Kindness

On Sunday, John was outside the church after his prayers to God. He happens to see an old man with a bit shabby clothes taking money from his tin box and giving all his money to the church authorities as a charity for the orphanage home run by them. He has a wide smile on his face. He gives hands to the little kids around him, makes them sit on his lap like how grandparents shower their love to grandkids. Then he walks away with his empty box.

Every Sunday, John comes across this old man. His generosity, kindness, and smile give him positivity. He wants to know the secret behind his happiness.

Next Sunday, John decides to follow the old man to know what he is actually doing for his living. He observed the old man at a far distance. The old man walked about 10 km to the city. He spread a cloth on the street and sat on it with his tin box. In the scorching heat of summer, he smiles at the passersby, whether they are young or old, asking for money. Few people are giving him money but few of them pretended to be looking at the other side ignoring him. John couldn't bear the heat even for five minutes, he parks his bike under the tree shade and asks the nearby stall vendor to give him coconut water to quench his thirst. John did not see him eat food or drink anything. Later by evening, the old man got up and walked again. This time, he kept asking whoever he met on the way for donations with his constant smile. Children are thinking he is a Santa Claus as he has grey hair and long white beard. They wanted to hold him. He is cheerful and allows them to hold him. He again walked 5 km from the city to a small hut. John felt tired following the old man the entire day and went to his home but he couldn't sleep at night. 

John woke up early before the sun rose and went to the old man's hut. He saw the old man walking from his home towards the city. He was just in time otherwise he must have missed him. John followed him again. The old man's activities were the same as he saw on the previous day. The only change was he received one watermelon and an apple as food to eat due to the kindness of the strangers. At noon, he ate watermelon and he carried the apple in a small pouch along with his tin box. 

When the old man reached his hut, John thought of an idea. He immediately tore his clothes and disguised as a beggar. He knocks at the little hut. The old man opens the door. John tells him that he has not eaten for days and as he was passing by, he saw only one hut in the locality and thought to ask him. Without any hesitation, the old man asked John to come inside his hut. 

John was shocked to see that the hut has only a single room and there was absolutely nothing inside the room. There was not even a bed to sleep. Still, the old man took the apple from the pouch and asked John to have it. 

John, overwhelmed by the old man's generosity, asked him how he managed to be caring, loving, and sharing even though he has nothing for himself. He told John, " My father was a soldier fighting and serving the nation during the World War. My mother was working as a teacher in an orphanage school. They both wanted to have a child but couldn't. They adopted me and gave me all the love I desire. I grew up watching them do service for the poor people and donate money to the orphanage home. After dad's death in a war, I got the opportunity to serve as the soldier. I survived two major wars. After my service, I gave up all my worldly goods to the needy and lived the life of a hermit."

John's eyes welled up with tears by the old man's kindness. 

To be happy in life, you don't need material wealth but a loving and kind heart.