>From: "Dan Bensmiller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;> >Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 11:38:11 -0800 > > >Ok people you know I don't like to do this, but it > > >touched me and I think there is something in it for us > > >all. > > > > > >Hope your all having a great time enjoying the things > > >that mean the most to you. > > > > > >JC > > > > > >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 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 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
