[Jerry]

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid
from my class 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.