Sweet

> 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 outsi de 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 details, the
> man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine
this
> 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, weeks and months 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 besides 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 is why it is called The Present.'