To Be A Friend

Subject: To Be A Friend Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:12 pm

'Making a commitment is easy, fulfilling it proves who you are and what you stand for!'

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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 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 some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with 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. We are put in each others lives to impact one another in some way.

Subject: Re: To Be A Friend Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:54 pm

Beautiful Phoenix. Just beautiful. Sad

Reminding us we can all be angels too. kissu2

Subject: Re: To Be A Friend Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:35 pm

Oh, what a nice and touching story, Jennifer!

I really liked it very much.

Thank you very much for it!

sunny

Guest

Jennifer that story is very touching. Thanks for sharing it. Very Happy

Subject: Re: To Be A Friend Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:05 pm

Ah how touching.Thanks for sharing it,It can teach us many things. sunny

Subject: Re: To Be A Friend Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:54 am

I am so glad that story meant something to each of you, as it did to me.

We never know when we connect with another person, even just by saying hello, or doing some little thing, when that one act may change the other person's life...........or even our own. We live in a crazy world, but we are all here together for a reason, and we can make things better in our own small way, or we can make it worse. It is our choice. I have met many angels in my life, and most of them have come to me at the lowest points, and often in the form I would never have suspected. It has taught me a lot.

The funny thing is, that in my weakest moments and at the most difficult times, I found that the people I "knew" would always be there for me, were actually the ones who, at that moment, actually walked away, but each time, someone I would never have expected, came out of the shadows to be there for me.

I heard a saying not that long ago, and it really stuck with me. "True friends are the people who walk into our lives, just at the moment everyone else is turning their back and walking away."

Many angels walk among us, if we only allow ourselves to see them.

Subject: Re: To Be A Friend Thu Jan 17, 2008 8:58 pm

Just beautiful!!

I like that
"I heard a saying not that long ago, and it
really stuck with me. "True friends are the people who walk into our
lives, just at the moment everyone else is turning their back and
walking away."

It is so true... Shocked