Quote from Forum Archives on February 4, 2003, 2:49 pm

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

<>< Your Actions Mean more than you Know  ><>

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 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.

 

<><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <>< 

 

<>< CHORES ><>

Sunday – Cooking Day: Help me, my Savior, to start the week brewing a big kettle of
brotherly love and serve it with the clean, sweet bread of human kindness.

Monday - Wash Day: Lord, help me to wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead.
 
Tuesday - Ironing Day: Dear Lord, help me to iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty in others.
 
Wednesday - Mending Day: O God, help me to mend my ways so I will not set bad example for others.
 
Thursday - Cleaning Day: Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart.
 
Friday - Shopping Day: O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love.
 
Saturday - Sabbath Day: Help me, my Savior, to rest in You and lay aside all
of the previous week of failures, missed opportunities, and mistakes. Your grace is sufficient.

 

<><  <>< <>< <>< <>< <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><  <><

 

<>< Does Prayer Change Things? ><>

They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change
anything?

 

Oh yes! It really does!

 

Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances?
No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

 

Does prayer change your financial future?
No, not always, but it does change who you look to for meeting your
daily needs.

 

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies?
No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and
comfort.

 

Does prayer change your wants and desires?
No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

 

Does prayer change how you view the world?
No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world
through.

 

Does prayer change your regrets from the past?
No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

 

Does prayer change the people around you?
No, not always, but it will change you~the problem isn't always in
others.

 

Does prayer change your life in ways you can't explain?
Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

 

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING?
Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING

 

Have a Blessed Day

Dave and Barbara

 

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