This was a beautiful story shared in my Rumi’s group, which struck a deep chord in me.

There was an old man who was admitted in a hospital.

A young man was visiting him every day, and sits with him for more than one hour. He helps the old man eat his food, and to take his shower.

Then he takes him walking in the garden of the hospital.
After that he brings him back to his room and helps him to lie down.

He goes away only after reassuring himself that the old man is doing well.

One day the nurse entered his room, to give him medicine and inspect his condition, and said to him:

“May the Lord be always gracious to your kind and caring son. Every day he visits you and shows great care.”

The old man looked at her and closed his eyes and said to her:
“I wish it was one of my children. This is an orphan from the neighborhood where we live. I met him one day in the past, crying at the door of a Temple, after his father died. I comforted him and bought for him candy. I neither saw him nor talked to him for a very long time.

When he grew up and came to discover where my wife and I were living. He was visiting us every day to inspect our conditions. When I later fell sick, he took my old wife to his home. He then comes to the hospital to see my treatment everyday. One day I asked him: “My son why do you have to deal with us and care about us?”

He simply smiled and then said: “The taste of the candy is still in my mouth.”

I have been blessed that so many people left sweetness behind in my life that the odd bitter taste doesn’t last long, that I was able to get over bad experiences and move on. I have much to be grateful about for the gifts, even though I have learned that darkness itself is a gift. Please leave a sweet taste behind, something good to remember, whenever you leave. Have a good weekend ❤

Main photo: Green smoothies in Bikram Yoga Jakarta. Thank you Roderick, John and Antonio for my sweet memories of Jakarta.