Once upon a time, there was a King who had four wives.
He loved the fourth wife the most, spoiling her with his deepest affection and providing her with only the finest things life could offer.
He also loved the third wife and proudly displayed her to the neighboring kingdoms.
He relied a lot on his second wife. She was his trusted advisor and companion. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.
However, not much can be said about his first wife. Despite her significant contributions to maintaining his kingdom and her tireless efforts to win his love and admiration, the King barely noticed her existence.
One day, the King fell gravely ill. Despite his efforts to find a cure, he realized that his time was running out.
He reflected on his majestic life and decided to spend everything to prolong it, leading him to consult a mystical sorcerer. The sorcerer said, “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but nothing can be done. Your death is imminent. However, I will grant you the chance to take one wife with you into the afterlife.”
Thus, he asked his fourth wife, “I have given you nothing but the best in life. Now that I’m dying, will you accompany me into the afterlife?”
“No way!”, replied the fourth wife, and she walked away without saying a word.
The sad King then asked the third wife.
“No!” replied the third wife. “Life is too good here! I’ll stay! When you die, I’m going to remarry!”
He then asked his second wife.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t go with you,” replied the second wife. “I can only see you to the edge of your grave.”
The King’s heart sank, and he felt a deep sense of despair. He was utterly devastated.
Then he heard a weary, sad voice, speaking softly: “I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.”
The King looked up and saw his first wife as if for the first time. She appeared aged beyond her years, barely recognizable due to years of neglect. With deep regret, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I had the chance!”
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MORAL:
We all have these four wives in our lives.
The FOURTH wife is our BODY.
We often shower our body with the most affection, spending our lives adorning it with exquisite clothing and ornaments. Yet, in the end, it will abandon us when we die.
Our THIRD wife is our POSSESSIONS.
We invest much of our time and energy in accumulating wealth, but none of it will accompany us when we die. Instead, it will be divided and passed on to others.
Our SECOND wife is our friends, family, and relatives.
We love and trust them, and in return, they offer us comfort and support when we need it. However, no matter how long they remain by our side, they can only accompany us up to the point of our burial.
And our FIRST wife is our SPIRIT.
We often neglect our spirits in the pursuit of wealth, pleasure, and power, not realizing that it is only our spirit that accompanies us after death. While it's important to take care of our bodies by staying healthy and exercising, and to enjoy time with loved ones, we must also remember to nurture our greatest treasure: our spirit.
To lead a fulfilling life, it’s essential to find balance in caring for the four aspects of our existence: our body, our earthly possessions, our relationships, and our spirit. By giving each of these areas the attention they deserve, we create a harmonious life where we are not only prepared for the end but also enriched in the present.
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