Good Friends...

My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body is.
Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the
correct Answer.

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as
humans, so I said, 'My ears, Mommy.'

She said, 'No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it
and I will ask you again soon.'

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first
attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer.

So this time I told her, 'Mommy, sight is very important to everybody,
so it must be our eyes.'

She looked at me and told me, 'You are learning fast, but the answer
is not correct because there are many people who are blind.'



Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years,

Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, 'No.
But you are getting smarter every year, my child.'



Then one year, my grandfather died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was
crying. Even my father cried.
I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry.



My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to
my Grandfather.
She asked me, 'Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?'
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a
game between her and me.

She saw the confusion on my face and told me, 'This question is very
important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every
body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I
have given you an example why.


But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson.'
She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up
with tears. She said, 'My dear, the most important body part is your
shoulder.'


I asked, 'Is it because it holds up my head?'


She replied, 'No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a
loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime
in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends
that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.'


Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish
one. It is made for others and not for yourself. It is sympathetic to
the pain of others.

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did .
But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.

The origination of this letter is unknown, but it brings a blessing to
everyone who passes it on. Good friends are like stars...You don't
always see them, but you always know they are there.