Short Story: The grumpy little old man who found joy in the end, by being given another end

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John was an old, bitter, worn-out shell, of a man Love had never reached this man, who stewed it all away to nothing in his seething silence, his inner turmoil, his raging at life, with himself. John pitted himself against everything. He disagreed with everyone, disputed all conclusions and ideas of others, and he was always a little arrogant, and obnoxious while doing so. As a result of this behaviour, not many people liked John, or could ever get close enough to him both inwardly and outwardly to ever love him either, except for his mother, of course. She had always loved him, while she was alive. This was until John reached old age, and when he became semi-invalided, and had to partly depend on others, so that his very life could continue. John was a grumpy old guy, without a pinch of joy in him. Something had either driven it out of him, or perhaps, he had never had any joy, in the first place. John was sour, and he gave out the sourness to others, spoiling their lemonade, with his own bitterness. John died, and he ended up in Heaven, though. Even Saint John, who he was named after, wanted to say something to this old guy, not young in death, 77 years old, a few days dead, when he fronted the heavenly courts with God as judge, and Saint John, acting as a sort of an advocate for him there. Saint John asked John, "Why the long face, always in your life?" John replied, "Life was too short for me to see the joy in it. You killed me off at 77, whereas when I reached 80, I would have changed, and been joyful." John's old habit of contradicting others even was still working, or more not working for him, even here, in Heaven. God had heard enough. God said, "Well, everybody deserves to be believed. I am sending you back, I want to see you as a changed gent, well before you turn 80. Go back now a changed man. Live out the rest of your life in joy." So then, John woke up in the hospital bed, and he was told that they had finally revived him. He had had a heart attack, been in a coma, for a few days, but now, he was being given another chance, or extension to his life. John remembered his near-death experience with God, and he put a wide smile on his dial. Yes, he said, "I am a changed man, thank-you my friends, I am greatly indebted to you, thank-you." John did change, and sometimes this type of experience is the only thing that can change someone like John, and this is why God allows such a vivid experience to exist, which might seem bad, but actually moves mountains in the life of someone like John, placing him at the top of the mountain, where he can then see past his own misfortunes to the real state of God, and his world, and so connect to love, and joy, at long last. Photo credit: The photo used here was obtained from the free media site: pixabay.com John seldom ever smiled. He could not smile, until he connected his heart to love. He was lucky to be able to do this, by his being given a second life, in his life.