Posted by TerryS (24.24.79.72) on February 27, 2001 at 16:34:59:
> > > FRIENDS
> > > One day, when I was a freshman in high
> > > school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from
> > > school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was
> > > carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would
> > > anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He
> > > must really be a nerd.
> > > "I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my
> > friends
> > > tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
> > > As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids
> > > running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his
> > > books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in
> > > the dirt.
> > > His glasses went flying, and I saw them
> > > land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked
> > > up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My
> > > heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he
> > > crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a
> > > tear in his eye.
> > > As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those
> > > guys are jerks. They really should get lives." He
> > > looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big
> > > smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that
> > > showed real gratitude.
> > > I helped him pick up his books, and asked
> > > him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near
> > > me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
> > > He said he had gone to private school before now.
> > > I would have never hung out with a private
> > > school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I
> > > carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool
> > > kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on
> > > Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes.
> > > We hung all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I
liked
> him,
> > > and my friends thought the same of him.
> > > Monday morning came, and there was Kyle
> > > with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and
> > > said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious
> > > muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just
> > > laughed and handed me half the books.
> > > Over the next four years, Kyle and I became
> > > best friends. When we were seniors, we began to
> > > think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown
> > > and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always
> > > be friends, that the miles would never be a
> > > problem.
> > > He was going to be a doctor, and I was going
> > > for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was
> > > valedictorian of our class.
> > > I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a
> speech
> > > for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there
and
> > > speak.
> > > Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked
> > > great. He was one of those guys that really found himself
> > > during high school. He filled out and actually
> > > looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me
> > > andall the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was
> > > jealous. Today was one of those days.
> > > I could see that he was nervous about his
> > > speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey,
> > > big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one
> > > of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.
> > > "Thanks," he said.
> > > As he started his speech, he cleared his
> > > throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank
> > > those who helped you make it through those tough
> > > years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings,
> > > maybe a coach...but mostly your friends. I am here
> > > to tell all of you that being a friend to someone
> > > is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell
> > > you a story."
> > > I just looked at my friend with disbelief
> > > as he told the story of the first day we met. He had
> > > planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked
> > > of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom
> > > wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff
> > > home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little
> > > smile.
> > > "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved
> > > me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp
> > > go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy
> > > told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom
> > > and dad looking at me and smiling that same
> > > grateful smile.
> > > Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate
the
> > > power of your actions.
> > > With one small gesture you can change a person's
> > > life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in
> > > each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
> > > Look for God in others.
> > > You now have two choices, you can:
> > > 1) Pass this on to your friends; or
> > > 2) Delete it and act like it didn't touch
> > > your heart.
> > > As you can see, I took choice number 1.
> > > "Friends are angels who lift us to our
> > > feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
> > > It's National Friendship Week. Show your
> > > friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you
> > > consider a FRIEND, including the one who sent it to
> > > you.