"STOPPED BY A BRICK" 
About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago
He was going a bit too fast in his sleek,
black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE,
which was only two months old.
He was watching for kids darting out from between the cars
and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
As his car passed, no child darted out,
but a brick sailed out and -WHUMP!
smashed into the Jag's shiny black side door!
SCREECH...!!!
Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse,
and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot
from where the brick had been thrown.
Josh jumped out of the car,grabbed the kid
and pushed him up against a parked car.
He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about
and who are you?
Just what the heck are you doing?!"
Building up a head of steam, he went on.
That's my new Jag, that brick you threw
is gonna cost a lot of money! Why did you throw it?
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry!
I didn't know what else to do!"
Pleaded the youngster,
"I threw the brick because no one else would stop!"
Tears were dripping down the boy's chin
as he pointed around the parked car.
"It's my brother, mister," he said.
"He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair
and I can't lift him up.
" Sobbing, the boy askedthe executive,
"Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair?
He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.
" Moved beyond words,
the young executive tried desperately to swallow
the rapidly swelling lump in his throat.
Straining,
he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair
and took out his handkerchief
and wiped the scrapes and cuts,
checking to see that everything was going to be OK.
He then watched the younger brother push him
down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to the sleek,
black, shining, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE-a long and slow walk.
Josh never did fix the side door of the Jaguar.
He kept the dent to remind him
not to go through life so blinded by ambition
that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention...
Some bricks are softer than others are.
Feel for the bricks of life coming.
A Friend....
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you
(even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust likes to "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality
"Never forget what is most important in life:
"Friends & Family."
Email me
