THE SUITCASE

A man died and when he realized it, he saw God coming closer with a suitcase in his hand.

God said, “Alright son, it’s time to go.”

Surprised, the man responded, “Now? So soon? I had a lot of plans…” “I’m sorry, but it’s time to go.”

“What do you have in that suitcase?” The man asked. “Your belongings.”

“My belongings? You mean my things, my clothes, my money?” The man wondered. 

“Those things were not yours, they belonged to the earth,” God replied. 

“Is it my memories?” the man asked. 

“Those never belonged to you, they belonged to Time.” 

“Is it my talents?” 

“Those were never yours, they belonged to the circumstances.” 

“Is it my friends and family?” 

“I’m sorry they were never yours, they belonged to the path,” God said, as He shook His head. “Is it my body?” The man asked. 

“That was never yours, it belonged to the dust.” 

“Is it my soul?” 

Again God shook His head, “No that is mine.” 

Full of fear, the man took the suitcase from God and opened it, just to find out the suitcase was empty. With tears coming down his cheeks the man said, “I never had anything?” 

God answered, “That is correct, every moment you lived was only yours. Life is just a moment, a moment that belongs to you. For this reason, enjoy this time while you have it. Don’t let anything that you think you own, stop you from doing so. Live Now. Live your life with kindness and love. Don’t forget to be happy, that is the only thing that matters.” that matters.”

*************

Friendship Day was originally founded by Hallmark in 1919. It was intended to be a day for people to celebrate their friendship by sending each other cards, but by 1940 the market had dried up, and eventually it died out completely. However, in 1998 Winnie the Pooh was named the world’s Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations, and in April 2011 the United Nations officially recognized 30 July as International Friendship Day; however most countries including India celebrate it on the first Sunday of August! Friendship Day 2014 will be celebrated on 3 August. 

Friendship Day is a day dedicated to honouring and strengthening the universal values of friendship, trust and fellowship all over the world. Most deservingly, it is a day to recognize one’s friends from all times and all spheres of life. So what are you waiting for, go ahead and celebrate Friendship Day on 3 August and wish your friends a Happy Friendship Day!