2001-02-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

Even You Can Make A Difference

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 out 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 I had and all 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 onthe 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 all 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.

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote:

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends
will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it is his fault; if he betrays you
twice,it is your fault.

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much;
He, who loses a friend, loses much more;
He, who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make
them all yourself.

Friends, you and me....you brought another friend....and then there
were 3.

We started our group.... our circle of friends....and like that
circle....there is no beginning or end. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow's
a
mystery. Today is a gift.

2001-02-26T15:12:00.000-08:00

Friendship Week
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while
trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from
a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his
waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free
himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and
terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's
sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and
introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied,
waving off the offer.

At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my son
will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to
be a man we both will be proud of."

And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, he
graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to
become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the
discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was
stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The
name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston
Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's
Heaven on Earth.

Of Heart and Soul