A FEW GOOD LESSONS....
         Everyone Matters
         ---------------
        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 the last question blank.
 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.
 
 
         Say a Prayer
         -----------------
         I was taking my usual morning walk when a garbage truck pulled
 up beside me. I thought the driver was going to ask for directions.
 Instead, he showed me a picture of a cute little five-year-old boy.

         "This is my grandson, Jeremiah," he said. "He's on a
 life-support system at a Phoenix hospital."

         Thinking he would next ask for a contribution to his hospital
 bills, I reached for my wallet. But he wanted something more than
 money.

         He said, "I'm asking everybody I can to say a prayer for him.
 Would you say one for him, please?"  I did. And my problems didn't seem
 like much that day.
 
 
         Pickup in the Rain
         ---------------
         One night, at 11:30 pm, an older African-American woman was
 standing on the side of a 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!  She wrote down his
 address, thanked him and drove away.

         Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his
 surprise, a giant combination console color TV and stereo record player
 were delivered to his home. A special note was attached. The note read:

         Dear Mr. James: Thank you so much for assisting me on the
 highway the other night.

         The rain drenched not only my clothes but 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.
 
 
         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 big stone out
 of the way.

         Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On
 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. As 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 others never understand.
 Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.