The Healing Journey

August 9, 2025

An Act of Gratitude

A very old man went out one day onto the land beside his house and began planting fruit trees. Then, a young man walked by.

“What are you doing?” the young man asked.
“Planting fruit trees,” the old man replied.
“But you will not see fruit in your lifetime,” the young man said.

“The fruit that I have enjoyed in my lifetime,” the old man answered, “has been from trees that people before me planted. So to express my gratitude to them, I am planting trees to give fruit to those who come after me.”
©Robert Van de Weyer

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Acts of kindness and compassion are the same as the fruit trees. You may not see the result of your kindness and compassion, but there will be results. They will bear fruit in ways that you can’t begin to imagine even after you’re gone.