One day, when I was a freshman in high school,
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> I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
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> His name was Kyle.
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> It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
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> I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?
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> He must really be a nerd."
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> I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
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> As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
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> They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.
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> His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him
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> He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes
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> 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.
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> As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. "
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> They really should get lives.
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> " He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"
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> There was a big smile on his face.
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> It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
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> I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
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> As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
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> He said he had gone to private school before now.
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> I would have never hung out with a private school kid before
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> We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.
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> He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
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> I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends
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> He said yes.
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> 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.
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> Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
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> I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!
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> " He just laughed and handed me half the books.
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> Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends
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> When we were seniors, we began to think
> about college.
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> Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke.
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> I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.
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> He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.
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> Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
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> I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
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> He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
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> I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak
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> Graduation day, I saw Kyle.
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> He looked great.
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> He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
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> He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
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> He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
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> Boy, sometimes I was jealous. !
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> Today was one of those days.
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> I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
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> So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"
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> He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled.
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> " Thanks," he said.
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> As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began
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> "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.
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> Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends...
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> I am here to tell all of you that being a
> friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
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> I am going to tell you a story."
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> I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met.
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> He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
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> 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.
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> He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
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> "Thankfully, I was saved.
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> My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
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> I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
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> I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.
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> Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
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> Never underestimate the power of your actions.
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> With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
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> For better or for worse.
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> God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
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> Look for God in others.
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> "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."
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> There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.
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> Tomorrow is mystery.
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> Today is a gift.
