A Simple Gesture

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed that the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all 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, that he was having a lot of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.
Mark went home after dropping Bill at his house. 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. Three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Do 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 my books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life."

By John W. Schlatter


This story tells us something about life.
We are always too busy chasing after our financial and career goals or whatever objectives that we want to achieve.Too often we forgot about the simple things in life.
We underestimate that the smallest act of caring,honest compliments,kind words, sincere praises,a listening ear,a friendly touch and a warm smile to someone can mean a lot and has the power to turn a life around.
Instead, we took for granted the people around us like our love ones,family members,friends and working colleagues.We seldom learn to appreciate or feel grateful to them until 'disaster' strikes.Only then, we felt sorry and regretful and sometimes it may be too late.
We often heard about people telling how much they care and love their life partners only when their relationships or marriages are in serious trouble.We also heard how much people missed their parents only after their parents are not in this world anymore.We never learned how to value and appreciate what we have until we lose them.We should show more care,concern and love for people around us now,instead of feeling remorseful for not having done so when they are no more with us.
Before I end this posting here is a quote from Albert Schweitzer and a nice video clip of the song "Always On My Mind" by Willie Nelson.

" LIFE BECOMES HARDER FOR US WHEN WE LIVE FOR OTHERS,BUT IT ALSO BECOMES RICHER AND HAPPIER".

---