A thousand years ago, in a Russian village there lived a man. Since childhood, he could not move, and the only thing he could do was lie on the stove. And he lay there for thirty years and three years.
One day a certain old man passed through the village. He went right into the hut in which the young man was lying and begging for death, and asked the sick man for water. The patient began to cry and said that he was unable to help, because in his entire life he had never taken a single step without help.
The elder asked:
- How long have you tried to take this step? It turned out that it was a very long time ago - the patient did not even remember how many years ago. Then the elder said:
“Here’s a magic staff for you, lean on it and go get some water.”
The patient seemed to be in a dream. He crawled down from the stove, grabbed the staff with his hands and... stood up! He cried again, but this time with happiness.
- How can I thank you and what kind of wonderful staff did you give me?! - exclaimed the young man.
“This staff is an ordinary handle from a spade, which I picked up on your porch,” answered the elder. “There’s nothing magical about it, just as your illness didn’t really exist.” You were able to stand up because you forgot about your weakness. But you don’t need to thank me, instead, find a person who is as unhappy as you yourself were just recently, and help him!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru