njjen3953
4th Level Orange Feather
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2001
- Messages
- 2,858
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1 -- Most Important Lesson
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 1960s. The man took
her to safely, 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. "Fiftly 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
inpatient. "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 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 borther, 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. You see, after all, understanding and
attitude, are everything.
Now you have 2 choices . . .
1. Delete this email, or
2. Forward it to people you care about.
I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember . . .
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt,
and dance like you do when nobody's watching."
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 1960s. The man took
her to safely, 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. "Fiftly 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
inpatient. "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 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 borther, 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. You see, after all, understanding and
attitude, are everything.
Now you have 2 choices . . .
1. Delete this email, or
2. Forward it to people you care about.
I hope that you will choose No. 2 and remember . . .
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt,
and dance like you do when nobody's watching."
