By Kamal K Sharma
Here is a touching story as a reminder to love and respect your parents in their old age…
An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated & well settled son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.
The Father asked his Son, “What is this?” The Son replied, “It is a crow”. After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, “What is this?” The Son said “Father, I have just now told you “It’s a crow”. After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time, “What is this?”…..
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in his tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. “It’s a crow, a crow”. A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, “What is this?”
This time the Son shouted at his Father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times ‘IT IS A CROW’. Are you not able to understand this?”
A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary.
“Today my little son, aged three, was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated, I rather felt affection for my innocent child”.
While the little child asked him 23 times “What is this”, the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the son felt irritated and annoyed.
So… If your parents reach old age, do not disregard them or see them as a burden, instead, speak to them graciously, be humble, compassionate and patient with them. We understand how difficult it is to balance work and family life. However, you can be productive at work while still providing your ageing parents with the care and attention they deserve.
There are few things that you will understand better than your parents. Like technology, so be patient while answering their questions. They might call you frequently and it can be frustrating, if you’re busy be polite and don’t raise your voice at them. Remember when they taught you Math, how to tie your shoes or how to ride a bicycle. It may take some time for them to learn certain things, but they will know you care enough to help them.
Send this to your Children if they are away from you for any Reasons.
