1 - Most Important Lesson
>
> 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 50's 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 the 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 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 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
> nderstand. 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, is
> everything.
>