Kinda Long..but a Good Story!

> > 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 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 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 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.


Sarah (not the author)