Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night can separate Tennessee postal carrier Mike Crenshaw from his 4－and－a－half－year－old friend Carter Lawson or keep them from their appointed rounds.

They really hit it off over the past nine months, when Carter started bringing his neighbourhood postman, known affectionately as “Mailman Mike”， some water and a snack. The mailman brought the preschooler candy in return. The two have teamed up every day for a few minutes of delivering mail and chatting with fellow residents.

While some kids dream of being Spiderman or Batman, Carter has a different hero in mind: Mailman. “Anyone could just be like ‘Go away, kid’， but Mike has really gone out of his way to talk with Carter，” said Cassie Lawson, Carter's mom. She even got her son a matching, a mini－sized postal service uniform so that he could look the part while walking the route with his buddy.

“Every letter carrier has stops he looks forward to and this is the one I look forward to every day，” said Mike. “He's the end of my day, and the best part of my day, not just because it's the end, but because he's such a cute little guy.”

Mike once invited Carter to the post office to see the inner workings of the mail industry. During his visit, Carter learned how mail was delivered and witnessed the thrilling process of sorting mail and more, which has fueled his dream of someday becoming a mailman, too.

The man and the little boy's connection isn't a surprise to Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. In his opinion, kids respond to mailmen because letter carriers are a friendly part of the neighbourhood who bring something to their house every day and are someone they come to recognize and trust.

When my father married my mother in 1943 he gave my mother a 1937 crown coin and told her to keep it in the back of her purse and not spend it. This would mean that she always felt that she was protected and would always have money if she really needed it.

When I was married in 1970 my husband who had heard this story obtained a 1937 crown for me and I have always kept it in my wallet and I have always had enough for my needs.

A friend recently fell on hard times partly through external (外部的) circumstances and partly through poor planning. Friends and I have loaned her money, paid her bills, even given her food and tried to teach her budget techniques, but none of them has been a solution. She has just slipped deeper and deeper into financial trouble and depression.

Last week she looked pale and unwell, very depressed and hopeless. I then thought about how the crown, a reminder of another’s care and love, had protected me so I went to the bank for a $100 dollar bill. I told my friend the story and asked her to keep the $100 in the back of her wallet. It turned out that she didn’t have a wallet so she put the money in a little pencil case where she kept her coins. She immediately felt better. “I feel rich and thank you for being a good friend” she said and we were both a bit teary.

The reason for passing this on is not to praise any generosity on my part but to show the power of “random acts of kindness”. I went home and remembered a little wallet I had that I’d never used and thought “I’ll give that to my friend.” I opened it and inside found $100. The universe is very just and if your heart is open the reward always comes.

Accompanying and supporting a friend, especially when they are in trouble, can be the difference between them moving through a difficult challenge or sinking into a state of hopelessness, social withdrawal and depression.【小题1】Here are some practical and genuinely helpful things you can do to support a friend through the hard times.

Reach out.

【小题2】If you’ve noticed your friend has become withdrawn and stopped contacting you or cancelled planned activities, it’s crucial to let them know they’re not alone. Pick up the phone, send them a message on social media, or come to their place and let them know you’re available to chat and you’re concerned about them.【小题3】Even if it takes a few attempts, most people appreciate knowing that a friend cares about them enough to reach out.

Find a good time to talk.

Choose a time when you’re both feeling reasonably relaxed and don’t have to rush off to other commitments.【小题4】Avoid trying to talk to them about your concerns during an argument or if they appear upset. It’s important to allow time to bring up your concerns, and leave enough time to discuss anything important that comes up in conversation.

Be a good listener.

It might be tempting (诱人的) to offer your friend advice about how to deal with what they’re experiencing, but the most helpful thing you can do if they choose to open up to you is simply listen.【小题5】You can ask questions to get a better sense of what they’re feeling, but advice and well-meaning observations are often received as judgement or criticism. Focus on their strengths and coping abilities, and let them know you’re available whenever they need you.