THE WINDOW
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 of 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
discriptive 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 apppropriate, 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 his 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'.
Do not keep this
letter.
Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish
blessings.
Many Blessings,
Marion :-)