Fwd: [Words to live by...]

[Guest guest]

>>> >

>> > 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. And 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 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 of the

>> > > >> things you have that money can't buy. > > >>