The Story of a Bench.

"Goodness doesn't ask who's coming - it just prepares the place."

One winter morning, an old man walked through the park at the same time every day. He wasn't in a hurry. He always stopped at the same bench, wiped the snow off with his mittens, and sat down for a few minutes. No one sat on it except him. Never.

One day, a little boy was watching him. He wondered why he always wiped that bench when no one sat on it. He ran down to him and asked:

- Uncle, why do you clean the bench every morning when no one sits on it anyway?

The old man smiled.

- Because someone might need it today.

- And if no one comes?

- At least the bench knows it matters.

The little boy didn't quite understand, but the next day he brought a rag too. They wiped the snow together. On the third day, a tired woman sat down on it, carrying bags in her hands, her legs shaking. She sat down, sighed, and said:

– It's good that it's clean… I'm really tired today.

The uncle didn't say anything. The little boy didn't either. They just smiled.

And from that day on, the bench never remained covered in snow. Because goodness doesn't ask who will come – it's just ready.