One of those stories that really hits home..

Joined: Jul 26, 2005 Posts: 540 Location: Plano Texas

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 h im 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 myfriends 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
loo ked 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 others lives to impact one another in some way.

Look
for God in others.

Added is a song that really puts a point to paying attention to those around us..

Listen to the first song.. How do you get that Lonely
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:30 pm

That story is awesome... and very true. God does put others in our lives for a reason.... but whether or not we pay attention makes a big difference in someone elses life.