The Impact of Friends

I recieved this as an e-mail. It made me realize how very blessed I am to have friends and family that love me.

So to all my friends, my family, and those who I have not yet met... Thank you.

Enjoy...



One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my classwas walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he wascarrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on aFriday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with myfriends 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 athim,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 feetfrom 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 crawledaround 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 reallyshould get lives." He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on hisface. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pickup his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seenhim before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have neverhung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turnedout 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 Iliked him, and my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of booksagain. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some seriousmuscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed mehalf the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we wereseniors, 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 themiles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a footballscholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time aboutbeing a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad itwasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guysthat really found himself during high school. Hefilled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than Ihad 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 onthe back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with oneof 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 throughthose tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe acoach...but mostly your friends...I am here to tell all of you that being a friendtosomeone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you astory."I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of thefirst day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talkedof how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do itlater and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me alittle 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 toldus all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me andsmiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate thepower of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person'slife. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives toimpact one another in some way. Look for God in others. "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have troubleremembering how to fly."

There is no beginning or end..

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift.