A Story of friendship…
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 Daniel.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books and his gym clothes in a bag too.
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 the next 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 screamed the bullies away, and as Daniel crawled around looking for his glasses — I saw a tear in his eye.
I quickly found them, and as I handed him his glasses, I said: “Those guys are real jerks.”
They really should get something to do with their lives, because they are empty as fvck.
Daniel looked at me and said: “Yeah, 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 Daniel, the more I liked him, and my friends all thought of him as a good egg and liked him too.
Monday morning came, and there was Daniel 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, Daniel and I became best friends.
When we were seniors we began to think about college.
Daniel decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.
I knew that we would always be friends, and 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.
Daniel 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 Daniel, and he looked great.
He was one of those guys who really found themselves during high school…
He filled out, beefed up with sports, 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 in disbelief as he told the story from the first day that we met.
He said, that he had planned to kill himself over that weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker, so his Mom wouldn’t have to do it later, and that’s why he was carrying all his books and gym stuff, home.
He looked hard at me, and gave me a little smile.
“Thankfully, I was saved.
Because…
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 teary eyed, smiling, that same grateful smile.
Not until that moment did I realize it’s depth…
That was a real Thanksgiving for me.
And I thought that from then on I should never underestimate the power of our kindness and the simple actions within…
Please never forget that with one small gesture you can change a person’s life.
For better or for worse.
God puts us all in each others’ lives because we are able to impact each other in some special way.
Don’t You ever forget that…
Yours,
Dr Churchill
PS:
Thanksgiving is the best time to remember all your friends.
And maybe do another a favor and share some Love and some Forgiveness.
Peace, Shalom, Salam, Pax, Eirini, & Evlogia… for all.
Kyrie eleison…
Happy Thanksgiving my friend.