Today Is A Gift
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.”
—author unknown
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April 15th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Awesome! I enjoyed that story so much. Happiness is what you create inside yourself. Thanks so much for another brilliant and inspiring post. x
April 15th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
That is so true. My mother has been visually impaired pretty much her entire life. She’s always found the postive things in what’s around her and what she can see. She’s completely blind in one eye and suffers from Macular Degeneration in the other, but it has not stopped her from doing the things in life that she wants to do.
I watch her at times and wonder what it would be like for her to have her full vision. She’s always been a kind hearted person and an inspiration to me.
Thank you for sharing this heart touching story.
Barry Wheeler
http://www.amdsupport.ca
April 16th, 2008 at 7:23 am
That was a very touching story, thank you for sharing it.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
My pastor told that same story a few weeks ago. It does put things into perspective. I try to invision my daily life like the the man looking out of the window. Thanks for sharing.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:49 am
Very very emotional and touching story, thanks for posting it.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:18 am
That is such a wonderful story. Thanks so much for sharing it!
April 17th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Inspiring story.
April 19th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Nice story and very moving, thanks again for posting I love stories like this.
April 20th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Tremendous! I enjoyed that story very much. Happiness is always created inside ourself. Thanks so much for another brilliant and inspiring post.
April 20th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
That’s a very inspiring story! Making other people happy, laugh or even just a simple smile is already a great achievement that a person can do. Thanks for sharing!
April 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Hi Marenda, I’m stopping by to check your “dofollow” status and to add you to my list. Thanks for being a dofollow blog.
RT Cunningham
Untwisted Vortex
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Wow, truly awesome story. It makes you think about some choices you make in life. I believe people can change when they see there is a different way of doing things.
April 24th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Wow…thanks for sharing that. Very inspiring.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:36 am
have to think of the positive, I have a hard time doing that these days.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Great blog and great post. The story is very touching. Do visit my blog. You may find it interesting. Regards, Murali
April 26th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Hello,
I just found your site….very nice!!!
I’ve studied a great deal about how the mind effects us in every way. . .
I’m happy to have found your site and will be visiting often
C
April 27th, 2008 at 3:58 am
its a great story but mostly very fantastic.because it touches the heart.
April 29th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Wow, that is so touching that the blind man would find joy in helping another man. I like that quote, today is a gift and thats why we call it the present! Thank you Marenda!
-Daryl
Check out my site: Modular Buildings
May 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Believe it or not - I’ve been crying when reading. We tend to have so many things passing unnoticed, so many precious moments missed, allow so many friends to leave… today is a gift, and every day is a gift… and it is given only once… indeed.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:20 am
Touching story. . Really very emotional. . good thought to post this story. .