IJMC - Cheer up you old bugger. C'mon, give us a grin.

Tonight I begin by borrowing the subject line from a message sent to me. 
I'm cheering up, and I hope it shows. It helps to be humbled, and 
consoled, and supported all at the same time. Many of you have shared 
your stories of similar troubles, many have written to say they're glad 
these emails are back, many have offerred your advice and support. Thank 
you all, again. My life, and everyone's, moves on. Hopefully for the 
better I do say. And so you know, I'm not going to give up without a 
fight. It just wouldn't be my style...course, my style might be more of 
just never giving up, but that's another story.                    -dave


     Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy
ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying,
along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape
recorder. 

     Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles.
Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden.
As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved
video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble
with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his
girlfriend. 

     They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke
and to watch some television.  The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few
laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to
see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both
graduated from junior high school.  They ended up in the same high school
where they had brief contacts over the years. 

     Finally the long-awaited senior year came and three weeks before
graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the
day years ago when they had first met.

     "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that
day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want
to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mothers
sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent
some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed
myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might
follow.  So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you
did a lot more, you saved my life." 


     Every little hello, every little smile, every helping hand saves a
hurting heart.  Pass it on.  With this email also comes the token that
says that YOU are special.  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! 

     It's National Friendship Week                   [Is it still? -dave]

     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 heart to us.  Show your friends how
much you care..... 

     Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND, even the person that
sent this to you. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a
Friend for life. Show your friends how much you appreciate them and what
they mean to you...... Happy Friendship Week!!!     [Back at you, Wouter]