Send this page as an e-mail to your friends and colleagues !  (Instructions below)  

The Meaning Of Friends

Lets see if you send this back

This is for all of you, I know you will all get a little tear in your
eye.............

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 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. We all impact one another in some way. Look for the good 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."

Eleanor Roosevelt wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life, But only true friends will
leave footprints in your heart.


To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.


If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
If he betrays you twice, it is your fault

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.


He who loses money, loses much;
He, who loses a friend, loses much more;
He, who loses faith, loses all.


Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.


Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.


Friends, you and me....You brought another friend....
And then there were 3. We started our group....
Our circle of friends....And like that circle....
There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.


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.

(You can send more great poems, jokes and stories at www.agiftofpoetry.com !)

(Send this page to your friends and colleagues ! Simply complete the details below)

FROM email:
Your name:
TO email: