486- Seven Messengers

“I wish you to live blessed fifteen years in this world.” I said to an old man I met.

Surprisingly he answered, “fifteen years only! I believe I’ll live until Lord Jesus Christ comes above the clouds.”

It seems difficult for man to accept the idea of leaving the world though many believers are joyfully looking forward to leaving to Paradise.

A popular story tells about a young man whom the angel of death visited suddenly.

“Who are you?”

“I’m the angel of death.”

“What do you want?”

“To take your soul now.”

“How can this be? I’m a young man having two young kids. Moreover, I’m poor and didn’t save money for them. How can they live after my death? Give me a chance to guarantee them a secure life.”

“I accept your excuse this time but I’ll return again and won’t accept any then.”

“Please, send a messenger before you come.”

“I promise.”

The young man was disturbed yet, he realized soon that it was just a dream.

Many years later, he became very rich and his sons got married. When he grew very old, the angel of death came to take his soul.

“How do you want to take my soul without sending a messenger as you promised?” The man asked.

“I sent you not only one messenger but seven.” The angel answered, “The first messenger is your eyes which were once piercing and are now blind. The second is your ears for you’re almost deaf. You can hardly hear the sound of a trumpet. The third messenger is your teeth which were able to crush stones and where are they now! Moreover, the fourth one is your hair which was black and became white as snow. Then, the fifth is your body which was like a palm tree and has become like a bow. The sixth messenger is your legs which tremble being unable to carry you. Finally, the seventh one is your appetite: you were able to eat everything but you now hardly eat a little. These are the seven messengers. Didn’t you recognize them?”

When the man heard this, he delivered himself into the hands of the angel of death.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: سبعة رسل.

Everyday, You send me a messenger,

I say now: Ready is my heart, O God, ready is my heart.

I neither fear death nor ask for postponing it.

I am yearning for You O, the desire of my heart.

Undesirable Visit

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

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