"Hope"
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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 arm amidst 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 detail, the man on the other side of the
room would close his eyes and imagine the
picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window
described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he
could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by
the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks 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
beside 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's why it is called the present." -
A beautiful story... what a wonderful way to start the day...thank you for sharing it.
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U r welcome!!!Originally posted by care bear:A beautiful story... what a wonderful way to start the day...thank you for sharing it.
Life is all about Hope!!!
Let's us all keep our hopes alive!!!
The world is full of dreams, it is up to us to fulfill it!!