Two short stories with LIFE Lessons for Reflection (Stories from a forwarded Email)

1. Story To
Reflect
Upon 133
Garden or Garbage
There was a gardener who loved each
tree, each plant, and each little
shrub in his garden so dearly that he
would not cast away the dead
leaves and withered branches. He stored
them all in his garden.
Gradually all the space in his small
garden was taken up by the dead
leaves and dry branches, and the
beautiful garden wore the
appearance of a garbage heap.
Reflections
Are we not--so many of us--like the
gardener? We go on storing
worries and anxieties, failures and
frustrations, fears and
disappointments, which are better cast
away and forgotten. And the
beautiful garden of our lives turns into a
wasteland!
From A Forwarded Email

2. Story To
Reflect
Upon 134
The Elixir of Love
A Physician was once summoned to attend to an unusual
case. He found a pale, sad, seventeen-year-old, reclining on a
sofa, in an ornate room adorned with rich, silk tapestries. Her
eyes were half-closed, her head was bowed, and she was pale
like a marble statue. Several doctors had been called to
examine her and, unable to diagnose her condition had
concluded that her problem was psychosomatic.
At a glance the doctor realized what was wrong with her. She
languished in her gilded cage, a self-absorbed prisoner, for
she did not know what it was to go out and give happiness to
those in need.
The doctor asked her to get ready to go out with him.
"With you; Where?" asked the girl.
In an undertone, the doctor said to her, "That is a secret. I
can only tell you that it is for your own good."
The girl got ready and the doctor took her to a quarter where
poor people lived. They carried with them many gifts in cash
and kind. At the first house which they visited, the doctor had
to help her to keep her balance, as she walked.
At the second, she went ahead of the doctor.
At the third, she almost ran. When the children kissed her
hand and the poor women thanked her, she cried with joy.
The outing seemed too short to her. From then onwards,
everyday she searched for those whom she could make
happy.
She was restored to good health; she found the joy and
happiness, which did not dwell in her palatial home but in the
broken cottages of the poor to whom she gave the love of her
generous heart.
Reflections:
* One of the great secrets of happiness, peace and
meaningfulness is to go forth and reach out to others in need of
some help…do acts of charity, kindness and giving.
* Too many today indulge too much in self-gratification and
‘selfish pursuits’ of pleasures with little acts of charity or dana.
* The happiness we give to others comes back to us.