> > > > JUDGE ME BY THE FOOTPRINTS I LEAVE BEHIND
 > > > >
 > > > > 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 mined 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.