COMING HOME

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having foughtin Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'mcoming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring homewith me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt prettybadly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg.He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, mom and dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with sucha handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live,and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think youshould just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live onhis own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more fromhim. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Franciscopolice. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. Thepolice believed it was suicide.

The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the citymorgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something theydidn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love thosewho are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people whoinconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away frompeople who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves uswith an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardlessof how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer thatGod will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and tohelp us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!

There's a miracle called Friendship that dwells in the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started but you know the speciallift it always brings. And you realize that Friendship is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, theyshare a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.......