FRIENDSHIP

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered.' I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.
No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter.The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another.That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in Viet Nam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student.She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin.The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.
As she stood there, one of thesoldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you Mark'smath teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'yes.' Then hesaid: 'Mark talked about you a lot.'
After the funeral, most ofMark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's motherand father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.
'We want to show you something,'his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. 'They foundthis on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.'
Opening the billfold, he carefullyremoved two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviouslybeen taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew withoutlooking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed allthe good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.
'Thank you so much for doingthat,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasuredit.'
All of Mark's former classmatesstarted to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly andsaid, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my deskat home.'
Chuck's wife said, 'Chuckasked me to put his in our wedding album.'
'I have mine too,' Marilynsaid. 'It's in my diary.'
Then Vicki, another classmate,reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her wornand frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at alltimes,' Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued:'I think we all saved our lists.'
That's when the teacher finallysat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends whowould never see him again.
The density of people in societyis so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don'tknow when that one day will be.
So please, tell the people youlove and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them,before it is too late.
And One Way To Accomplish ThisIs: Forward this message on. If you do not send it, you will have,once again passed up the wonderful opportunity to do something niceand beautiful.
If you've received this, it isbecause someone cares for you and it means there is probably at leastsomeone for whom you care.
If you're 'too busy'to take those few minutes right now to forward this message on, wouldthis be the VERY first time you didn't do that little thing thatwould make a difference in your relationships?
The more people that you send thisto, the better you'll be at reaching out to those you care about.
Remember, you reap what you sow.What you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.
May Your Day Be Blessed As SpecialAs You Are