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 got a favor to ask.

I have a friend I'd like to bring 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 mine 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....

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND!

If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a friend for

life.

Then go out and make some more friends you can share with.