Small gestures do COUNT

[Khayr]

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.

[Baashi]

Kheyr, Thanks for sharing that article. It is beautifull one.

 

As Arnold Bennett said you will make more friends in a week by getting yourself interested in other people than you can in a year by trying to get other people interested in you.

[Gabbal]

Dang walahi that moved me big time, Khayr. Where is your friend right now?

[LuCkY]

I MUST SAY THAT WAS A TOUCHING STORY U SHARED WITH US. HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL LEARN SOMETHING FROM THIS INCIDENT.

KHAYR YOU KNOW I WENT THROUGH A SITUATION LIKE

THAT WITH SOMEONE, LUCKILY IT WAS NOT AS DRASTIC AS SUICIDE. BUT THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND NOT TO MENTION ANY OTHER BEING DO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE PERSON'S LIFE WHETHER WE ARE AWARE OF IT OR NOT.

[Haneefah]

That was beautiful khayr and very poignant as well...I mean to touch and change a person's life so immensely yet so inadvertently through your good deeds is just the ultimate goal many hope to achieve...masha'Allah, you must feel wonderlful.

 

Btw, do you still keep in touch?

[Reality Check]

*snif* That was a good article!

[Ariadne]

I hate to be a killjoy, but.... ah what the heck I'm not in the mood today

 

very touching article although I have heard it before it still gets to me

[Senora]

I mean to touch and change a person's life so immensely yet so inadvertently through your good deeds is just the ultimate goal many hope to achieve...masha'Allah

There is nothing better than touching someone's life.......a good deed can always go a long way........that was beautiful

[Khayr]

DISCLAIMER: This is a story that I received from a friend of min. I'm not the person talking in the story. For a minute there, I think that some of the nomads in here where mistaking me for Ned Flanders! This story however reminds me of my days in junior high.

Anyhow, glad you enjoyed it!

Fi amanallah

[Keeping Faith]

Masa'Allah nice article i really enjoyed reading it

[Nazra]

That was extraordinary story, should be turned into a movie.