"THIS TOUCHED MY SOUL"

"THIS HAPPENED TO ME"

I was walking around in a Big Bazar store making shopping,
when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old.

The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll.
Then the little boy turned to me and asked: ''Aunty, are you sure
I don't have enough money?''

I counted his cash and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy
the dolll, my dear...'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally,
I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to.
'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much .
Iwanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY. I have to give the doll to my mommy so
that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.'
His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God.
Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so
I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.
'' My heart nearly stopped.. The little boy looked up at me and
aid: 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until
I come back from the mall.'
Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing.
He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister
won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me,
but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.
' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.

I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again,
just in case you do have enough money for the doll?'' 'OK' he said,
I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and
we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money..
The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!
' Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before
I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll,
so that mommy could give It to my sister.. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have
enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask
God for too much.. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose.
My mommy loves white roses.'

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started..
I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind.. Then I remembered a local news
paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who
hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away,
and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether
to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would
not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that
the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch
of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young
woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial.
She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the
photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.
I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever.
The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still,
to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second,
a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE.

"FATHER AND MOTHER I LOVE YOU"

I LOVE MY PARENTS

Shashi and her husband were the proud parents of two young boys. They lived in Mumbai. In the normal course of growing up and pursuing their higher education, both the boys went abroad.

The older one, one day told his parents, “Mom and Dad, I have something to share with you. I met a girl while I was in the United States and wish to marry her.” The parents were pleased but apprehensive. “Who is she? What does she do?” asked Shashi anxiously. The son chose his words carefully, “Mom, she is a white girl!” Now, that was something, they did not expect. They were an orthodox Hindu family. But, the son was very sure that he wanted to marry, the girl.

Well! They got married and lived in the United States. Many years later, Shashi was told by a friend, “Shashi, I met your daughter-in-law recently, at a party. She told me a strange thing. She said that your son, although, madly in love with her, had laid a condition before he had married her.” “Oh! What was it?” asked Shashi in surprise. “He had said to his fiancé, “I have a condition. You have to promise me that you shall not question or object to anything that I may wish to do for my parents or any expenditure that I may ever wish to make for them. I have a strong relationship with them and the very fact that I love you does not mean that I do not love them!”

What a revelation! Shashi and her husband were both lawyers. They were earning well enough to have a very comfortable life. But, those words that her son had said touched her heart.

Many of the senior members of our society may not be financially independent. They may have to extend a palm in front of their children for their daily needs and expenses. Young men and women! Whether or not your parents are in need of financial help, make it a point to give them something out of what you earn. They shall bless you for it!

Incidentally, last year, we had gone to Singapore for a vacation. During one of our sightseeing tours, we had an elderly tourist guide, called Kim. She was an absolute tomboy full of vim and vigour. She said to all the children in the coach, including ours. “Children, your parents have brought you to Singapore, for a holiday. Are you having fun?” “Yes,” Chorused the fifteen odd children in the coach. “Good, now all of you promise me, that when you are all grown up and your parents are old, you shall bring them for a holiday to Singapore!”

What a beautiful thought!

Our parents give us their best, to the best of their ability. In turn, it is our duty to give them our best, to the best of our ability. Yes, FAMILY means, Father And Mother I Love You!