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FIVE GREAT LESSONS OF LIFE
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---PICK-UP 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 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 thosewho 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.
"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.
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 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 the 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.
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---PICK-UP 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 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 thosewho 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.
"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.
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 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 the 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.
