A Story on Friendship

~ Author Unknown
A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me.
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly 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 such a 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 you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.
The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn'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 those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people 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 us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help 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 special lift 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, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care....

Dear Meera,

That is a touching story... Though I have read this earlier... It is really great and wonderful....

Veda

Thanks Meera,

A very inspiring story and tragic too.

If only everyone would be magnanimous to respect humanity, world would be a better place to live. Still , conrtibution of drop in ocean still counts.

I shall take a lesson out of it and try to be better human being

Best wishes
Ansh

Very True and Touching story!!!

Hi Meera
A real touchy story. Yes have read it before in the fwd msgs.
But nice to read such things again and again as it will remain in our mind that we should accept people as they are. Judge them by what they are, not by what they look like

Dear all,


Yes, it is a touching story....................many of us give too much importance to looks and physical appearance................but what must keep us going is something else........many other things.................

hi,
truly touching...a reminder for us to be sensitive and understanding to those who need it,and also to be grateful for all that we are blessed with...
thanks meera for the nice post...

rgds,
sowpar

Meera,

A very touching story,and so true.Nobody wants a handicapped person.Old parents, who are bedridden, are wished by their own children that they die soon, so they can get on with their lives.This is the world we live in.

Good one,Regards.kamal

We are human beings but most of the time we are all a dehumanised lot.

VATSAN

a very touching story...enjoyed it

mindi