vision2020
my thoughts
In a week when I have been extremely troubled by the senseless torture
and
viscious murder of a young man, when my elected officials care more
about
crucifying the President than running the country, when some on my
staff
continue to not understand or embrace the concept of customer service
and
working with your colleagues as members of a team, this e-mail came as
a
breath of fresh air...it filled my aching lungs and reminded me that
there
are gifts I give every day and presents I receive that are so important
to
my life.
I thank you
all,
Jerry
_______________________________________________________
>
FRIENDSHIP
>
> Mark was walking home from school one day when he
noticed the boy ahead
>of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he
was carrying, along
>with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a
small tape recorder.
> Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the
scattered articles.
>Since they were going the same way, he helped to
carry part of the
>burden. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy's
name was Bill, that he
>loved video games, baseball and history, and
that he was having lots of
>trouble with his other subjects and that
he had just broken up with his
>girlfriend. They arrived at
Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for
>a Coke and to watch some
television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with
>a few laughs and
some shared small talk, then Mark went home.
>
> They continued to
see each other around school, had lunch together once
>or twice, then both
graduated from junior high school. They ended up in
>the same high
school where they had brief contacts over the years.
>
> Finally the
long-awaited senior year came and three weeks before
> graduation, Bill
asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of
> the day years
ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I
>was
carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill.
> "You see,
I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess
>for anyone
else. I had stored away some of my mothers sleeping pills
and
>I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some
time together
>talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed
myself, I would
>have missed that time and so many others that might
follow. So you see,
>Mark, when you picked up those books that
day, you did a lot more, you
>saved my life."
>
> A
true story, John W. Schlatter
>
> Every little hello, every little
smile, every helping hand saves a
> hurting heart. Pass it on.
With this e-mail also comes the token that
>says that YOU are
special. There's a miracle called Friendship that
>dwells in the
heart. You don't know how it happens. Or when it
gets
>started. But you know the special lift it always brings.
And you
>realize that Friendship is God's most precious gift! It's
National
>Friendship Week.
>
> Friends are a very rare jewel,
indeed. They make you smile and
> encourage you to succeed.
They lend an ear, they share a word of
>praise, and they always want to
open their heart to us.
>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
>friend for life. Send this to
everyone who you consider a friend, even
>the person that sent this to
you. Show your friends how much you
>appreciate them and what they
mean to you........
>
> Happy Friendship
Week!
>
Back to TOC