The Difference the Friendliness of One Person Can Make

Aimee Herd : Nov 29, 2008
Brian O'Keefe, Diane Sawyer - ABC News, GMA

"He gave me confidence that gave me laughter, which gave me friends... It just snowballed and it made a difference."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Something each of us should continually keep in mind is the impact of just a simple act of kindness to someone else. I think, with all the many needs in the world that surround us from day to day, it's easy to just focus on our own situations with the common excuse of "what can one person do anyway?" This story is a great reminder that just one person can have a HUGE and LASTING impact on another—either for good OR for bad. And as we carry the love of the LORD in our hearts; how much more beneficial to another that impact can be! Not just in the holiday season, but every day, let's be looking for those opportunities to show that unmerited kindness to another, from the One Who has shown it to us. Mother Theresa's wise words have been quoted many times, but have never lost their veracity: "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." And, if I may I would add that those small things done in great love will turn out to be great in the end. –Aimee Herd, BCN.

ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) has been celebrating the Thanksgiving season with their "Thank You" series. According to host Diane Sawyer, many people sent stories that told of someone they would like to thank, for one reason or another. (Photo: ABC News)

One of the more recent pieces involves a nurse by the name of June Baumgart, and the person whom she says made all the difference in her life.

According to the report, June had grown up in a very poor home, living on a dairy farm in northern Minnesota. Because of her old clothing, bad teeth and excess weight, she became the target of constant "taunting and bullying." She was spit on, received notes in her locker that read "why don't you die?" and even a teacher joined in the cruel teasing; calling her "June-the-balloon."

It wasn't until college, when she made an unlikely friend that June's life began to change dramatically.

"In the dorm we had a group of popular kids and one of the leaders was named Steve [Myrvold]. He was very personable and he could do anything and everybody would follow him," explained June in the GMA report.

Steve showed June a kindness in befriending her that she had never known to that point in her life.

"He would stand up and say 'this is my friend. You got a problem with her? You've got a problem with me,'" said June. "I was just amazed, you know, why be nice to me? And after, I realized—that's him."

Steve's simple act of reaching out in friendship gave June the self assurance she so desperately needed. Now June is showing that same kindness to others in her job as a nurse, and a single mom.

"He gave me confidence that gave me laughter, which gave me friends... which gave me confidence, which gave me laughter. It just snowballed and it made a difference," June added.

Good Morning America brought the two together—a complete surprise for Steve—so June could tell him "thank you."

Watch the moving video by CLICKING HERE, or on the source link provided.