Treasure what is most important in our lives

Treasure what is most important in our lives

 

 

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 her off 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 never leave with 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.

 

The 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 to lament.

 

“God gives to us the gift of time,

To use as best we can;

To live each moment in His will,

According to His plan –

He has made everything beautiful

in its  time” - Ecclesiastes 3:11