Selfless Tree

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples and took a nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.
Time went by...

The little boy grew up, and he no longer played around the tree every day. One day, the boy came back to the tree with a sad look on his face. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. 
"I am no longer a kid; I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them."

"Sorry, I don't have money...but you can pick all my apples and sell them so you will have money." 
The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy didn't come back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with me," the tree said.
"I don't have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "Sorry, I don't have a house, but you can chop off my branches to build your house." 
So the boy cut all the branches off the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy didn't come back afterward. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" 
"Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree truck to make a boat. He went sailing and didn't come back for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he had been gone for so many years. "Sorry my boy, but I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree said.

"I don't have teeth to bite," the boy replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on."

"I am too old for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with sadness.

"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years," the boy replied.

"Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest. Come, sit down with me and rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.......

******************

This is the story of everyone: 

The tree is our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad... When we grew up, we left them... We only came to them when we needed something or when we were in trouble. 

No matter what, parents will always be there and give you everything they can to make you happy. 

It may seem as if the way the boy treats the "tree" in the story is cruel, but many of us take our parents for granted in the same way. 

Never forget how important your parents are and try not to take them for granted...they may not be around forever.

Shortest Speech ever by Mr. Churchill

Churchill was the war premier. He had been invited by a University...I may be making a mistake but I believe it was the University of Oxford. They invited him to give a commencement address to the student of Winston Churchill as many of must know, was always accompanied by 3 things. A top hat, a cane and a cigar....
These 3 things were always with him wherever he went....

He comes to the university of oxford, goes up to the platform, comes and stands by the podium takes out the cigar from his mouth, keep the cane in a corner, puts off the top hat and says to the young men who have gathered there to listen to the words of the great hero and leader. He says to them “Young men, all I have to say to you is summed up in these 3 words"...There was suspense in the hall...What were those 3 words? He said, "Those 3 words are “Never Give up “

Then he paused for while and again he says "Never, never give up"....
Pauses for a while and again repeats these 3words for the third time...."Never give up" then he puts hat on his top, takes up the cane, fixes the cigar in his mouth and walk out........

Winston Churchill made many historic speeches in his life...it was shortest speech that he had ever made.....

Moral:-
Once you have taken up a work in hand, it is righteous. It's something that should work; you
must never give it up until you reach the goal...Never Never Never give up!!!!

TIME OFF

An elderly man in Ahmedabad calls his son in New York and says, “I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage... and that much

misery is enough!”

“Dad, what are you talking about?” the son screams.

“We can't stand the sight of each other any longer” the old man says.

“We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!”

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

“Like heck they're getting divorced”, she shouts, “I'll take care of this.”

She calls Ahmedabad immediately, and screams at the old man, “You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR?” and she hangs up. The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. “Okay”, he says, “It's all set. They're both coming for Diwali and paying their own airfare!”

MORAL: 

No man / woman is busy in this world all 365 days.

The sky is not going to fall down if you take few days “TIME OFF” and meet your dear ones.

Mouse Trap

In a warehouse inside the green lush farm fields of Australia, a mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain? '

The mouse wondered - - - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. 

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: 
‘There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! '

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, 
'Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it. '

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,' There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! '
The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers. '

The mouse turned to the cow and said ' There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! '

The cow said, ' Wow, Mr. Mouse. I ' m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose. '
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap . . . alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. 

Everyone knows in Australia that you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. 
The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you,
Remember ---- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. 

We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. 
REMEMBER. . . . . . EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON ' S TAPESTRY.
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON. And perhaps, that’s what is called interdependence!!

Mother's Love

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was cooking a food, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said: 

For cutting the grass: $5.00 
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 
For going to the store for you: $.50 
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25 
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75 

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote: 

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: 
No Charge 

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: 
No Charge 

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: 
No Charge 

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: 
No Charge 

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: 
No Charge 

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: 
No Charge. 

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

Frogs

A group of frogs were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their froggy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit. All of the other frogs gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, they agreed that it was hopeless and told the two frogs in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead. 

Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two frogs began to jump with all of their might. Some of the frogs shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that the two frogs wouldn't be in that situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the froggy rules, and more responsible. The other frogs continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up, since they were already as good as dead. 

The two frogs continued jumping with all their might, and after several hours of this, were quite weary. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to the calls of his fellow frogs. Exhausted, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died. 

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could, although his body was wracked with pain and he was quite exhausted. Once again, his companions began yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary frog jumped harder and harder and, wonder of wonders, finally leaped so high that he sprang from the pit. 

Amazed, the other frogs celebrated his freedom and then gathering around him asked, "Why did you continue jumping when we told you it was impossible?" 

The astonished frog explained to them that he was deaf, and as he saw their gestures and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had perceived as encouragement inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds. 

Speak life to (and about) those who cross your path. The book of Proverbs says, "There is death and life in the power of the tongue".

Alter the difficulties or, alter your self

A story sent to me by Mr. Nitin Patil:

Ours was an arranged marriage. It was done the traditional way. Our Parents took care of everything. My only condition was that she should be ready to work. Our horoscopes and photos were exchanged. Everything Matched. I spoke to her over the phone. We talked about things two strangers would talk. She was a lecturer in Bangalore who felt Chemistry was more important than Hindi movies. There was no engagement. The date for marriage was fixed in 2 weeks as I could not get a vacation after that. Even the vacation time I got was just 10 days.

Everything was fixed. It was supposed to be very hectic for me. We got married and 2 days later we had to leave the country. She cried like there was no tomorrow when we left. She would not talk to me on the plane. I thought that was usual for an Indian girl. I thought she would get over it. Once home she would not talk to me. She sat in a corner staring at the TV. For the first couple of days I had to catch up on some work and did not take her mood seriously.

A week later I sat beside her and asked her, "What is wrong?"

"Why did you bring me here?"

"What do you mean? What happened?"

"I want to go home"

"This is your home"

"No. I want to go home. Please buy me a ticket"

"Look, everybody feels homesick. I did when I came here the first time. It is normal. You will get over it. Sorry I have been busy with work.

We can go out this weekend. You will meet my friends and other people who will be very friendly. Come on be a good girl"

"I hate this place. I miss my family, my friends, my college. All the people I know are not here. I want to go home"

"Think for a minute. Try to reason it out yourself. What is your plan by the way? So you want to go back and never come back?"

"Yes"

"Are you crazy?"

"If you think this is crazy then I am."

"It is ok if you do not answer this question. Is there someone else?"

"No. I want to go home. I will call 911 if you do not send me"

"First cool down. Think about it. Think about our parents. It is less than a month that we got married and now you want to return home. You very well knew that you had to come here. What were you thinking? Even if you are returning home what happens to our marriage?"

"I am not blaming you. I take the blame. It is my mistake. I can't stay so far away from my family. If you are so interested come to India"

"I am family too! What you are asking is ridiculous."

The next day she would not change her mind. I called my folks. They said that it was my decision and they would stand by me. I booked her ticket and put it in her hand the next evening. She was to leave in 2 days.

Nothing would convince her to change her mind. She was crying like a kid. Then she left.

She had done nothing for me to miss but something inside me was telling me that I was at fault. I tried to shake it off but as time grew I started feeling more guilty. I called her. She made it clear that she did not find me despicable but she would not leave her city. Her parents apologized profusely but they were helpless too.

I have had crushes. None of them were serious. There was this girl in my high school tuition whose phone no I managed to find out. Then the prettiest girl in college whom everybody loved, who talked to me once. Then the girl from my city who was at my university in USA who made me feel at home when I visited her place. I had ignored them once I crossed their paths. But Anjali was my wife. I could not ignore her.

I decided to quit my job. I went home. No one back home knew I was returning. I wanted to surprise her. I dropped off my bags at my place and went to the college she was teaching. The gate keeper would not let me in. So I had to wait outside for the classes to get over.

She walked out alone, struggling to carry her bag, tired, with slow steps. She was walking towards the bus stop. I silently followed her and went behind her and whispered, "Do you mind if I carry your bag?"

She was startled and turned to face me. Her eyes lit up. I was not sure if I could hug her. I was smiling and she had a 100 questions written all over her face. "I want to spend a week with you in this city. Show me the things that you could not miss"

That one week went in a jiffy. She was treated a kid at home with all the comforts. That explained her behaviour. Coffee was brought to her in the morning. Even her dress was laid out for her. She would have breakfast and leave. The bus journey was an hour. She would sit near the window with a book. Then once in the college she would teach her classes and come out tired in the evening. She would stand in the crowded bus carrying her bag which would look heavy. Then she would alight, go home, have a snack and would head out to a friend's place. Some times she'd stay home watching TV or listening to music. When her dad returned she would join him and they'd have dinner. Then her mom would tuck her in bed. Weekends were not much different. She would sleep late, wake up for breakfast and lie down talking on the phone. Then she would visit the temple in the evening and would have her singing lessons. Then she would eat out and would head home late.

That was her life. It was something every human being wanted - simple, content and happy. Of course to her I was a villain. I told her that I understood her. I wanted to know if it was ok if she stayed in the same city but away from her parents. Her only condition was that I should not stay at my parent's place to which I agreed. So we moved into a small apartment. She knew nothing. She had to be taught everything. She learnt. It was hard to make her understand that she had duties and she had a husband. Coffee had to be brought to her in the morning. She made the rules and broke them. She did not care for me. Sometimes she would not return home but go to her parents' place without informing me. I would have had to go bring her back.

Slowly she started realizing about married life. She would wake up before me, try to cook, agree for a movie, visit my friend's place, invite me to her college, let me dress her up, dance in front of me, teach me Chemistry, talk about her crushes, play cricket with me, make me cry for a change. She was growing mature day by day. One day she apologized for the whole thing. I brushed it aside. Finally I had her the way I wanted.

Today I am happy and content with my life. She is still there crying to get her things done. I keep reminding her how she had threatened to call the police. She laughs it away. Some times I wonder how life would have been if I had not returned. Then again some things are left as they are.

That's how life is..

There are two ways of meeting difficulties:

"You alter the difficulties, or you alter yourself to meet them

Lion ?

Hi All, 
As I was extremely busy last week, couldn't write any story...Even today, I was planning to skip one.
But then I thought about sharing one....even though it's a copy-pasted one!
Here I go......

In a poor zoo of India, a lion was frustrated as he was offered not more than 1 kg meat a day. 

The lion thought its prayers were answered when one US Zoo Manager visited the zoo and requested the zoo management to shift the lion to the US Zoo. 

The lion was so happy and started thinking of a central A/c environment,a goat or two every day and a US Green Card also. 

On its first day after arrival, the lion was offered a big bag, sealed very nicely for breakfast. 

The lion opened it quickly but was shocked to see that it contained few bananas. 

Then the lion thought that may be they cared too much for him as they were worried about his stomach as he had recently shifted from India. 

The next day the same thing happened. On the third day again the same food bag of bananas was delivered. 

The lion was so furious, it stopped the delivery boy and blasted at him, 
'Don't you know I am the lion...king of the Jungle..., what's wrong with your management? What nonsense is this? Why are you delivering bananas 
to me?' 

The delivery boy politely said, 'Sir, I know you are the king of the jungle but ... did you know that you have been brought here on a monkey's visa!!!

That's the funny but a real life story!!

God is with me - A concept to imbibe within us...

A business executive was deep in debt and could see no way out. Creditors were closing in on him. Suppliers were demanding payment. He sat on the park bench, head in hands, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy. 

Suddenly an old man appeared before him. "I can see that something is troubling you," he said. After listening to the executive's woes, the old man said, "I believe I can help you." 

He asked the man his name, wrote out a cheque, and pushed it into his hand saying, "Take this money. Meet me here exactly one year from today, and you can pay me back at that time." 

Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come. The business executive saw in his hand a check for $500,000, signed by John D. Rockefeller, then one of the richest men in the world!

"I can erase my money worries in an instant!" he realized. But instead, the executive decided to put the uncashed cheque in his safe. Just knowing it was there might give him the strength to work out a way to save his business, he thought. 

With renewed optimism, he negotiated better deals and extended terms of payment. He closed several big sales. Within a few months, he was out of debt and making money once again.

Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed cheque. At the agreed-upon time, the old man appeared. But just as the executive was about to hand back the cheque and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. 

"I'm so glad I caught him!" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you. He's always escaping from the rest home and telling people he's John D. Rockefeller." 

And she led the old man away by the arm. The astonished executive just stood there, stunned. All year long he'd been wheeling and dealing, buying and selling, convinced he had half a million dollars were behind him.

Suddenly, he realized that it wasn't the money, real or imagined, that had turned his life around. 
It was his newfound self-confidence that gave him the power to achieve anything he went after.

Now, just think that if we keep the confidence that whatever I do, almighty God is with me. Then would there be any half hearted efforts from our side in order to pursue the feat? Would there be any problem in our life if we visualize that God is with me & within me?

Why do we read Bhagawad Geeta ?

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavad Geeta. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way he could. 

One day the grandson asked, 'Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavad Geeta just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavad Geeta do?'

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, 'Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.' The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, 'You'll have to move a little faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. 

The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. 

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, 'See Grandpa, it's useless!'

'So you think it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.' The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagavad Geeta. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives.'

Indeed, I am having the same feeling which Grandpa told to his grandson !!

- Based on the discourses of Rev. Pandurang Shastri Athwale.

Why God allows pains & sufferings ?

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. 
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. 
They talked about so many things and various subjects. 

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: 
"I don't believe that God exists." 

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. 

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." - Replied barber.

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. 

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. 

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. 

He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: 

"You know what? Barbers do not exist." 

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. 

"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" 

The customer exclaimed, "No! Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." 

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me." 

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! 

That's what happens when people do not go to him and don't look to him for help. 
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world." 

Barber just went speechless with moisture in eyes...

Positive Thinking

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. 

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.' 

Epilogue: 

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy. 

'Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present.'

Think Twice before any action

Anup was moving to his maternal grandmother’s home in monsoon days along with his wife in a train. The train has started moving. It is packed with people of all ages, mostly with the working men and women and young college guys and gals. 

Near the window, seated a old man with his 30 year old son. As the train moves by, the son is overwhelmed with joy as he was thrilled with the scenery outside. See dad, the scenery of green trees moving away is very beautiful"

This behavior from a thirty year old son made the other people feel strange about him. Everyone started murmuring something or other about this son. "This guy seems to be a crack." newly married Anup whispered to his wife.

Suddenly it started raining... Rain drops fell on the travelers through the opened window. The Thirty year old son, filled with joy, "see dad, how beautiful the rain is."

Anup's wife got irritated with the rain drops spoiling her new suit. Anup, "Can’t you see its raining, you old man, if Ur son is not feeling well get him soon to a mental asylum. And, don’t disturb public henceforth"

The old man hesitated first and then in a low tone replied " we are on the way back from hospital, my son got discharged today morning , he was a blind by birth, last week only he got his vision, these rain and nature are new to his eyes.. Please forgive us for the inconvenience caused..."

The things we see may be right from our perspective until we know the truth. But when we know the truth our reaction to that will hurt even us.

So try to understand the problem better before taking a harsh action.

- Read somewhere last month......

Perspective

A Story forwarded to me by one of my readers:

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. 

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" 
"It was great, Dad." 

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. 
"Oh yeah," said the son. 

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: 
"I saw that we have one dog and they had four. 

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. 

We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. 

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. 

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. 

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. 

We buy our food, but they grow theirs. 

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." 

The boy's father was speechless. 

Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are." 

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? 

Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.  Appreciate every single thing you have.

Parents are precious - A truth which we forget sometimes......

My parents left for our native place on Tuesday and I went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Indigo.

The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.

He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things. As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him. When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.

But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As a child, how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? 

Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us? Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young. It is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. 

When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children, the same attention and same care needs to be given to our parents and elders. Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also... They have wishes, too.

Take care of your parents. THEY ARE PRECIOUS.

Life - As do it yourself project !

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. 

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. 

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you." 

The carpenter was shocked! 

What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. 

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. 

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, build wisely!