SPECIAL THOUGHTS

SPECIAL THOUGHTS

It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old
man's beard was glazed by winter's frost while he waited for a ride across
the river. The wait seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from
the frigid north wind.

He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping along the
frozen path. Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend.
He let the first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then
another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot
where the old man sat like a snow statue. As this one drew near, the old
man caught the rider's eye and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man
a ride to the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."

Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard." Seeing the
old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the ground, the
horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman
took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination, which
was just a few miles away.

As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity caused
him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let several other riders pass by
without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and you
immediately asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter
night, you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and
left you there?"

The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the rider
straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around these here parts for
some time. I reckon I know people pretty good." The old-timer continued, "I
looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no
concern for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them for a
ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and compassion were
evident. I knew, then and there, that your gentle spirit would welcome the
opportunity to give me assistance in my time of need."

Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply. "I'm most
grateful for what you have said," he told the old man. "May I never get
too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others
with kindness and compassion."

With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back
to the White House.

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