Short Story: “Helping Others Helps Us Grow”

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One afternoon over 100 years ago, in the fields of a rural area in Britain, a poor farmer was working. Suddenly, he heard cries for help in the distance; it turned out that a teenager had fallen into the water. Without hesitation, the farmer plunged into the water to save the person. The child was saved. Later, it was discovered that the rescued child was a noble prince. A few days later, the old nobleman came in person with gifts to express his gratitude, but the farmer refused such generous offerings. In his view, saving that person at the time was done out of conscience; he could not covet someone else’s wealth just because that person came from a noble family. The story doesn’t end here. Out of admiration for the kindness and nobility of the farmer, and out of gratitude for his kindness, the old nobleman decided to fund the farmer’s son’s education in London. The farmer accepted this gift; it had been his dream for many years to enable his children to receive a good education. The farmer was happy, because his son finally had the chance to step into the outside world and change his own fate; the old nobleman was also happy, because he had finally fulfilled the dream of his benefactor. Many years later, the farmer’s son graduated from St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London. He was outstanding in both academics and character; he was later honored with a title by the British Royal Family and received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945. He is Alexander Fleming, the inventor of penicillin. That noble young man also grew up; he contracted severe pneumonia during World War II, but fortunately, thanks to penicillin, he recovered quickly. This nobleman was British Prime Minister Churchill. 　　 Both farmers and nobles extended a helping hand when others needed it, and in doing so, they sowed seeds of goodness for their own descendants as well. Many incredible things happen throughout a person’s life. Sometimes, when we help others or show them gratitude, it might be part of some unseen cycle of karma.