Once upon a time, there was an old farmer who spent his entire life tilling the land, living a life of constant struggle. He ate coarse grains and wore worn-out clothes, yet never complained. Kind-hearted, he helped those in need and prayed silently every night before sleep.
One day he died, and his soul arrived at the gates of heaven.
Not long after, a wealthy man arrived. This man was quite different—he had lived in grand houses, adorned himself with gold and silver, and possessed great wealth. Yet he never helped others, caring only for himself.
Both stood before Heaven’s gate, waiting to enter.
The Rich Man Entered First, Amidst Great Festivity
After a while, Saint Peter approached with his keys. He unlocked the gate and let the wealthy man enter first.
As the door opened, music poured out, accompanied by singing—like a joyous celebration. The farmer heard it clearly outside: harps, laughter, and applause.
After the door closed, the noise continued for a while before gradually fading away.
The farmer thought, “Wow, heaven is so lively! When I get in, there will surely be music to welcome me too.”
The Farmer Enters, Yet It’s Quiet
After another while, Saint Peter returned. This time he opened the door and invited the farmer inside.
The farmer walked in happily, but strangely—there was no sound at all. No singing, no music, not even applause.
However, angels soon gathered around him, their faces glowing with warm smiles. They took the farmer’s hands and said, “Welcome!You’ve worked hard your whole life. Now you can finally rest.“
Though no one sang, everyone was genuinely warm and sincere toward him.
The Farmer Felt a Bit Disappointed
But the farmer still felt something was off. Gathering his courage, he asked Saint Peter:
”Outside, I heard music and singing when that rich man entered.But when I came in, there was nothing. Is heaven just like the world, favoring the rich and looking down on the poor?“
Saint Peter smiled upon hearing this and said:
”That’s not how it is. In our eyes, you are just as important and just as welcome as that rich man. You endured hardship on earth, so you will receive every bit of heaven’s joy.”
The farmer asked, “Then why was his entrance so lively, while mine is so quiet?”
A Simple Truth
Saint Peter replied, “Because good souls like you arrive in heaven every day. If we celebrated each one with drums, gongs, singing, and dancing, heaven would be like a never-ending New Year’s celebration—there’d be no peace.”
He paused, then added:
“But someone like that rich man? We see one like him maybe once every hundred years. When he chooses to come to heaven, of course we celebrate—it’s such a rare occasion.”
The farmer smiled upon hearing this. He finally understood.
The Truth Behind the Story
This story seems to be about heaven, but it’s really about life on earth.
The farmer who comes every day represents the majority of ordinary, kind, and quietly dedicated people. They are inconspicuous and unassuming, yet they persistently do good deeds.
The wealthy man who comes once in a century represents those who spend their lives focused solely on themselves and rarely perform acts of kindness. When he finally does something good (like repenting before death), others find it exceptionally rare and make a big fuss about praising him.
This mirrors real life:
- Someone who never arrives late to work goes unnoticed;
- Yet when a chronic latecomer shows up on time, the boss praises them for “significant improvement.”
Not because the latter is better, but simply because it’s “rare.”
What lesson does this story teach us?
- Kindness should not seek praise
The farmer expected music in heaven because he believed “good people deserve grand treatment.” True kindness, however, acts without expecting reward. You do good not for applause, but because you know it is right. - Ordinary perseverance is most precious
The fact that poor people enter heaven daily proves that though they lack wealth, their hearts remain pure. True virtue isn’t an occasional good deed, but choosing to do what’s right throughout one’s entire life. - Don’t feel overlooked when others get praised
Sometimes we work hard for ages, unseen; others do little things, yet get celebrated. Don’t get angry—first ask: Why do I act? For praise, or for peace of mind? - Heaven judges not by status, but by heart
Though the farmer was poor, he was welcomed into heaven. The rich man, though wealthy, received a lively welcome only because he was “rarely seen.” What truly matters isn’t how much money you have, but what kind of person you are.
Final thought:
Those who do good deeds may not always receive applause, but even without applause, never stop doing good.
