Chaimail

Well, we've all got a friend (or friends) that dutifully forwards any email to 10 other people for various reasons:

• For good luck
• To share God's love
• To make a dying child's wish come true
• For 20 years of good health
• many, many other

I never forward these emails. They're usually all hoaxes and fill up your mailboxes when you've got other things to find and read.

Well, I received one of those emails today, and decided to read this one, mostly since I hadn't received one from Guffaw before. Well, it's one of those Disneyesque heartwarmers, and I figure it's kind of a nice story to share. But I will not email it.

---------------------------------------------

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.
-----------------------------------

Well, that's the story, and I kept to my rule of not forwarding chainmail.
Do me a favour though, if this story got to you in some way, forward my blog to 10 of your friends and you may enjoy 10 years of good fortune.. Boowoohahahahahaaaaaa!