It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your
thinking. Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man
was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the
fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man
had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They
spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement
in the military service, where they had been on vacation. Every afternoon, when
the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing
to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour
periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity
and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans
played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked
arm in amid st flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline
could be seen in the distance. As the
man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other
side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene.One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade
passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band - he could see it in
his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive
words. Days, weeks and months passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to
bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the
window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take
the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man masked if he could
be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after
making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to
take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to
look out the window besides the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his
deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The
nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy,
despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when
shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you
have that money can't buy.
'Today is a gift, that is why it is called The Present.'
This post was not written by me but just came across me during the course of my reading.
