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. 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. 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.
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. 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 mothers 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. "

     Every little hello, every little smile, every helping hand saves a
hurting heart. Pass it on.

     With this email also comes the token that says that YOU are special.
There's a miracle called Friendship that dwells in the heart. You don't know
how it happens or when it gets started but, you know the special lift it always
brings and you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

     It's National Friendship Week and friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.
They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a
word of praise, and they always want to open their heart to us.

     Show your friends how much you care.....Send this to everyone you
consider a FRIEND, even the person that sent this to you. If it comes back to you,
then you'll know you have a Friend for life. Show your friends how much you
appreciate them and what they mean to you......

     Happy Friendship Week!!!