FIVE GREAT LESSONS
 
1 - Most Important Lesson During my second month of
nursing school, 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 PM, 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 taxi cab.  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 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  money 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 kings 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 color returning to her cheeks.
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.  You see, after all, understanding and attitude, are everything.
 
R.W.P.