My Lesson Book
1975. A new day dawned and all of my thirteen year self was looking forward to this day. Of course I had no clue then that the day would unfold in a very special way and even after thirty long years I would be able to remember every moment of that one special meeting. With excited hands I stuffed the bag with chocolates, toys that I once played with, old clothes, some were mine and others of our relatives and friends. Did not forget my autograph book, there were no digital cameras then! The hands of the clock seemed to move painfully slow but eventually it did arrive at the special hour.
It was a meeting with Mother Teresa, a beacon of light for the millions of homeless, sick and orphans. There she was, smiling as she hugged each one of us. I wasted no time and showed her all that we had got along for ‘her’ children. She smiled, thanked me warmly. I felt proud of myself. She then held my hand and led me to a wooden bench. It was a moment I cherish the most. Not letting go of my hand, she told me words that changed me forever.
“Donations and aid I get plenty but what I need is you” were her words. Giving clothes or toys or other items that we no longer need is not true giving she continued and I listened with all my heart. Reach out she said, come when you can to be with the children who are not as fortunate as you. Then she kissed my forehead to perhaps wipe away the uneasy lines that had formed as realization dawned how utterly wrong I was.
Things donated after spring cleaning our house is not true giving. It is only when we can give selflessly do we understand the difference. That day I learnt my first lesson that left an indelible mark in me. As we walked out into fading sunlight that day I looked up to thank God for the day.
Life moved on but the teaching remained with me and each time I get surprised when I hear a “Thank You” for a small gift that I have made to the unexpecting. It is wonderful to catch that glint in the eye of a little kid half naked perhaps.
1996. We were on a visit to my husband’s ancestral village. Swaying green fields as far as the eye could see. A cluster of mud plastered homes surrounding a pond and then again open fields. My husband was going through an entire gamut of emotions. This is the place his father grew up and went on to become a doctor. The village priest’s grandson became our guide telling us of the changes that the village had witnessed. Walking through paddy fields, balancing on a trunk of a tree while crossing a canal, waving to the little children who had a curious glance in their eyes, it was a journey back in time.
An elderly lady walked out of her home to greet us. Poverty and age had taken a toll on her once beautiful face. Her eyes shone as she told my husband that there was none to match his father be it in education or behavior. It was almost fifty years since he had left the village but he conducted himself in such exemplary manner that he lives on in their hearts even today. My children were listening intently and so were we. It was indeed a proud moment for all of us.
The road brought us to an iron bridge over a canal. It was fairly big and had four posts at the four corners. Our guide stopped and asked us if we could guess who had built the bridge. We looked at each other, ran our eyes on the posts to see if there is a name inscribed. But we were clueless. With pride he told us that it was my husband’s grand father who had gifted the bridge to the village. During the monsoons the canal water would flood the roads making it impossible for the villagers to cross it.
The young boy then went on to tell us that the four posts were built to inscribe his name on it but the grand old man had refused saying that gifts made with name tags lose their meaning or worth. The legend goes that the day the bridge was inaugurated there were festivities and prayers but our grand father did not step out of his home. It was a true gift.
I was happy that my children had learnt their first lesson. As for us it was another chapter read on character and a close look at our roots.
2005. Just a few days back we received a request from someone we know asking us for some financial help. My husband readily agreed. But a very excited me told my husband to tell the person concerned that the amount he gives should be spent judiciously and not for any silly reason. I got even more excited as I saw that calm smile on my husband’s face. He held my hand, sat me down and asked me what would have been my feelings if I were receiving the money with a condition attached. I could not help but just stare into his face. How well he said it all in one sentence. He explained, often a simple line can hurt especially when a person is under duress. True. One more valuable lesson learnt.
Thus continues my learning. My book is always open. I have come to realize that there could be a lesson at any corner in life. We just have to keep our hearts open. Each of these experiences have touched and changed my out look towards life. I can only hope that it shows on me. If not footprints I wish I can leave tiny prints behind that would stand testimony not only to a life well lived but loved as well.
It was a meeting with Mother Teresa, a beacon of light for the millions of homeless, sick and orphans. There she was, smiling as she hugged each one of us. I wasted no time and showed her all that we had got along for ‘her’ children. She smiled, thanked me warmly. I felt proud of myself. She then held my hand and led me to a wooden bench. It was a moment I cherish the most. Not letting go of my hand, she told me words that changed me forever.
“Donations and aid I get plenty but what I need is you” were her words. Giving clothes or toys or other items that we no longer need is not true giving she continued and I listened with all my heart. Reach out she said, come when you can to be with the children who are not as fortunate as you. Then she kissed my forehead to perhaps wipe away the uneasy lines that had formed as realization dawned how utterly wrong I was.
Things donated after spring cleaning our house is not true giving. It is only when we can give selflessly do we understand the difference. That day I learnt my first lesson that left an indelible mark in me. As we walked out into fading sunlight that day I looked up to thank God for the day.
Life moved on but the teaching remained with me and each time I get surprised when I hear a “Thank You” for a small gift that I have made to the unexpecting. It is wonderful to catch that glint in the eye of a little kid half naked perhaps.
1996. We were on a visit to my husband’s ancestral village. Swaying green fields as far as the eye could see. A cluster of mud plastered homes surrounding a pond and then again open fields. My husband was going through an entire gamut of emotions. This is the place his father grew up and went on to become a doctor. The village priest’s grandson became our guide telling us of the changes that the village had witnessed. Walking through paddy fields, balancing on a trunk of a tree while crossing a canal, waving to the little children who had a curious glance in their eyes, it was a journey back in time.
An elderly lady walked out of her home to greet us. Poverty and age had taken a toll on her once beautiful face. Her eyes shone as she told my husband that there was none to match his father be it in education or behavior. It was almost fifty years since he had left the village but he conducted himself in such exemplary manner that he lives on in their hearts even today. My children were listening intently and so were we. It was indeed a proud moment for all of us.
The road brought us to an iron bridge over a canal. It was fairly big and had four posts at the four corners. Our guide stopped and asked us if we could guess who had built the bridge. We looked at each other, ran our eyes on the posts to see if there is a name inscribed. But we were clueless. With pride he told us that it was my husband’s grand father who had gifted the bridge to the village. During the monsoons the canal water would flood the roads making it impossible for the villagers to cross it.
The young boy then went on to tell us that the four posts were built to inscribe his name on it but the grand old man had refused saying that gifts made with name tags lose their meaning or worth. The legend goes that the day the bridge was inaugurated there were festivities and prayers but our grand father did not step out of his home. It was a true gift.
I was happy that my children had learnt their first lesson. As for us it was another chapter read on character and a close look at our roots.
2005. Just a few days back we received a request from someone we know asking us for some financial help. My husband readily agreed. But a very excited me told my husband to tell the person concerned that the amount he gives should be spent judiciously and not for any silly reason. I got even more excited as I saw that calm smile on my husband’s face. He held my hand, sat me down and asked me what would have been my feelings if I were receiving the money with a condition attached. I could not help but just stare into his face. How well he said it all in one sentence. He explained, often a simple line can hurt especially when a person is under duress. True. One more valuable lesson learnt.
Thus continues my learning. My book is always open. I have come to realize that there could be a lesson at any corner in life. We just have to keep our hearts open. Each of these experiences have touched and changed my out look towards life. I can only hope that it shows on me. If not footprints I wish I can leave tiny prints behind that would stand testimony not only to a life well lived but loved as well.
posted by Autumn Leaf | 12:40 PM
2 Comments:
Beautiful. True, we can always learn if we want. Wonderful incidents and very well penned. Thanks and keep writing
Thats a fair amount of lessons you have picked up along the way, and the best part is they come from all different kinds of people and circumstances as you yourself mentioned, be it mother teresa, your husband's dad or uncle himslef.
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