Five lessons about the way we treat people

[Burns]

It's an oldie but one worthwhile of reposting.


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 1960's. 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 color 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 is 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 color 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.

[RoverChic]

Ahhh, what a nice post. Thanks Mel, the great voice of logic and reason!

I've made the most important discovery of my life. It's only in the mysterious equation of love that any logical reasons can be found.

[acornhoek]

Real or not, they are all good leasons........thanks for the reminder.

[Funrover]

GREAT POST!!!!

[Burns]

I'm glad ya'll like it.

acornhoek - you're right!
Real or not, it's the moral of the stories that remains the "real"....

[FrankyRizzo]

There is a story about Trump as well. Apparently he was traveling and got a flat tire. While on the side of the road a couple pulled over and the gentleman proceeded to change the tire for Mr. Trump. trump thanked the gentleman and headed to the meeting he was now late for. The gentleman had no idea who Trump was. A short time later the guy and his wife were presented with the deed to their house as a thank you from Trump.

[DevilDisco]

very good post.

[kellijo]

GREAT post Mel.

[sodirty]

Originally Posted by FrankyRizzo

There is a story about Trump as well. Apparently he was traveling and got a flat tire. While on the side of the road a couple pulled over and the gentleman proceeded to change the tire for Mr. Trump. trump thanked the gentleman and headed to the meeting he was now late for. The gentleman had no idea who Trump was. A short time later the guy and his wife were presented with the deed to their house as a thank you from Trump.

ya. he had no idea that maybe if he changed the flat tire on the silver bentley that he might be handsomely rewarded.

[acornhoek]

Originally Posted by sodirty

ya. he had no idea that maybe if he changed the flat tire on the silver bentley that he might be handsomely rewarded.

I was thinking the same thing.


Couple of months ago I was making my way from OKC up to our place in CO driving a friend's pickup and towing my father-in-law’s 16’ trailer (both empty as I was borrowing them). As I headed through SE Colorado I passed by a young couple changing a tire. I pulled over to check on them. She was driving the car and he was driving a motorcycle the same route I was. His bike had been stolen from Denver and recovered in OKC…….it was their only way to get it back. He didn’t look so good and the wind was smacking us from the side in gusts of 50-60mph – not a good combination for a bike ride. I suggested we strap the bike on my empty flatbed and I follow them home to Denver while he takes it easy in the car w/ her; they leapt at the offer. When we were unloading the bike a few hundred miles later she informed me he was very sick and on heavy antibiotics! She was afraid he was going to run off the highway at any moment. They wanted my name and address, but refused to give it to them…….I figured I was heading the same way and serendipitously had an empty trailer, besides it would give them a better story of the unknow guy w/ an empty trailer.

I was winging the same road a month later through the OK panhandle when my friend’s check engine light came on and she sputtered to the shoulder. I plugged in the OBD2 reader and popped the hood to see what I could do (I know LR not Ford). A truck pulled in and asked what was up……..he took the symptoms and said it had just happened to his son’s truck (same model). Giggles some wires, replaces a fuse and reconnects a relay and Bob’s my uncle. I erase the code and all is well……………I was 80 miles from the nearest town. I followed him for the next 80 miles and we watched 4 different tornadoes pop out of the sky behind us in the direction where I broke down………….I was paid back many times over!

Here’s a pic of one of them less than a mile away……….as we barreled in the opposite direction it was going.

[FrankyRizzo]

Originally Posted by sodirty

ya. he had no idea that maybe if he changed the flat tire on the silver bentley that he might be handsomely rewarded.

Just a regular sedan.

[75series3]

Good story acorn

done the same thing.....helped out others......old couples changing tires, guy once in a wheelchair trying to change his tire............

I never give them any info...........just tell um down the road if I a on the side of the road ...........stop and lend me a hand .............karma is a good thing ..............bad karma is a bad thing

[LANDY96]

Great post Mel!!! It is always great to have a moral check!!

[WCURoverD90]

Excellant Post....its always good to see posts like this....