A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after
having fought in War. He called His parents from India. "Mummy and
Daddy, 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 landmine 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 interfere
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 4 Town police station.
Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The
police believed it was suicide. The grief - stricken parents flew to
Town and were taken to the town 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 magic called -Friendship- that
dwells deep in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it
gets its start. 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...