Message from National Friendship Week (Sorry for being late)

Let's see if you send it back. We all know or knew someone like this!!

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 himHe looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyesMy heart wen t 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 ha d 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 friendsHe 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 speakGraduation 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 a nd 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 others 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 or2)

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."There is no beginning or end..

Yesterday is history.Tomorrow is a mystery.

Today is a gift.It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.

If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER, YOU'RE REQUESTED TO SEND IT TO AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO SENT IT TO YOU.

A beautiful Story

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman outtodinner and a movie. She said I love you but I know this other woman lovesyou and would love to spend some time with you.
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has beena widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three childrenhad made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie."What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My mother is the type ofwoman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign
of bad news.
"I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," Iresponded. "Just the two of us." She thought ! about it for a moment,and then said, "I would like that very much."
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervousabout our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her
hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her lastweddinganniversary.
She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's."I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and theywere impressed, "she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear
about our meeting".
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy.My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down,I had to read the menu. Her eyescould only read large print. Half waythrough the entries ,
I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smilewas on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you weresmall," she said."Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.
During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothingextraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other's life.
We talked so much that we missed the movie.
As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but
only if you let me invite you." I agreed.
"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home."Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happenedso suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.
Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receiptfrom the same place mother and I had dined.An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure thatI could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one foryou and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meantfor me.I love you, son."
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "ILOVE YOU!" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Givethem the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till"some other time."

- END -

(FW:) Touching Story And A Good Reminder

Touching Story And A Good Reminder :

On the last day before Christmas, I hurried to go to the supermarket to buy

the remaining of the gift I didn't manage to buy earlier. When I saw all the people there, I started to complain to myself," It is going to take forever here and I still have so many other places to go.

Christmas really is getting more and more

annoying every year. How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wake up

after it..." Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, and there I started to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids really play with such expensive toys.

While looking in the toy section, I noticed a small boy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest.

He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked so sad. I wondered who was this doll for.

Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him, "Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?"

The old lady replied, "You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear."

Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly.

The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked him who did he want to give this doll to. "It is the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her."

I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus will bring it to her, after all, and not to worry.

But he replied to me sadly. "No, Santa Claus can not bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mother so that she can give it to her when she goes there." His eyes were so sad while saying this. "My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister."

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, "I told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked him to wait until I come back from the supermarket."

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing.He then told me, "I also want mummy to take this photo with her so that she will not forget me." I love my mummy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister."

Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notes and said to the boy,

"What if we checked again, just in case if you have enough money?" "Ok,"

he said. "I hope that I have enough." I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll, and even some spare money. The little boy said, "Thank you God for giving me enough money."

Then he looked at me and added, "I asked yesterday before I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this doll so that mummy can give it to my sister. He heard me." "I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mummy, but I didn't dare to ask God too much.

But He gave me enough to buy the doll and the white rose." "You know, my mummy loves white rose." A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left with my trolley. I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.

Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck who hit a car where there was one young lady and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state.

The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, because the

young lady would not be able to get out of the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away.

I couldn't stop myself and went to buy a bunch of white roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wish before burial.

She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.

I left the place crying, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk man had taken all this away from him.

(FW:) AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

A Young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.

He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?", and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a Telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse,

Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Pass it on to others. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for...

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKED THAT WAY! ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO ATTACHMENTS!