The Window


anonymous

There were two men, both seriously ill. 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 of the
rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, 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 world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of
seeing it for himself. 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."

 

Alternative Health

HOME