Short Stories

---

There was a poor man with 3 daughters. His village had a missionary doctor who had decided to live there to help the community. One day, the eldest of the poor man's daughters got very sick. He knew that the doctor could help if he wanted to. So he waited, and waited and waited but the doctor never came. The daughter died and the father was grieved.

A few months later, the village was having a festival, honoring the doctor. The poor man showed up and yelled at the people, "This man had the ability to save my daughter but he let her die! How can you honor a man like that!"

The doctor came over to the man and said, "Sir, you never told me your daughter was sick. My doors are always open. If you cannot come to me just send word and I will go to you. Why didn't you come for me?" The poor man went home heartbroken because he knew it was his own fault for not seeking help.

A year went by. Now the poor man's middle daughter had fallen ill. Without hesitation, he sent for the doctor. The doctor knew how to help her, but it would be a painful procedure. As he began to operate, she screamed in pain. Although the doctor assured him that everything was okay, the poor father could not bear her cries. He drove the doctor from his house. A few days later, the poor girl died. Now the man was very upset with the doctor until his neighbor came to him and said that his daughter had the same operation the doctor was trying to perform and she survived. The poor man wept because he knew, again, it was his own fault.

The poor man and his youngest daughter now lived alone. They had each other and the father cherished every moment with the girl. But soon, she too became ill. The doctor came but after examining her, gave the man the news that there was nothing he could do.

The poor man pleaded with the doctor, "Please save her in whatever way you can!" But it was no use. The girl died peacefully in her sleep.

Now the man's anger burned toward the doctor. How could such a man call himself a doctor! He was useless. He didn't want to help anyone! Weak! Pathetic! ......

A week passed and the man sat alone in misery. He barely noticed when the village was being plundered by his enemy. The plunderers did not notice him either. He watched the destruction from the corner he was sulking in. They beat the men who resisted. Every woman and girl was raped and taken as slaves. Had his daughters been alive ........

He wept with his neighbors who lived in agony, not knowing where their daughters were. Knowing they were not safe. He thought of the peaceful look on his daughters faces when they died.

When the doctor returned from his trip to the city to get medicine, he saw the destruction and fell to his knees in sorrow. The poor father told him, "Forgive me for not seeking you. Forgive me for not trusting you even if you didn't do things the way I expected. Forgive me for being angry and so full of self-pity that I sat here and sulked while people needed my help."

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE