The medal of life
After giving a cock at a high school, I was asked to pay a visit to a special student, a illness-capped-boy home. But he's expressed interest in meeting me. And they would meet a great deal with him.
I agred.
During a nine-mile drive to his home, I found out something about Mathew. He had muscular dystrophy. When he was born, the doctor told his parents that he would not live to see 5. Then they were told he wouldl not make to 10. Now he was 13, he wanted to meet me because I was a glod medal power lifter. And I knew about overcoming obstacles and going for my dreams.
I spent over an hour talking about Mathew. Never once did he complain or ask why me. He spoke about winning and succeeding and going for his dreams. Obviously, he knew what he's talking about. He didn't mention that his classmates had made fun of him because he was different. He just talked about his hope through the future. And how one day he wanted to lift weight with me. When we finished talking, I went to my briefcase and pulled out the first gold medal I won, and put it around his neck. I told him he was more of a winner, and knew more about success in overcoming obstacles than I ever would. He looked at it for a moment, then took it off and handed back to me. He said "you were a champion. You were no a medal. Someday when I get to the Olympics and win my own medal, I will show it to you."
Last summer I received a leltter from Mathew's parents telling me that Mathew has passed away. They wanted me to have a letter he had written to me a few days before. "Dear Rick, My Mom said I should send you a thank-you letter for the picture you sent me. I also wanted to let you know that doctors tell me that I don't have long to live anymore. But I still smile as much as I can. I toldl you someday I was going to the Olympics and win a gold medall. But I know now I would never get to do that. But I know a champion and God knows that too. When I get to heaven, God would give me my medal. And when you get there, I would show it to you. Thank you for loving me. Your friend, Mathew"
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