JOSHUA TIME 346

Lessons Learned>>>> *1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.**>>>> 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 attent ion 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 P.M., an older African American>> woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway>> trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. 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 tho se 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 colour 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 those>> who 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 & 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>> bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,>> seeing the colour 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.**/_>> _/**/_>> _/**Most importantly.................. "Work like you>> don't need the money, love like you've never been>> hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."*