2 Corinthians 6:6         GNB    By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants---by the Holy Spirit, by our true love…

I received this moving story from a friend that emails me regularly.  Though it is written in the first person perspective, there was no name attached as to who the author is.  I wanted to share it again with my readers and remind you of the value of friendship and of how one small act of kindness can change and even maybe save a person’s life. Most of all to remind you that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer even than a brother.

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

Then I saw a bunch of kids run at Kyle, 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 as he crawled around looking for his glasses. So, I jogged over to him and picked up his glasses.  As I handed them to him, I saw a tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry about what happened.” I said, “Those guys are jerks. They should get a life!”

He looked at me and smiled a grateful smile and said, 'Hey thanks!'

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 would like to come over to my house the next day to play a little football with my friends. Kyle quickly accepted my invitation.

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.

Kyle was one of those guys that really matured during high school. Over the next four years, he and I became best friends. I teased him all the time about being a nerd, but Kyle filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He even had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

When we were seniors we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.  He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle, who was valedictorian of our class, had to prepare a speech for graduation.

On graduation day Kyle looked great but 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 grateful smiles and said, “Thanks.”

As he started his speech, Kyle 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.”

“Today,” Kyle said, “I am not going to just give you a speech. I am going to tell you a story.”

Then as I listened in disbelief, my friend told of the first day we met. He told of how he had planned to kill himself over the weekend and of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

Then Kyle pointed at me and gave me a 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.

Never underestimate the power of your words or acts of kindness. With one small gesture you can change a person's life.  And if we have made a positive impact any anyway at all, be it small or great we have been successful.

“To share often and much…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

According to 2 Corinthians 6:6         (GNB ), we should be motivated by wisdom and honorable motives to seek opportunities to be patient and kind and by so doing to show that we are servants of God who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Let me encourage you today to be wise with your resources.  Be sure your motives are pure! But be kind to those around you. Your kindness may become the saving hand of God to someone you don’t even realize is drowning emotionally or spiritually!

Lord I pray that you will help me and all of my readers see those around us through Your eyes of mercy and compassion. Help us to add something good to someone’s life today! Help someone see You in us today.  May we make a difference as servants of kindness! Amen!