Helping an Old Man

It was a bitter, cold evening. The old man's beard was glazed by
winter's frost while he waited for a ride across theriver. The wait
seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from the frigid north
wind. He heardthe faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves galloping
along the frozen path.
Anxiously, he watched as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the
first one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then another
passed by? and another. Finally, the last rider neared the spot where
the old man sat like a snow statue.
As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's eye and said,
"Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There
doesn't appear to be a passageway by foot."
Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop aboard."
Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen body from the
ground, the horseman dismounted and helped the old man onto the horse.
The horseman took the old man not just acrossthe river, but to his
destination, which was justa few miles away.
As they neared the tiny butcozy cottage, the horseman's curiosity
caused him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let severalother riders
pass by without making an effort to secure a ride. Then I came up and
you immediately asked me for a ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter
winter night; you would wait and ask the last rider. What if I had
refused and left you there?"
The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse, looked the
rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been around here for
some time. I reckon I know people pretty good."
The old-timer continued, "Ilooked into the eyes of the other riders
and immediately saw there was no concern for my situation. It would
have been useless even to ask them for a ride. But when Ilooked into
your eyes, kindness and compassion were evident. I knew, then and
there, that your gentlespirit would welcome the opportunity to give me
assistance in my time of need."
Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply.
"I'm most grateful for whatyou have said," he told the old man. "May I
never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to
theneeds of others with kindness and compassion."
Ya Allah, Make me among those about whom the Holy Quran has said: "And
they give them preference over their own selves even though they are
in need". (Hashr 59:9)
Ameen

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