Mark
was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had
tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters,
a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder.
was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had
tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters,
a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder.
Mark
knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were
going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark
discovered the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and
history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and
that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.
knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were
going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark
discovered the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and
history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and
that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.
They
arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch
some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some
shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around
school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high
school.
arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch
some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some
shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around
school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high
school.
They
ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years.
Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation,
Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years.
Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation,
Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
Bill
reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever wonder
why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.
reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever wonder
why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.
“You
see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone
else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home
to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing,
I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so
many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books
that day, you did a lot more, you saved my life.”
see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone
else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home
to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing,
I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so
many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books
that day, you did a lot more, you saved my life.”
–
John W. Schlatter (true story)
John W. Schlatter (true story)
can only scream inspired!!!
You really deserved to be inspired my dear. Cheer up!