Never Underestimate the Power of Your Actions

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 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. 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 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. The man of many friends will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Touching Life Story...Paid In Full



A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy
book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

He began to search his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible.
It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?
Author Unknown

If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts  to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!

Luke 11: 13

Stack Every Bit of Criticism Between Two Layers of Praise



Shortly after graduation, Joe and Lana married.  One of their first marital discoveries was their very different understanding of "being on time."  Not wanting to end the honeymoon stage too early, Lana found herself mildly complaining about Joe's being late.  But Joe never took the hint, and soon her complaining turned to out-right criticism.

On the surface, there may not seem to be much difference between exposing a problem and criticizing, but in a relationship, the choice of words can bring very different responses.  Criticism attacks someone's personality and character.  When Lana criticized Joe, she would say, "You're only thinking about yourself!" 

Putting an issue on the table for discussion in a positive manner is the first step toward finding a resolution.  A person who asks gently, "Does it embarrass you when we are late?" is opening a dialog for finding the solution to the problem.  Criticism only wounds the spirit, puts the other person on the defensive, and usually ends up in a no-resolution argument.

Watch what you say!  Criticism can cause a wound that takes years to heal, but a kind and gracious attitude in problem-solving can save you years of tears.

Correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

2 Timothy 4:2