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

409- Even If I Were Given the Whole Wealth of Europe

 

St-Takla.org Image: Christ Pantocrator, ancient Greek icon. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: المسيح الضابط الكل، أيقونة يونانية أثرية.

A nurse was asked to look after a very sick English man. When the nurse encountered the man she entered into the following dialogue with him:

“Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”

“Yes, I’m a Christian, and committed to Him. Do you serve the Christians only?”

“I wish I could serve everyone sharing the suffering of every patient, but I’d a bitter experience.”

“What was that?”

“I was taking care of the French atheist Voltaire till he gave up his soul.”

“What does that mean?”

“Even if I were given the whole wealth of Europe, I decided not to be with another atheist at his deathbed.”

“Why?”

“You can’t imagine how bitter Voltaire was as he faced death. That had a very bad effect on those who surrounded him.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: ولو أُعطيت لي ثروة أوربا!

May my soul experience the death of the righteous.

I see You Lord coming to carry me to Your glory.

I see angels rejoicing for my departure.

I see an endless banquet awaiting me.

Welcome to death, it is a living encounter with You.

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