Once upon a time, a young man, who was rather ordinary and not particularly striking, found himself watching a beautiful woman as she came a...
Once upon a time, a young man, who was rather ordinary and not particularly striking, found himself watching a beautiful woman as she came and went. He followed her several times, but his shyness prevented him from speaking to her. Despite his hesitations, he admired her manners and character.
Eventually, he gathered the courage to approach her and propose to her parents. His heart soared with joy at the thought of soon having a home and a family of his own. One day, he invited her for a cup of coffee at a charming, secluded restaurant. Though excited, he was extremely nervous and struggled to speak. She noticed his discomfort but chose to be gentle and kind, smiling whenever their eyes met, so as not to embarrass him.
Suddenly, he asked the waiter to bring some salt for his coffee. She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. His face turned red with embarrassment, yet he added the salt to his coffee and drank it.
Curious, she asked, "I’ve never heard of adding salt to coffee. Why do you do that?"
He replied, “When I was a child, I lived near the sea and loved its saltiness. Salty coffee reminds me of my childhood, my hometown, and my parents who raised me and endured many hardships for my sake. May God have mercy on them and grant them paradise.”
His eyes filled with tears as he spoke, and she was deeply moved by his heartfelt words and his devotion to his parents. Tears welled up in her eyes, not out of sadness, but from joy and gratitude for having found a caring and devoted husband.
Over the years, they built a warm and loving home together and had six children. Two became prominent surgeons, the third an esteemed engineer, the fourth a righteous lawyer known for his integrity and dedication to justice, the fifth a gynecologist, and the sixth was still pursuing her studies.
After forty years of marriage, the beloved husband passed away. Before he died, he left a touching letter for his wife:
“Dear [Her Name], forgive me, for I lied to you only once. Do you remember the day we first met in the café? I was so nervous that I asked for salt for my coffee instead of sugar. I was too embarrassed to correct myself, so I continued with the lie. I wanted to tell you the truth after that, but I feared you would think I was skilled at deceit. Now that my days are numbered, I decided to confess. I don’t like salty coffee; the taste is strange. But I drank it throughout my life with you and never regretted it, because your presence and your loving heart overshadowed everything. If I could live another life, I would choose to live it with you, even if it meant drinking salty coffee. But what is with God is better and everlasting, and I hope that He will reunite us in paradise.”
Her tears soaked the letter as she wept like a child. One day, their child asked her, "Mom, what does salty coffee taste like?"
She replied, “It tastes sweeter than sugar to my heart. It’s a reminder of the life I lived and the love I cherished.” Her eyes overflowed with tears.
This is not a tale of fiction; it truly happened. It teaches us profound lessons about love and devotion in marriage. It calls on parents to choose spouses who embody these qualities, and for women to pray sincerely for their husbands. The story confirms that love grows and deepens after marriage through God’s gift of affection and mercy between spouses.
May God guide our hearts, bring tranquility to our souls, and bless our homes with joy and love.
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