.
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