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 colour 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 arm amidst flowers of
every colour 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 asked 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 .' The origin of this letter is
unknown, but please pass it on.
Share it with friends
and tag them so the cycle continues ..Do not keep this letter ... You could
change a life too the dark, rainy night. I thank the Police for the rescue -
from Nakuru traffic commandant to Molo OCS and Base Commander.
SOURCE: Trans World Radio (TWR KENYA).
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