Stories of Kindness from Around the World

There was once a skinny young boy who loved football. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, all his heart and effort couldn't make up for his physical shortcomings. At every game, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever got to play.

However, the determined young man decided to hang in there.  He hoped that maybe his body would grow to match his heart and dedication.  All through high school, he never missed a practice nor game, but he remined a bench a bench warmer all four years.  His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him .

When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a " walk on.".  Everyone doubted that he would make the team, but he did.  The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always poured his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time, provided his teammates with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father.  Hs father shared his excitement and immediately bought season tickets for all the college's games.

The persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college,  but he also never got to play in a game.  It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field days before a big playoff  game, the coach met him with a telegram.

The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent.  Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning.  Is it all right if i miss practice today?"  The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son.   And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday ."

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well.  In the third quarter when the team was 10 points behind, a young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football equipment and uniform.  As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon.  "Coach, please let me play.  I've just got to play today today, " said the young man.  There was no way the coach wanted his worst player on the field during this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid , the coach gave in.  "All right " he said.  "You can go in."

Before long, the coach, his teammates, and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes.  This little unknown, who had never played before, was doing everything right.  In the closing seconds of the game, the young man intercepted a pass and ran all the way to the endzone for the winning touchdown.

The crowd went wild.  His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders.  The fans went hoarse cheering so hard.  Finally,  the stands had emptied and the the team had showered and left the locker room.  Then, the coach came to the young man and said, "Kid , I can't believe it . You were fantastic!  What got into you? How did you do it?

He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?"  The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile,  "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it."