FRIENDSHIP
One day, when I was a freshman football player in high school, I saw a skinny kid from my class
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 with cheerleaders and a pick up football game with my football squad friends
tomorrow afternoon, so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was
walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward Kyle. 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 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
noticed 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.
Turns out 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 and he said yes. We hung out all weekend
and got to know each other as friends. As I got to know Kyle, the more I liked
him, and my football team mates friends thought the same of him also.
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, sex and girls. 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 on 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.
Sometimes I was jealous and today was one of those days. I could see that
he was nervous about his speech. I smacked him on the *** 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 all in each
others lives to impact one another in some way. Look for good in others.
'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.
Show your friends how much you care.
Click to expand...