540- A Kind Word to a Cab Driver

 In the rush hour while it was extremely crowded in Cairo, John and George took a cab. As they reached the place they were going to, John gave the cab driver the fees with a smile saying, “You are a unique cab driver.”

“Are you joking?”

“No, I admire your ability to drive calmly and cheerfully. You’re unique.”

“Thank you, no one praised me so before.”

“I am not praising you; I am just expressing my feelings towards you.”

The driver rejoiced and left. George asked his friend, “Why did you tell him so?”

“This is my way. This society will never be reformed unless you boost everyone’s morale as much as you can. This driver deals with dozens of people everyday. If he felt that all people admired him, he would work seriously. Love and peace will then fill him, his family and all the people around him.”

“Do you think that a cab driver could reform millions of people in Cairo?”

“I believe that when a good seed is watered, it will become a good tree which shelters many birds and gives shadow to many people and animals. The whole world needs a true kind word from a faithful heart which loves all mankind.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: سائق التاكسي وكلمة محبة!

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth,

Grant it the grace of Your Holy Spirit.

Grant me that my lips utter Your constructive words.

Grant me that my words, my thoughts and my behavior be full of love.

Give me hope to serve all mankind with a loving word.

Water me with Your love so that I may water others with it.

A Burning Hut

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

The Proud Lion