Happiness Comes from Giving
Author: Frank Mihalic, SVD
From: The Millennium Stories
This story is about a beautiful, expensively dressed lady who complained to her
psychiatrist that she felt that her whole life was empty; it had no meaning.
So the counsellor called over the old lady who cleaned the office floors, and then
said to the rich lady, "I'm going to ask Mary here to tell you how she found
happiness. All I want you to do is listen."
So the old lady put down her broom and sat on a chair and told her story:
"Well, my husband died of malaria and three months later my only son was
killed by a car. I had nobody... I had nothing left. I could'nt sleep; I
couldn't eat; I never smiled at anyone, I even thought of taking my own life.
Then one evening a little kitten followed me home from work. Somehow I
felt sorry for that kitten. It was cold outside, so I decided to let the kitten
in. I got it some milk, and it licked the plate clean. Then it purred and
rubbed against my leg, and for the first time in months, I smiled. Then I stopped to
think; if helping a little kitten could make me smile, maybe doing something
for people could make me happy. So the next day I baked some biscuits and took
them to a neighbour who was sick in bed. Every day I tried to do something nice
for someone. It made me so happy to see them happy.
Today, I don't know of anybody who sleeps and eats better than I do. I've
found happiness, by giving it to others."
When she heard that, the rich lady cried. She had everything that money
could buy, but she had lost the things which money cannot buy.
Reviews:
* [Nov 13, 2007] by Monkey Man
This story bad me go back to brothel.
***** [Mar 19, 2003] by Michelle
This story holds fast to the saying that you have to give to get. No matter how little or how much you give of yourself, if the effort is put forth you will benefit as much if not more than the one you reached out to. It reminds us all to think of someone else other than ourselves and reach out to another. It is a truly inspiring story because it makes you realize how simple the answer to our troubles can be.
** [Dec 14, 2001] by Andrew Ryan
"The Millenium Stories" is mis-spelt. Millennium has two 'n's.