Forgiveness

My father was the embodiment of compassion. His name, Rahim, means merciful, one of the attributes of God. One day, he was putting on his coat and shoes after prayers when an elderly man about his age pushed him. My father fell and hurt himself. He got up with some difficulty, brushed his coat, and went on his way. My mother was livid. “Why didn’t you confront him?” He replied: “I know why he did that. He is consumed with suffering because he is not called upon to recite hymns as frequently as myself.”