Hospital window   88 comments

Posted at 6:02 pm in Moral stories

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 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 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 th! e 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.”

Author Unknown



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Additional Reading...

 

Story Posted by Stephen on September 13th, 2008

88 Responses to: Hospital window

  1. Bibek -- 18 Sep 09 at 12:52 pm

     

    This story is very inspiring which teaches people to live for others and the value of life …………….very fantastic story …………….I loved it and enjoyed it a lot…………..

  2. eyza -- 27 Sep 09 at 4:20 am

     

    FANTASTIC STORY!!! ITS GIVE ME MORE INSPIRATION

  3. Kavita Malhotra -- 6 Oct 09 at 8:33 am

     

    This story reinforces my faith in living for others…

  4. ken -- 17 Oct 09 at 6:17 pm

     

    I love this story… its so fantastic and makes me happy and inspired me lot…

  5. Vinay Natekar -- 11 Nov 09 at 2:41 pm

     

    Good heart touching story.

  6. Dr vipin kumar -- 29 Dec 09 at 6:25 am

     

    The story is realy an interesting one that gives us not only a moral to help others upto our limits but also suggestions how we can be helpful to others.

  7. clara allanby -- 21 Mar 10 at 1:20 pm

     

    This story brought me to tears. It may sound stupid but I guess I’d never thought about things like that before. People have such hard times in hospital and reading this shows that whether it’s real or not, through God we have hope always and a new way of looking at the world!

  8. anjana jayaraman -- 5 Apr 10 at 6:56 am

     

    This story is so touching! the twist was unexpected. This shows that doing bad for others will hit you back like a mirror reflection!

  9. hiren -- 6 Apr 10 at 8:45 am

     

    really ….. i am speechless….. superb story….
    i love it….

  10. anonymas -- 8 Apr 10 at 9:06 am

     

    a very sentimental , heart toching story…………………………………………………………………………….

  11. MYOVELA JULIUS -- 22 Apr 10 at 9:54 am

     

    enjoyed a lot and the story is very fantastc

  12. Kavya -- 5 May 10 at 5:03 am

     

    Its fantastic………….
    Remember -
    LIVE FOR OTHERS!!!!!!!

  13. Vijay -- 2 Jun 10 at 10:27 am

     

    its like a one of the good stories which i m come across in my life…….amazing…encourage others

  14. Priyanka -- 7 Jul 10 at 11:52 am

     

    This storty gives a positive vibration through out the body, very inspiring…

  15. priyanka -- 7 Jul 10 at 11:54 am

     

    very nice

  16. Indrajeet -- 7 Jul 10 at 12:46 pm

     

    Very inspiring story. Live and enjoy your life. Its precious……..

  17. Wonderful. Rachel -- 31 Jul 10 at 1:48 am

     

    God bles u for such wonderful stories dat fill e heart

  18. Vikram -- 31 Jul 10 at 3:06 am

     

    this is a great story of encouragement

  19. easha -- 6 Aug 10 at 1:19 am

     

    i think its a great story ………i enjoy it so much

  20. Priya Mathangi -- 16 Aug 10 at 8:53 am

     

    owesome….. speechless…….literally in TEARS

  21. laala -- 17 Aug 10 at 8:18 am

     

    WOW!!! I LUV THIS STORY!!!
    SOOOOOOOOOO NICE SOO INSPIRING!!!!!

    <3 <3

  22. Imrana -- 2 Sep 10 at 11:59 am

     

    Nice story this story inspired me a lot. Hay guy try to live for others today onwards i take an oths that i will whole heartly appreciate the good thing döne by others and encourage them .

  23. Raadhika Bala -- 21 Sep 10 at 3:37 am

     

    Amazing story!! I loved it and I am writer basically and want to be like the blind man who could imagine such beautiful things and tell out.

  24. Abirami -- 8 Oct 10 at 10:32 am

     

    Good story.It is a heart touching story.i like this story

  25. ashwanilove -- 6 Nov 10 at 6:22 am

     

    I LOVE IT

  26. Ajeet -- 6 Dec 10 at 8:45 am

     

    Good and inspirint story.

  27. santhuramsingh -- 7 Dec 10 at 3:46 am

     

    Nice story this kind of stories are necessary for the people of these generation .

  28. Aarti -- 27 Dec 10 at 10:03 am

     

    amazing and heart touching..i m speechless..i enjoyed it a lot

  29. Jiggi -- 3 Jan 11 at 12:19 pm

     

    wow! heads off to you man….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  30. Smitha -- 4 Jan 11 at 3:18 am

     

    A touching story …. Too Good

  31. fantastic -- 28 Jan 11 at 10:14 am

     

    encouraging story

  32. fantastic -- 28 Jan 11 at 10:16 am

     

    the man was a great man

  33. ramya -- 2 Feb 11 at 7:20 am

     

    very nice cant say in words

  34. b .choudhury -- 8 Feb 11 at 10:30 am

     

    Don’t leave hopes till living or until death. Inspiration by any means to others gives a new life.

  35. subash -- 16 Feb 11 at 1:57 am

     

    Good to read

  36. love -- 1 Mar 11 at 9:01 am

     

    Awesome inspiring story…

  37. KEanna -- 10 Mar 11 at 1:41 pm

     

    omg :( this story touched me in many different ways.

  38. AMITA -- 12 Mar 11 at 4:25 am

     

    THIS STORY TOUCHED MY CORE OF HEART.

  39. asok k mandal -- 12 Mar 11 at 8:39 pm

     

    I SHOULD DO SOMETHING IN LIFE FOR THAT SOMEONE WILL CRY WHEN I DIE

  40. Seshu -- 16 Mar 11 at 4:33 am

     

    Nice moral to learn…………..

  41. shireen -- 29 Mar 11 at 7:02 am

     

    Really a Heart touching story…nice one…

  42. Elmer Gomez -- 3 Apr 11 at 6:18 pm

     

    whoa that was so…different

  43. Shanu -- 5 Apr 11 at 4:45 am

     

    this story is good inspirational story, it tells us the real meaning of life is to live for others.

  44. sheena -- 19 Apr 11 at 7:24 am

     

    it touches my heart it’s a true story

  45. sheena -- 19 Apr 11 at 7:29 am

     

    fantastic story

  46. kanika -- 22 Apr 11 at 12:21 am

     

    Beautiful one…keep up the good work….

  47. pallavi -- 22 Apr 11 at 4:39 am

     

    the story is really…….. superb i love the moral of story

  48. bhushan -- 2 May 11 at 8:16 am

     

    I have no word to say! I can’t say how is the story… if I say it is nice, good, beautiful, fantastic… it is not enough to this story… unbelievable thinking unbelievable.

  49. Gaurav_Luthra -- 7 May 11 at 9:12 am

     

    What a fantastic way to teach others how we can use imagination to enjoy life in every phase of it, even in its worst phase.

  50. Chaitanya -- 9 May 11 at 2:34 pm

     

    What if all people in the world behave in this same manner, things would totally be different.

  51. Honart -- 26 May 11 at 10:55 pm

     

    VERY INSPIRING!!! I LOVE READING THIS KIND OF STORIES.

  52. ROOP -- 1 Jun 11 at 2:56 am

     

    I don’t have words to explain my feelings… Living for others… it is so good!

  53. Im Awesome -- 13 Jun 11 at 7:52 pm

     

    Very, very good story, but why didn’t the blind dude tell the other one he was blind…….. FREAKKY!!! :P

  54. Shweta -- 1 Jul 11 at 5:35 am

     

    Greatttttttttttttttt story

  55. R.VIJAYARAGHAVAN -- 16 Jul 11 at 9:20 am

     

    Very, very inspirational and must read and feel about the moral behind in it

  56. Jeanette -- 17 Jul 11 at 11:07 pm

     

    I heard this story years ago and never forgot it. I was inspired to read it again. Thank you

  57. HILLARY GANGMEI -- 18 Jul 11 at 5:19 am

     

    Very moving, I love it.

  58. Anurag -- 25 Jul 11 at 9:33 am

     

    I gave promise to my uncle’s son that I will tell him a story. Guess what? Now I can tell him this fabulous story.

  59. BUGGU -- 29 Jul 11 at 7:30 am

     

    Really heart touching.

  60. Remey William -- 3 Aug 11 at 9:58 am

     

    This story is very inspiring, build my self-confidence, and teach me to serve others in need, yet leave mark in my heart. I will share this story to others so that they’ll inspired to. TQ..

  61. Remesh Narayanan -- 5 Aug 11 at 1:45 am

     

    Wonderful story. What a great idea of showing inspiration. Keeps one thinking… why not live for others.

  62. Ronallie -- 7 Aug 11 at 9:24 pm

     

    Out of the five stories I’ve read here, I think this is the most beautiful. I appreciated it a lot .. Thanks for this :)

  63. James -- 9 Aug 11 at 11:29 am

     

    To exercise such a selfless act is very much needed nowadays.

  64. Aliya -- 17 Aug 11 at 3:27 am

     

    Lovely story from now onwards my favorite also

  65. Ernesto -- 22 Aug 11 at 5:40 pm

     

    Amazing story… shocked me.

  66. Elle -- 30 Aug 11 at 11:52 am

     

    mh! this story really touches my heart. can’t help myself to be emotional.

  67. Deepu -- 13 Sep 11 at 1:22 am

     

    Nice story..

    This story turns the human who are cruel in nature

  68. Prashant Shahi -- 14 Sep 11 at 9:44 am

     

    It touched my soul in two ways. 1st the imagination and 2nd the craze to see life.

  69. Given Malakalaka -- 18 Sep 11 at 9:35 am

     

    I love it….it is really a beautiful story. Probably without the hope informed by the man next to the window the other man would not have seen more days

  70. Arjun -- 25 Sep 11 at 1:40 am

     

    This story is from the book “Who will cry when u die”…. Author Robin Sharma

  71. Aashima -- 29 Sep 11 at 6:29 am

     

    Really a heart touching story. True moral for how to live one’s life!!!

  72. Vaishalijain -- 5 Oct 11 at 8:45 am

     

    I am deeply touched.

  73. Balu -- 8 Oct 11 at 11:34 pm

     

    No words to praise

  74. Cool Rammyl -- 11 Oct 11 at 12:20 pm

     

    Cool story, I wish whole world have similar mind set. What a nice place our world’d be if everyone turns out like these guys. lol.

  75. Sukanya -- 18 Oct 11 at 6:07 am

     

    Great inspirational story.

  76. TRIVENI -- 21 Oct 11 at 4:30 am

     

    really heart touching story……………

  77. Wendy Opoku -- 29 Oct 11 at 1:18 pm

     

    Moral story and encouraging too. Want more stories like this.

  78. Harinder -- 1 Nov 11 at 9:04 am

     

    What a wonderful story.

  79. SANGAVI -- 7 Nov 11 at 2:41 am

     

    I did not plan to go to this website at first but when I opened it, it was simply fabulous. All my debate stories are from this website!

  80. Jacqueline Allen -- 9 Nov 11 at 8:44 am

     

    The moral of the story is that we are to think less of our own comfort and more of the comfort of others.

  81. Senior Amuri -- 28 Nov 11 at 9:19 am

     

    Think not of what can be done to add meaning into your life, but think of what you can do to make other’s lives more meaningful. The ailing blind man could not see, but he made the other man see meaning in life. We were created by God to live for Him and therefore for others.

  82. Jaya Prakash -- 1 Dec 11 at 5:35 am

     

    Awesome story… great way of showing inspiration…. live for othres.

  83. Jean -- 1 Dec 11 at 8:29 am

     

    Anyone know who wrote this? I really would like to get in touch of the writer!

  84. Hina -- 16 Dec 11 at 7:32 am

     

    One of the best and most important lesson in life I learned today after reading this beautiful story. Thank you.

  85. Lakshmi Damalapati -- 9 Jan 12 at 6:46 am

     

    Really good, it gives positive energy, thanks to writer and who posted it.

  86. Susana -- 11 Jan 12 at 12:33 am

     

    Heart Touching!!!!

  87. Tiffany -- 24 Jan 12 at 9:27 pm

     

    This was very amazing to read, because the guy was blind the fact he could just imagine that when being blind. And the one that had to lay on his back he said to the nurse can i switch and sit by the window, and asked he the nurse wheres the park and she goes he was blind. It just touches me to that he did that to exhilarate him.

  88. Jude Martins -- 30 Jan 12 at 11:54 am

     

    It’s pathetic, let us learn to do good and help the people around us.

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