I received this interesting email. Thought I’d share it with everyone.
Once upon a time…
There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives.
He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with> rich robes and treated
her to delicacies. He took great care of her and> gave her nothing but the
best.>> He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very
proud of her and always> wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the
merchant is always in> great fear that she might run away with
some other men.>> He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very
considerate person, always> patient and in fact is the merchant’s confidante.
Whenever the merchant> faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd
wife and she would always> help him out and tide him through difficult times.Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is a very loyal> partner and has made great
contributions in maintaining his wealth and> business as well as taking
care of the household. However,> the merchant did not love the first wife and
although she loved him> deeply, he hardly took notice of her.>
One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he> knew that he was going to
die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told> himself, “Now I have 4
wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone.
How lonely I’ll be!” Thus, he asked the 4th wife,> “I loved you most,
endowed you with the finest clothing and showered> great care over you. Now
that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me> company?” “No way!” replied
the 4th wife and she walked away without another> word. The answer cut like
a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart.>
The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have> loved you so much for
all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me> and keep me company?”
“No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over> here! I’m going to
remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and> turned cold.>
He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you> for help and you’ve
always helped me out. Now I need your help again.> When I die, will you
follow me and keep me company?” I’m sorry, I can’t> help you out this
time!" replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I> can only send you to
your grave. “The answer came like a bolt of thunder> and the merchant was
devastated.>> Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you. I’ll
follow you no matter> where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was
his first wife. She> was so skinny, almost like she suffered from
malnutrition. Greatly> grieved, the merchant said,” I should have taken
much better care of> you while I could have!”>
Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives…>
The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time> and effort we lavish in
making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.>
Our 3rd wife? Our possessions, status and wealth.> When we die, they all go
to others.>> The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter
how close they had been> there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they
can stay by us is up to> the grave.>
He 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in> our pursuit of
material wealth and sensual pleasure.
Guess what? It is actually the only thing that> follows us wherever we go.
Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen> it now rather than to
wait until we’re on our deathbed tolament.
And our soul is always in need of God… in need> of acts to make it near
to our lord.
A Wizard arrives neither early nor late, but precisely when he chooses to