A Woman’s Ingenious Solution to Fulfill Her Husband’s Avaricious Last Wish
A Thought-Provoking Reflection from Maya Angelou
The wise words of Maya Angelou resonate with many of us: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Most of us aim to act in ways that leave a positive, lasting impression on others. We strive to perform noble and upright deeds to contribute to a legacy we can be proud of.
Regrettably, not everyone shares this sentiment. Some individuals are driven by their selfish desires, choosing to live life on their terms without considering the impact of their actions on others. One such trait that often leads people down this path is greed.
A story that continues to intrigue me involves a widow whose character was starkly different from that of her late husband. Her spouse was a hardworking man who believed he was entitled to keep all his earnings to himself due to his hard work.
His moral compass dictated that his virtuous wife should compromise her values to fulfill his dying wish. At her husband’s funeral, however, the widow found a way to maintain her moral integrity while granting his wish. Her solution was nothing short of ingenious…
A Man’s Greed and His Last Wish
Once upon a time, there lived a man who worked tirelessly all his life and saved every penny he earned. His love for money was so intense that it overshadowed almost everything else in his life.
As he neared the end of his life, he made a peculiar request to his wife. He wished for all his money to be placed in his casket so he could take it to the afterlife. With a heavy heart, his wife promised to fulfill his unusual demand. Eventually, the inevitable happened, and the man passed away.
The Funeral and The Shoebox
As the man lay in his casket, the grieving widow sat dressed in black, accompanied by their closest friend. Just as the funeral service concluded and the undertakers prepared to close the casket, the wife interjected.
She held a shoebox in her hand and insisted on placing it in the casket. With the box in the casket, the undertakers sealed it and rolled it away.
A Promise Kept and a Brilliant Idea
Curiosity piqued, her friend asked, “Surely you didn’t put all that money in the casket with that miserly old man?” To which the wife responded affirmatively. She maintained that she had made a promise and, as a good Christian, she couldn’t lie. She had indeed put all the money in the casket with him.
Baffled, the friend asked, “You really put every single cent of his money in the casket with him?” The widow replied, “Indeed, I did. I gathered all the money, deposited it into my account, and wrote him a check.”
This tale provides an amusing yet thought-provoking example of someone maintaining their moral integrity in the face of greed. Please share this story if you appreciate its ingenuity and charm!