Principles – “The Seller of Paper Napkins” – Saturday, 5th of August, 2017

I received this short video and the next letter was attached:

H.G Bishop Ermia

   While I was watching this video a friend has sent me, I recalled some of the ideas mentioned in one of your grace’s articles written 3 years ago or more. It tackled generosity and giving. I recalled that you tackled the wide perspective of generosity that respect humans and consider their feelings even though it is by just a smile. You titled this article “The Smile”. You were true when you said that any action of giving won’t be empty as it would positively affect people’s lives even if it was just a smile.

Thank you

Best regards

   The story begins with a little child who lost her parents during so difficult circumstances which made her sell paper napkins to the passers-by. The child had a beautiful smile that she offered. One day, she passed by a crying lady who wept over a fight she had with her husband on that day. The child stopped by the woman and gave her a pocket of paper napkins so she could wipe off her tears. But before the napkins, she granted her a beautiful smile so she could wipe her heart sadness. While the lady was about to get the money out of the bag, the girl left quietly waiting for nothing. When the lady lifted her head, she saw the girl walking away. The lady smiled over this gentle heart that caused her to smile and let happiness fill her heart. Amid her great happiness, she decided to send her husband an apology message.

   In the same time, the husband was at one of the cafes feeling sad for what happened between him and his wife. Surprisingly he received his wife’s apology message. Thus, he was overwhelmed with joy and was ready to leave the place and go back home. He asked for the bill. While he was leaving, he decided to make someone else happier, so he left the waiter a generous tip. The waiter was so happy that at the end of the day while he was leaving to go home, he bought a lot of the home’s groceries. He passed by a square where many birds fly so he decided to buy food for the pigeons from an old lady who was selling seeds. He decided to make her happy and out of his gratefulness to God, he gave her extra money. The old lady looked at him in disbelief. She decided to buy meat that she didn’t taste since long and joyfully went back home to cook it for her granddaughter, “the paper napkins seller” who lost her parents!!

To be continued

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center