Five Important Lessons

Subject: 5 important lessons

Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

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 attention 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 - Pickup 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 those 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 and 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.