JUDGE ME BY THE FOOTPRINTS I LEAVE BEHIND
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having
fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and
Dad, I'm coming home, but I've got a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd
like
to bring with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's
something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty
badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mined and lost an arm and a
leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to
live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the
father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a
handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to
live, and we can't let something like this interferes with our lives. I
think
you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to
live on his own." At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents
heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received
a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from
a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The
grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the
city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to
their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son
had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of
us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have
around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel
uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as
healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who
won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional
love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how
messed up we are. Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night,
say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept
people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those
who are different from us!!! 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! 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 hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.... Send
this to everyone you consider a FRIEND! If it comes back to you, then
you'll know you have a friend for life.
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