The Three Coins Of Remorse
Identical twin brothers Peter and Paul are so identical in many ways. Peter is the naughty one and Paul is the better man of the two. They grew up wearing similar clothes and shoes because that's how they were raised by their parents. They were enrolled in the same school from elementary up to high school. In college they took different courses, but earned their diplomas in the same year. Both of them had a girlfriend. Peter, being the naughtier one, slept with Paul's girlfriend one night. Paul didn't know it and Paul's girlfriend never thought that Peter will do it to his own brother.
One time, Peter and Paul went out for sky diving. They jumped out together from the plane. Unfortunately, their chutes didn't come out and they died together falling like pumpkins on the ground.
At the gates of Heaven, they were met by the keeper of the gates. Peter and Paul knew they are already dead. The gate keeper said, "Your time has not come yet. Your names are not listed in the Book of the Dead. But since both of you are already here, I will give you a chance to better your life on earth. You will go down today and will be given one year to renew your life. I will open the gates of Heaven for you when you come back under one condition."
"What condition?" asked the twin brothers.
"That both of you will come back with fifty two coins each."
"What kind of coins?" asked the brothers.
"The coins are not ordinary coins. I am referring to the coins that you need to earn for every good deed that you can do on earth. Every time you make or do a good act of service for others, your pocket will be filled with a coin."
"That would be too easy for us to do!" said Peter.
"Not so easy," the keeper said. "Each of you needs to earn fifty two coins. Your time limit is only one year. If you cannot make it, you go to hell."
The keeper added, "One more thing, you cannot go back to your family and friends anymore when you go down today. You will be sent to a different place."
And so Peter and Paul were sent back to earth.
Peter said to Paul, "Let's just enjoy our lives and have a good time. We only have one year to live. You can leave me now, if you want to?"
"No. We are twin brothers. Wherever you go, I go."
They had their chance to stay in one house, but Peter insisted that he needs some privacy too. Paul agreed by dividing the space of the house for both of them.
Paul reminded Peter that they need to earn fifty two coins each to enter Heaven.
Peter said, "Don't worry, one year is too long to earn those coins!"
After eleven months, Paul found forty nine coins in his pocket while Peter found three coins in his pocket.
Peter asked Paul, "How many coins have you earned?"
Paul replied, "Forty nine. How about you?"
"Very close to what you have in your pocket," Peter murmured.
One morning, one week prior to their assigned one year-stint on earth, they decided to go sky diving again. For the second time their chutes didn't work well for both of them, getting entangled. But in the last two minutes before falling to the ground, Peter had the chance of grabbing his twin brother Paul by the arm and hugged him so tight. Peter inserted the three coins in Paul's pocket until they touched the ground and died again.
Paul made it to the gates of Heaven and was greeted by the keeper. There he saw so many men entering the gates of Heaven. He was looking around, but he can't find his brother in the line.
The keeper of the gates said to Paul, "Very good. You made it!"
Paul asked the keeper, "Where's my brother Peter?"
"Your brother didn't make it because you're the only one who earned fifty two coins."
Paul stressed, "But Peter has the same coins as much as I have . He told me."
"No," said the keeper. "The only reason why you made it here today is because he sacrificed his coins for you."
Paul asked, "Can you help Peter?... Can you help my brother?"
"I don't have the power to decide for any man's fate. Only your prayer and the prayers of those to whom he had sinned can save his soul to get here," said the keeper.
A year later, Paul saw his twin brother Peter in Heaven. Peter was pardoned for his sins on earth. And more importantly, the three coins that he gave away to save his brother's life or anybody's life is already an indication of unselfishness and love.
Comments