It Was In Your Eyes
It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many
years ago. The old man's beard was glazed by winter's
frost while he waited for a ride across the river. The wait
seemed endless. His body became numb and stiff from
the frigid north wind.
He heard the faint, steady rhythm of approaching hooves
galloping along the frozen path. Anxiously, he watched
as several horsemen rounded the bend. He let the first
one pass by without an effort to get his attention. Then
another passed by, and another. Finally, the last rider
neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue.
As this one drew near, the old man caught the rider's eye
and said, "Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride
to the other side? There doesn't appear to be a passageway
by foot."
Reining his horse, the rider replied, "Sure thing. Hop
aboard." Seeing the old man was unable to lift his half-frozen
body from the ground, the horseman dismounted and helped
the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man
not just across the river, but to his destination, which was
just a few miles away.
As they neared the tiny but cozy cottage, the horseman's
curiosity caused him to inquire, "Sir, I notice that you let
several other riders pass by without making an effort to secure
a ride. Then I came up and you immediately asked me for a
ride. I'm curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would
wait and ask the last rider. What if I had refused and left you
there?"
The old man lowered himself slowly down from the horse,
looked the rider straight in the eyes, and replied, "I've been
around these here parts for some time. I reckon I know people
pretty good." The old-timer continued, "I looked into the eyes
of the other riders and immediately saw there was no concern
for my situation. It would have been useless even to ask them
for a ride. But when I looked into your eyes, kindness and
compassion were evident. I knew, then and there, that your
gentle spirit would welcome the opportunity to give me
assistance in my time of need."
Those heartwarming comments touched the horseman deeply.
"I'm most grateful for what you have said," he told the old man.
"May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to
respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion."
With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made
his way back to the White House.
[ Author Unknown -- as posted in: HeartWarming ]
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