A Chance Encounter And a Priceless Lesson

--by afriendlysmile, posted Apr 5, 2007

Last weekend, I was walking across the village green when I saw an elderly gentleman on the bench, just overlooking the duck pond. I thought he looked abit forlorn so I went over and sat next to him.

After a few comments about how nice the weather was and how there were alot of ducks in the pond today , he told me how he used to come with his wife and watch the children feed the ducks with their mums. They didn't have any children of their own.

He explained he had been married for 54 years when his wife died and how much he missed sharing all the little things with her. Like a beautiful sunset . He now lives in a care home. I remarked at how wonderful it must've been to have been married for so long and to have so many happy memories. He took out a large hankerchief and wiped his eyes and said he had one regret that in all that time he never told her how much he really loved her.

He showed me a photograph of them when they were young. The photo was taken more than 50 years ago. He couldn't believe how the time had passed by.

I tried to comfort him by explaining that his wife would be still watching over him and he could talk to her any time he wants and that she knows how much he loved her because she can see into his heart.

The old man tried to apologize for blurting out his life story but I hushed him and said how priveldged I felt he could talk to me and how much it meant to me.

The lessons I learned from this chance encounter is that we must tell the ones close to us how much we love and care for them and not take them for granted.

Don't put off your kind acts until tomorrow, do them today because time files.

4309 Reads

Posted by afriendlysmile
Apr 5, 2007
Comments (15)

Readers Comments

reshmakurup wrote: Dear friend,

That was a very kind act of you to listen to someone pour their heart out..Each one of us wants somebody who can listen to us...This is exactly what you did.. Hats off to you..
big hug
reshma

afriendlysmile wrote: Hi reshma

Thank you so much for your kind words.

Isn't life so much nicer when we can share our thoughts.

Love and Hugs.

afriendlysmile:)

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: That's great that you took the time to talk to him. Sometimes that means more to a person than anything else. Elderly people are often forgotten now so it's great you made a difference!

cancan wrote: a remarkable encounter and a warm story.your last sentence is worth writing down and posting on the bathroom mirror to read and heed each morning. thank you.

samson95 wrote: Thanks! I know you made him feel much better! :)

MJ wrote: THIS IS A GOOD ONE AND SO TRUE, DONT WAIT TILL ITS TOO LATE!

guin wrote: wow that was a really beautiful story.
thanks for sharing.

astrocrazy2005 wrote: this is so beautiful...
thnx:)

LadyK wrote: For as long as we can't tell the future its worth taking up kind acts for it may just be too late.

unknown wrote: wow, thats a really sad storie, but you were right. She will be watching over him from above.

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