A MAN with three sons was confined in a hospital for an unknown ailment. After diagnosis, the doctor told the three siblings, ?Your father has cancer. It has spread, and he only has three months to live.?

Who was going to tell the father of his condition? The eldest son felt he couldn?t do it because he didn?t know how to spill it to him. The second son went up to their father and said, ?Don?t worry, everything?s going to be fine. You?ll soon come home, and I will bring you around to visit your friends.?

But, the youngest son told his father: ?Dad, you have to be brave. You have cancer, and you have only three months to live. Just pray.? The father was initially taken aback by the news, but he accepted it. It was a heavy task to break the bad news to his father, but the youngest son wanted to tell the truth. He also relayed the news to his mother, who broke down and cried. Did he do the right thing?

Token of gratitude

After the father passed away, the youngest son received a special gift from his father as a token of gratitude. The Vedic literature affirms that what he did was proper and necessary. It was for the benefit of the dying.

The Shrimad Bhagavatam states: ?During the last stage of a person?s life, he should not be afraid of death. But, he must cut off his attachment to the material body and everything pertaining to it.?

It?s a great blessing to have enough time to prepare for our inevitable passing, and a great fortune to be surrounded with loved ones who can help us face the truth?and accept the reality of life and death!