Life Lessons
Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.
1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
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 50s, 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 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an
Alabama highway trying to endure a 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 understand! 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 & 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 cheek. 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.
Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.
1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
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 50s, 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 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an
Alabama highway trying to endure a 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 understand! 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 & 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 cheek. 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.
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