Take A Needle To Heaven

There lived a wealthy Patel (A name) but he was a scrooge, mean and miserly. He never spent a bit of money on anything or anyone, and always wore worn shoes and tattered clothes. One day he fell seriously ill and became bedridden. During his whole life, it was said, he had only one friend, his personal tailor. But unfortunately, he had died a few months earlier. Everyone knew the Patel's days were numbered. One by one his family and neighbors came to pay their formal respects. When the tailor's son arrived, the Patel said, ''It seems that I will not last long here. My moment to rise to heaven has come.''

The young boy, though only fifteen years old, was very wise. He knew of the Patel's craving for wealth and miserliness. He replied, ''O Patel, my father is already in heaven. He often told me that he wished to sew rich garments for the Lord. But he forgot to take his needle with him. Will you please take this needle with you and give it to him.'' ''Oh, alright, I'll be happy to do that,'' he agreed.

The Patel was happy to do anything as long as it did not involve any giving. He took the needle and gave the boy permission to leave. Alone, in his bed, he began wondering ''Where shall I place the needle? Pin it in my shirt? No, that won't do. All my clothes will burn away in my funeral fire. In my mouth. Yes, I'll place the needle in the bulge of my cheek.'' Then again, he had second thoughts, ''But my whole body will be burnt to ashes. How am I to carry this small needle to heaven?''

The more he thought about it the more confused he became. Finally, he called the tailor's boy and said, ''Son, here, take your needle back. I won't be able to take it to heaven.'' ''But,'' the boy looked amused, ''If you are going to carry all your millions of rupees to heaven, then why can't you carry one little needle?'' The Patel's inner eyes were opened. He realized that none of his wealth or property would accompany him after death. He prayed to God to forgive him for all his past wickedness and promised to profusely donate his wealth in charity should he survive the illness. God cured him and he kept his word. He built a grand hospital, healed thousands and donated to all poor people.

Remember that only wealth is not meaning of life. If money goes it can also come.

A tale from 101 Tales of Wisdom