YOUR ACTIONS MAY CHANGE A LIFE

YOUR ACTIONS MAY CHANGE A LIFE

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, "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 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.

-- Author Unknown

Friends

TWO HORSES IN A FIELD

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.

Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is trusting that she will not lead him astray.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom he places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see God.

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Quotes about Friends

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How to Make Friends Faster

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You don't have to look like a friend to be one

Do you know who you are ... 

A true friend. 

Remember: 

'A good friend will 

Come bail you 

Out of jail.... 

But a true friend will 

Be sitting next to you 

Saying WE screwed 

Up, but we had fun!'

Proud 

To Be 

Your Friend!

Make 

sure you read 

All the way down to 

The last sentence, 

And don't skip ahead. 

I've learned...

That life is like a 

Roll of toilet paper. 

The closer it gets 

To the end, the 

Faster it goes. 

I've learned....

That we should be 

Glad God doesn't 

Give us everything 

 We ask for 

I've learned...... 

That money doesn't 

Buy class. 

I've learned.....that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. 

I've learned...

That under everyone's 

Hard shell is someone 

Who wants to be 

Appreciated 

And loved. 

I've learned..

That the Lord didn't 

Do it all in one day 

What makes me 

Think I can? 

I've learned...

That to ignore the 

Facts does not 

Change the facts. 

I've learned....

That the less time 

I have to work, 

The more things 

I get done. 

To all of you.... Make 

Sure you read all the 

Way down to the 

Last sentence... 

It's National 

Friendship Week. 

Show your friends 

How much you care. 

Share this with everyone 

You consider a FRIEND! 

HAPPY 

FRIENDSHIP 

WEEK TO YOU!!!!!! 

YOU ARE MY FRIEND 

AND I AM HONORED. 

Grief Works

Grief Links
http://www.grief-works.org


What Can I Say That's Actually Helpful in Times of Grief?

Grief Recovery Lessons

https://www.woodburychurchofchrist.org/grief-recovery-lessons

Are there good mental health resources for coping with these troubled times?

This year has been a tough year. We all need resources to cope, but a radio show isn't really the best way to go about it. One recommendations is the US government's MentalHealth.Gov website, which offers resources to get help. Your minister or doctor can also recommend a good therapist or mental health professional. 

Someone suggests Doctor Georgia Dow who has her own YouTube Channel. That could be an option.