SMILIELANDTV

It was Wednesday morning and the clouds were turning from white to grey the rain drops were starting to make spots everywhere.

 I turned to look over my shoulder and there stood a young girl of about 18 with tears in her eyes.

 "what are you crying for"? I asked

 "nothing" she replied "I'm just grateful".

"Grateful for what"? I enquired.

"About six months ago I was about to start a course in history and then go on to do a degree in sociology, but before I started I decided to travel about a bit and see some new places".

" I took a boat to France and then hitched it right through Europe to the middle east".

 "I then went on to Niger in Africa, where I met a couple named John & Francis Jordan".

 "They lived a simple life in their half wood half corrugated hut, they had no clothes only rags and no running water, they lived there in fear that no passing people would attack them or steal what little food they had".

"John asked me if I would like to stay with them in their shelter and offered me food and water, apparently it was all the food they had I later found out".

"They had a small child who was just skin and bones and who only had one leg".

"John explained that Jenny had lost her leg through disease".

 "They both had the aids virus and they didn't have long to go before they would die".

 "The baby girl would be left all alone in the world when they died and they were really worried".

"I was shocked at their predicament and later found out that the entire country was in this same state".

 "I hugged Francis, as this was the only comfort I could give her, and I took out a piece of paper and wrote the following prayer to God".

 "My God please look down on me and forgive me for taking everything for granted, I give my life instead of John & Francis please spare them this suffering, I'm not worthy to be in their home and I'm not worthy to eat from their table, these are the strong and they deserve better please help these people".

 "For every drop of rain I feel I will think of them, for every thought please save a life".

 "I handed Francis the piece of paper and she wept openly and hugged me".

 "I left there the next day and promised to return one day (I knew I would never return)".

 "About a month later I was sitting all alone in a park when a light shone down and a voice said "Thank you", I looked up and saw the face of an angel looking down on me and I asked what for" ?

 The angel said "for the note and the gift" . I asked "what gift"?

"What could I have possibly given"?

 The angel replied "The gift of kindness and compassion".

 "I was told that the angel was Francis and that because someone was to sacrifice themselves in order to stop suffering in another person then that was the greatest gift a person could do".

"The angel thanked me and placed a feather in my hand, and then disappeared".

 I looked at the girl and smiled and told her that was a very nice story but it didn't explain why she was crying.

 She told me that every time it rained she thought of John, Francis & all the people who lived in Niger.

The girl was glad she lived in the UK because it rained a lot so more people would be saved.

 It didn't rain in Niger much and that's why everyone dies, each drop reminded her of their tears.

 She told me she often thought about Jenny and what might have become of her.

 I said to her "why don't you find out"?

 "Go back and visit her".

 "With that I handed her a cheque for £200 and another which was blank, she enquired what they were for and I said the £200 was for her fare and the blank one was for her love!

 If there's something you can do for suffering people today then do it!

She walked quietly away.

 I turned to leave and there on the ground was a pure white feather and a note that said "Thank you".

This story is dedicated to the people who are suffering around the world.

God bless you all.