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The Power of Befriending someone

You might have already read this famous story about the power of friendship below but it’s one of those powerful stories that leaves you feeling touched, moved and inspired every time. Please take the time to read it to the end and think of your family and friends that you might not have connected with for a while.

 Story about a friend: 

  “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.  "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our  wings have  trouble remembering how to  fly.."  

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