We can change someones life

[Julia Kimber]

>> 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 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.
>>
>> God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in
some
>> way.
>>
>> Look for God in others.
>>

[QuilterMom]