Five (5) lessons 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 rain storm. 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 hel p her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. 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 dy ing 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 is 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 le ft. 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 anythi ng 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.

THE HUSBANDANDTHE FORGOTTEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Ed was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really pissed. She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 4 seconds, ANDIT BETTER BE THERE". The next morning Ed got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up, she looked out the window and sure enough, there was a small box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, brought the box back in the house. She opened it and found a bra nd new bathroom scale. Funeral services for Ed have been scheduled for Friday.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBSSunday Morning Commentary. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here with a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no clue whoNick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Usconstantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick andJessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I knowwhothey are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?
I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care atallabout Tom Cruise's wife.
Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if Iama subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.
If this is what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.
Next confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. Anditdoes not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. Idon't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmastrees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me inaghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothersand sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me atall that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection nearmy beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as finewith me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. Ithink people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushedaround, period. I have no idea where the concept came from thatAmerica is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution,and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come fromthat we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worshipGod as we understand Him?
I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.
But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick andJessicacame from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh,this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it'snotfunny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and JaneClayson asked her "How could God let something lik e this Happen?"(regarding Katrina)
Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.
She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools,toget out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being thegentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leaveusalone?" (She said the same thing when interviewed after 9- 11)
In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she wasmurdered,her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in ourschools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love yourneighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our childrenwhenthey misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and wemight damage their self- esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) Wesaid an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother themtokill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we canfigureit out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW ."
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonderwhythe world's going to hell.
Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question whatthe Bible says.
Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e- mail and they spread likewildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord,peoplethink twice about sharing.
Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freelythrough cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it tomany on your address list because you're not sure what they believe,orwhat they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people thinkofus than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discardit... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world isin.
My Best Regards. honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

2006 sucked big time, with a few good things.
2005 ended with me in the hospital with heart problems. 2006 we saw the hospital way too much. Liz's thyroid problem ended up with her in a psyciatric hospital in Grand Rapids. She had severe bouts of depression and sucidal thoughts. During 2006 she had surgery for carpell tunnel on her wrist, Planter faciatist on her feet, repair to her speptum, removal of tonsel, soft pallet, andnoids, uvala, and had surgery to prevent more kids. Through all this, whe worked full time and went to school full time.

Donald has left school and has worked many jobs to no avail. He starts next Monday at S&K Men wear.. He has got a very cute girl friend who he is head over heals in love with.
Catherine and moved in with her boy friend , left school, but is happy working full time and playing house. She fell this year while rollerblading and did a facial on the cement. Many stiches and teeth repaired in is back to her bright shinning personality.
Lindsey, after test driving many boyfriend, has one that whe is head over heals in love with. He is a nice boy. She switched high schools and has got her driver license. She got her braces off and is looking beautiful. One New Years eve day she had her appendix removed in emergency surgery.
My year has been rather un eventful. After being ordained as a pastor, my current pastor went balistic and tried to excumnicate me from the refromed church, and have me removed as an elder. After months of church battles, he said , Opps, sorry, my wrong. Then I was removed as choir director because he couldnt win removing me from church. I have had three (strokes). One was confirmed in the hospital, and two happened out side the hospital. One stroke weakened my right side, but everything is back to normal. The Nurologist says it was caused by a cardiac event, and the cardiologist says it is a nurological problem.
During 2006 I performed my first marrage and first funnerel as a pastor.
I am looking forward to 2007. liz and I will celebrate our 25th wedding annaversary.