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Hospital 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 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 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 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 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:
Josh
I wonder what 'you' hear in these words?
Could it be that there is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations?
Could it be that that shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled?
Could it be that if you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy?
Could it be that "Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present"?
Could be a story of VISION, and
the power of what is possible to create in your mind's eye that not
only can manifest for
you, but also for those who may not be able to 'see' as far as you,
and, for whom 'you' need to hold the vision for ... until they can see
it for themselves?
This is YOUR LIFE.
Choose Wisely.
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