那时我还在高中一年级，有一天我看到班里的一个叫凯尔的男孩从学校步行回家，他好像背着这一学期所有的书。我心想，“怎么还有人星期五把所有的书带回家？那一定是个十足的书呆子。”我可有个丰富多彩的周末计划（舞会，还有明天下午与朋友们的橄榄球比赛），所以我耸耸肩，继续往前走。

走着走着，只见一群孩子向他跑去，把他的书撞飞满地，人也被撞倒在地，眼镜飞落在十英尺远的草地上。他抬起头，眼神中显出了极度的悲伤。他爬着四处寻找眼镜，看见他眼里含着眼泪，我心软了，疾步向他走去。

我把眼镜递给他，说：“那些家伙真可恶。”他看着我，说：“噢，谢谢！”脸上露出了灿烂的笑容，一种发自内心感激的笑。我帮他捡起书，问他住在哪里。这时我才知道，他就住在我家附近。我问他为什么之前从来没见过他。他说他以前在一所私立学校读书，而我以前从未遇到过私立学校的孩子。

在回家的路上我帮他背着书，我们一路上聊着，原来他是一个非常酷的孩子。我问他周六想不想和我的朋友们一起玩橄榄球，他答应了。整个周末我们都在一起玩，我和朋友们对凯尔了解越多，就越喜欢他。

周一早上，凯尔又背着很多书去学校。我拦住他说：“哥们，你每天背这么重的书是要锻炼肌肉吗？”他只是笑笑，把一半的书递给我。

在之后的四年中，凯尔和我成了最好的朋友。进入毕业班时，大家开始考虑上什么大学。凯尔决定读乔治城大学，希望做一名医生，而我打算上杜克大学，拿着橄榄球奖学金去学商业。我知道我们会永远做朋友，距离不是问题。

毕业典礼上，凯尔将要代表我们班做告别演说。我老逗他是个书呆子。这次他得好好准备一个毕业演讲，我很庆幸站在那里发言的不是我。

毕业典礼那天，我看到了凯尔。他看上去棒极了。象许多男孩一样，他是在高中才找到自我的。长得越来越高大魁梧，戴上眼镜看起来更帅。跟他约会的女孩比我还多，所有的女孩都喜欢他。这家伙，有时候我都嫉妒他。

今天是一个特殊的日子，看得出来，他对告别演说感到不安。为此，我拍了拍他的后背说：“嘿，哥们，你是最棒的！”他以那种特殊的眼神（真正感激的眼神）看着我，笑了。“谢谢。”他说。

轮到他发言时，他清了清嗓子，开始了演说。“毕业的时候，人们往往要感谢那些曾经帮助你度过艰难岁月的人——父母，老师，兄弟姐妹们，也许还有教练...尤其是你的朋友。在这里我要告诉大家，成为一个人的朋友是你能给予他们最好的礼物。为此我要告诉你一个故事。”

难以置信的是他讲述的是那天我们第一次相遇的故事，他当时已经计划好在那个周末自杀。他讲到自己如何清理了更衣室，这样以后就不用再劳累妈妈来做了，再把所有的东西带回家。说到这，他深深地看着我，淡淡地给了我一个微笑。“谢天谢地，我得救了。我的朋友用无法形容的方式挽救了我。”当这位高大英俊、受人欢迎的男孩给我们讲述自己软弱的故事时，我仿佛隔着人群听到了他的喘息声。我注意到他爸爸、妈妈在看着我，脸上同样露出感激和微笑。直到这一刻我才真正意识到这种微笑的内涵。

永远不要低估行动的力量，哪怕是一个小小的手势也可以改变一个人的生命，无论是好是坏。上帝把我们安排在一起，就是要我们大家影响彼此的生活，你可以在他人身上找到上帝的影子。

Touching Story of Kyle

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives."

He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes. We hung all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!" He just laughed and handed me half the books. 

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. 

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous.

Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. "Thanks," he said. 

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach.... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. 

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for God in others. 

昨天是历史，明天是个谜，今天是一份礼物。

埃莉诺.罗斯福说：“很多人会走进走出你的生活，只有真正的朋友会在你的心中留下足迹。”