Making Others Happy

8 Oct 2007

I just had to share this with you. It warms the cockles of my heart. I wish/hope it is true.
The Man in the Other Bed
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
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.
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 ."