When Will You Give Rest to Your Father?" – A Tale of Love, Duty, and Redemption



In the small village of Eldenbrook, nestled between rolling hills and whispering forests, lived a hardworking farmer named Thomas. His father, old Henry, had once been the strongest man in the village—a man who could lift sacks of grain with ease and work the fields from dawn till dusk. But time had taken its toll. Now, Henry was frail, his hands trembling, his steps slow.

Thomas, now in his forties, had taken over the farm. He worked tirelessly, but with each passing year, he grew more impatient with his father. Henry could no longer help in the fields, and Thomas often muttered under his breath, *"When will I ever get rest from tending to my father?"*

One evening, after a long day of labor, Thomas sat by the fire, exhausted. Henry, sitting across from him, coughed weakly.

"Son," Henry said, his voice thin but steady, "when I was your age, I carried you on my shoulders through these very fields. Do you remember?"

Thomas frowned. "That was a long time ago, Father. Now, I must work twice as hard because you can no longer help."

Henry’s eyes dimmed, but he said nothing.

## **The Stranger’s Wisdom**

The next morning, a weary traveler knocked on their door, seeking shelter. Thomas, though reluctant, allowed him in. The stranger was an old man with kind eyes and a knowing smile.

As they shared a meal, the traveler noticed Thomas’s frustration.

"You seem troubled, my friend," the stranger said.

Thomas sighed. "My father is old and weak. I must care for him while also running the farm. When will I ever find rest from this burden?"

The stranger nodded thoughtfully. Then, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small wooden box.

"Inside this box is a mirror that shows the past and the future," he said. "Look into it, and you will find your answer."

Curious, Thomas opened the box and gazed into the mirror.

## **The Vision of the Past**

Suddenly, the room around him faded, and he found himself standing in the same farmhouse—but years earlier. A younger Henry was holding a little boy—Thomas himself—in his arms. The boy was sick, burning with fever.

Henry stayed up all night, pressing cool cloths to his son’s forehead, whispering prayers. Even when his own body ached from exhaustion, he did not rest until Thomas was well again.

The scene shifted. Now, Thomas saw his father working under the scorching sun, saving every coin to send him to school. He remembered how Henry had given up his own comforts so that Thomas could have a better life.

Tears welled in Thomas’s eyes.

## **The Vision of the Future**

The mirror’s image changed again. Now, Thomas saw himself—older, with streaks of gray in his hair. He was sitting alone by the fireplace, the house silent.

A neighbor entered and said, "Your father’s grave is well kept. You visit him every day."

Thomas, in the vision, replied, "I wish I had spent more time with him when he was alive. I was so busy with work that I forgot to show him love in his final years."

The vision blurred, and Thomas found himself back in the present, clutching the mirror with trembling hands.

## **A Change of Heart**

He looked up at the stranger, who smiled gently.

"The greatest gift you can give your father is not rest from his presence," the stranger said, "but peace in knowing he is loved until his last breath."

With those words, the traveler stood, thanked Thomas for his hospitality, and left without another word.

That night, Thomas sat beside his father, taking his frail hand in his own.

"Father," he said softly, "I’m sorry for my impatience. You have given me everything. Now, it is my turn to care for you."

Henry’s eyes shone with tears, and he squeezed his son’s hand.

## **The Final Days of Love**

From that day on, Thomas no longer saw his father as a burden. He sat with him in the evenings, listening to his stories. He helped him walk through the fields, reliving old memories. And when Henry’s time finally came, he passed peacefully, knowing he was cherished.

Years later, when Thomas himself grew old, his own children cared for him with the same love he had shown his father. And whenever they asked, *"When will we find rest from tending to you?"* he would simply smile and say,

**"The rest you seek is not in my absence, but in the love we share while I am still here."**

### **Moral of the Story**

*Caring for aging parents is not a burden, but a sacred duty. The time we have with them is precious, and the love we give them echoes through generations.*