NK - FW: Great Lessons for Life

Langston, David R david.langston at wilcom.com
Mon Jun 5 19:15:15 PDT 2000



-Subject: Great Lessons for Life



> >  > FIVE GREAT LESSONS FOR LIFE:
> > > > Some Important Lessons Life Teaches You....
> > > > 1 ~ Most Important Lesson
> > > > During my second month of nursing 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 he 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 we all 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..
> > > >
> > > > You have 2 choices now
> > > > 1. Delete this E-mail, OR
         2. Forward it to people you care about..
> > > >
> > > > I hope that you will choose No. 2 and 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..



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