GREAT LESSONS
 
 1 - Most Important Lesson
 During my second month of nursing school, 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 PM, an older African American woman was standing
 on the side of an Alabama highway trying 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 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
 taxi cab. 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 waiter 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 and
 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 cheeks.
 
 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.
 
 You see, after all, understanding and attitude, are doing...are you
 willing to give your all?