The Power of Your Actions

> > 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 friend
> > 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 his books. He turned out to be a
> pretty
> > cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with
> me and
> > my friends. He said yes. We hung 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, "Damn 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, 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 me 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.

< Back