I have told this story many times in class, but today I felt like sharing it. It exemplifies to me what friendship truly is. Almost 7 years ago I was having a very difficult time and considered giving up teaching and moving on to something else. I have never wanted to be anything but a teacher, but sometimes the trials that come along with it can seem over whelming. I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was at school late and walked down the nearly empty hall and wondered if I should just throw in the towel. As I walked by one classroom, I noticed the teacher at his desk. I had seen this teacher on several occasions, but did not really know him at all! Something moved me to go into his room. I stood there for a minute and then just said, “I need help!” This man could have told me he was too busy, he was headed home or made up any number of excuses to brush me, a stranger, off! Instead, he stopped everything he was doing and said sit down and tell me the problem! As I shared the burden with him, he simply listened and when I finished, he said,” Here is what WE are going to do!” Just telling him the problem and hearing that “WE” lifted me up in a way I cannot explain! With his help, over the next few days, we solved the problem, which wasn’t nearly as big as I had made it, but one I could not seem to figure out on my own! On that day, I truly learned what a friend is! That man who helped me so much was Jose Gomez! He became the most amazing friend I could ever imagine and even after he changed schools, I know that if I ever need him, he will be there for me! He has touched so many lives in the way he teaches and treats people! He can sometimes seem overwhelming to some people because there is no one else like him that I have ever seen! The students he reaches are often the students no one else can seem to get through to! He will reach out to help anyone and he lifts people up every time I am around him! I often think that he doesn’t see how much his amazing personality touches others, but I wanted to tell this story because he needs to hear it and I think others need to hear it so they can understand how lucky they are to have that true friend in their life! It is a rare thing to find such friends and I have been lucky to have a few in my life! If you have that kind of friend let them know how much they mean to you! If you aren’t that kind of friend, start trying to be! I know he always pushes me to be a better person! When I decided to remarry, I could not think of anyone I would want to preside over my wedding! I believe he was already a minister, but for me, he completed his ordination so he could marry my wife and I! Now THAT is a friend and I will always cherish him and thank God that I walked in to his room on that day many years ago! We had a great day of canoeing and hiking today and it just reminded me how wonderful his friendship is! Thank you, Jose Gomez!!!
2015-09-09