Five Important Stories

[Guest guest]

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

 

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz.

I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions

until I read the last one:

 

" What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school? "

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman

several times. She was tall,

dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

 

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before

class ended, one student asked if the last question would count

toward our quiz grade.

 

" Absolutely, " said the professor. " In your careers, you will meet

many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and

care, even if all you do is smile and say " hello. "

 

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was

Dorothy.

 

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

 

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was

standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a

lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately

needed a ride.

Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white

man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-

filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance

and put her into a taxicab.

 

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and

thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door.

To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached.

 

It read:

" Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night.

The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you

came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying

husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for

helping me and unselfishly serving others. "

 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Nat King Cole.

 

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

 

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old

boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a

glass of water in front of him.

 

" How much is an ice cream sundae? " he asked.

 

" Fifty cents, " replied the waitress.

 

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the

coins in it.

 

" Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream? " he inquired.

 

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was

growing impatient.

 

" Thirty-five cents, " she brusquely replied.

 

The little boy again counted his coins.

 

" I'll have the plain ice cream, " he said.

 

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and

walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and

left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped

down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two

nickels and five pennies..

 

You see, he couldn' t have the sundae, because he had to have enough

left to leave her a tip.

 

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

 

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he

hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and

simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not

keeping! the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the

stone out of the way.

 

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon

approaching the boulder, the

peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side

of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a

purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse

contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that

the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the

roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

 

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

 

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

 

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to

know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious

disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood

transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously

survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to

combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little

brother, and asked the little boy if he would

be willing to give his blood to his sister.

 

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and

saying, " Yes I'll do it if it will save her. " As the transfusion

progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all

did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew

pale and his smile faded.

 

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, " Will I

start to die right away " .

 

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought

he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to

save her.