The View

Two men, both aged and seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their old jobs, their experiences in World War II, and all kinds of other things.

One man managed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon where he could look out the room's only window, and every time he did, he would describe to his roommate all the things he could see. He told of a park with a lovely lake. Ducks swam on the water while children sailed their model boats. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band, he could imagine it as the man by the window described it.

Finally, after many weeks, the man by the window died. The other man asked the nurse to be moved next to the window so he could see the view. The nurse was happy to make the switch, but when he was finally able to look out the window, he found that it faced the blank, brick wall of the building across the street!

The man asked the nurse how the man was able to describe such wonderful things outside the window. She said, "Maybe he just wanted to make you happy."

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Happiness when shared is doubled. Count your blessings. "Today is a gift; that's why it is called the present."