Don Sergio is a big figure in the Mafia. He is responsible for all kinds of illegal activities. Due to corruption in the police force, he has never been arrested. He is about 75 years of age, but that does not slow down his involvement in those bad activities.
Lately, he has been feeling pain and sometimes light-headed. He was advised to go to the doctor, which he did. The doctor ordered a few tests and discovered through the results that he has cancer. The cancer was already at a late stage and he didn’t have much time to live. The news was devastating for him.
In his business, it is dangerous to owe money to the big boss, meaning him. His men brought to him a man who is running late on his payment. Ordinarily, Sergio would have executed the man or beat him savagely to send a message to other people owing him money, but still thinking about the bad news, he let the guy go. A couple hours after that act, he felt a little less pain. He did not pay too much attention to that small change in his body.
Later, while walking on the street, trying to clear his head, he encountered a lost child. He helped the child find his way home. Again he felt much better. Then he decided to share the experience with his wife. They connected the dots. Could it be that his acts of kindness improve his health? Apparently, yeah.
For the next few days, he did nothing but charity: giving millions to hospitals, schools and cutting ties with some of his bad friends. Going back to the hospital, the doctor found out the cancer was inexistent. That is a miracle.
Don Sergio intended to continue to do good, and wanted to bring his wealth to poor countries. But one morning before a trip to Africa, he lost consciousness, he had a heart attack. After they brought him to a hospital, the doctor found out that the cancer came back stronger and he might not even have a day left to live. His wife started cursing the gods and wondering if they had wasted all their stuff for nothing. Don Sergio did not see it that way. He declared whether he lived or not, the last few days he had left will be the best of his life. He truly enjoyed doing good. He became a changed man. He begged his wife to continue with the charity. What started out as a way of avoiding death became a revelation of who he truly is. We should not do good hoping for something in return. Sergio remembered the saying and told his wife: “We must do good because it is good”. He died happily.
