[Fwd: FW: It's Friendship week....Send This Back To Me!]

[Bob <w8imo@xxxxxxxx>]

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK!

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 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 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.

You now have two choices, you can:

1) Pass this on to your friends or

2) Delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart.

As you can see, I took choice number 1.

"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 mystery.

Today is a gift.....Why it is called the present.

It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how

much you care.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.

If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a

circle of friends.

*******************

WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER, YOU'RE REQUESTED TO SEND

IT TO AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO

SENT IT TO YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU!