[转贴]The Window => :))

futurewirlUID: 153522

Daddy Seeker" Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 03:02:15 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [seniorloveland] The Window => :))

   
THE 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 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 couples

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."