Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all 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, Mark helped to carry part of the boys burden.

As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball, history but that he was having lots of trouble with his other classes and had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's home and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs, shared talk and then Mark went home.

The two boys continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then they both graduated from junior high school. They went on to high school where they had brief contact points over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded Mark of the day years ago when they first met and asked Mark "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" Bill continued, "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 mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that had I 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."

- John W. Schlatter

This Holiday season don't minimize the impact one simple act of kindness can accomplish. We never know how one simple action can change the world.

Have a very happy holiday!