The Lord Cores for the Feeling Behind the Act... Short Story, As told by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba

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THE LORD CORES FOR THE FEELING BEHIND THE ACT

 

(Short Story, as told by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai BABA)

Abdullah was sleeping in a corner of a mosque in Mecca, when he was awakened by

the conversation of two angels above his head.

 

They were preparing a list of the Blessed and one angel was telling the other

that a certain Mahhub of Sikandar City deserved to be ranked first, even though

he had not come on pilgrimage to the Holy City.

 

Hearing this Abdullah went to Sikandar City and found that he was a cobbler,

repairing the shoes of people. He was famished and poor; for, his earnings

barely sufficed to keep flesh and home together.

 

Mahhub had by severe sacrifice piled up a few coppers during the course of

years, one day; he spent the entire treasure to prepare a special dish, which

he proposed to place before his enceinte wife as a surprise gift. When he was

proceeding home with the gift he heard the cry of a starving beggar who seemed

to be in the throes of extreme hunger.

 

Mahhub could not proceed any further; he gave the pot containing the costly

delicacy to the man and sat by his side, enjoying the blossoming of

satisfaction on his haggard face. That act gave him a place o f honor in the

register of the Blessed, a place which pilgrims to Mecca who had spent millions

of dinars in charity could not secure.

 

The Lord cares for the feeling behind the act, not the fanfare and the fuss.

(Story #47, from the Book: "CHINNA KATHA")