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Short Stories (Stories for the Youth), book by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

317- Saving Twenty-Three Persons

 

St-Takla.org Image: A big ship. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: سفينة كبيرة، مركبة.

In Los Angeles, Dr. R. A. Torrey narrated, in a meeting, about a young man who saved twenty-three persons when a ship was sinking in Michigan Lake. He told the attendants that that hero was a student in Northwestern University. He said also that he never forgot how he looked especially because after he had rescued them all he broke down of fatigue.

To his surprise, an old man attending the meeting commented, “I’m this young man.”

Then, Dr. Torrey asked him, “What’s your memory about that incident?”

The old man answered, “I was suffering bitterly for a while since no one of them or of their relatives thanked me. But when I heard your words, I realized that doing good has its effect on many people whom we may not know. I now thank God for, there was no one to thank me but there’re people who interact with good deeds.”

Truly, Lord Jesus Christ cleansed ten men from leprosy at a time but no one returned to thank Him save the Samaritan (Luke 17.15-18).

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: ينقذ ثلاثة وعشرين شخصًا!

Uproot from me O Lord the spirit of ungratefulness,

To always remember Your generosity,

And offer You a sacrifice of continuous thanking.

+ Let me not wait for a human being to thank me

But offer every act of love for Your sake.

Let me always watch for meeting You.

Let me repay You love for love.

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