Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 DEAR SAMRACHANITES, PLEASE READ THIS E MAIL, WHICH IS REALLY EXCELLENT!!!!! REGARDS. VENKATARAMAN. SI LTD. > Most Important Lesson > > During my second month of graduate school, 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. > > > Second Important Lesson > Pickup in the Rain > > One night, at 11:30 PM, 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 1960s. The man took her to safety, > helped her get > assistance and put her into a taxi cab. 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. > > Third Important Lesson > Always remember those who serve you. > > 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 his 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. > > 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. > > 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 and 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 everyone did, seeing the color > returning to her cheeks. 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. > > You see understanding and attitude, after all, is everything. > > Remember to: > > Work like you don't need the money. > Love like you've never been hurt, and > Dance like you do when nobody's watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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