It is very important for us to be givers and helping toward others because
you'll never know what a great impact you might have on someone because of
your kindness. There is so much hurt in this world and so many depressed
people that need an encouraging word or some kind gesture. You never know
what someone may be going through so always be quick to say something 
positive or lend a helping hand. The Lord will bless and reward you just
the same as you bless and help others (Luke 6:38).

This is a great story that ministered to me to always be kind and helpful
to others because that just might be the difference between life and 
death. I hope this story will bless and minister to you as it did for me.


THE FRESHMAN

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class 
who was 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 of their books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had 
quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends 
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 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 until 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 out 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, "Dang 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. 

Author Unknown


The smallest gesture we make to someone else could be the difference of 
either building them up or breaking them down. The Lord Jesus says it 
best in Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them 
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which 
despitefully use you, and persecute you;" God is on the throne and will 
reward us according to our acts and deeds (Revelation 20:12-13). If we 
only do good to those that do good to us, then what reward will we have?
Aren't we acting just like the world acts as it is written in Luke 
6:32 "And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye?
for sinners also do even the same."

Lets try our best to be as Jesus is; to help, bless, love and be merciful
to everyone we come into contact with for the same mercy we show; will it
be shown to us by our Heavenly Father. (Luke 6:36) and (Matthew 5:7)


Read and meditate on these scriptures of love:

Luke 6:35-38 Jesus says "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping
for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons
of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. "Therefore be
merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. "Judge not, and you shall
not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and 
you will be forgiven. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, 
pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your 
bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to
you."

1 John 4:10-11 "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved
us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God 
so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; 
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, 
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice 
in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all 
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…" 

All scriptures can be found in the New King James Version. 


In Christ Service, 

Dwayne Savaya 
Gods Work Ministry