[Vision2020] Fw: FW: because you are my friend

[lfalen]

I am not a religious person, but I like the message here.
Roger
-----Original message-----

From: "Zenner, Rhonda" rzenner at uidaho.edu
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:46 -0800
To: "Carol Taylor" ctaylor4214 at comcast.net
Subject: FW: because you are my friend





Never underestimate the "impressions" you leave behind as you walk
through life.

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 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 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 and now it paid off. 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 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 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.

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.'

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 INVITED TO SHARE IT WITH YOUR
FRIENDS,
INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO SENT IT TO YOU.

________________________________________________________________________
__

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From: "Zenner, Rhonda" <rzenner at uidaho.edu>
Subject: FW: because you are my friend
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:46 -0800
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