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, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?
He must really be a nerd.'
I had quite a weekend planned with my friends so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
As I was walking, I watched some kids run up to him, knock the books from his arms
and trip him over.
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 and as I watched him crawling around looking for his glasses
with a tear in his eye.
As I gave him his glasses, I said,'Those guys are jerks. They really need to get a life’.
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 some of his books.
He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play football with my friends and 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 carrying
these 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.
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 really grateful looks 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 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 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 from the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us 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 its 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 others lives to impact one another in some way.
Look for God in others.
'Friends lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble flying.'
There is no beginning or end.
Today is a gift.
This is National Friendship Week.
You may like to pass this on to your friends including the person who sent it to you.
