Friday Gyan 14: Patience and Persistence

PC: Prashant Bhandare

Story:
In an Indian temple, when the priest had gone for lunch, the Idol of the Lord and the Stepping Stone (stone used as a step) were conversing. 

Stepping Stone: What a good fate you have. We both were the same lump of rock for millions of years. The sculptor carved an idol out of you and everyone is worshipping you. Look at me, I am a stepping stone and every one stands on me and stamps on. What kind of life is this?

The Idol kept smiling and never bothered to answer this now and then routine murmur from the stepping stone. But the stepping stone will never stop his constant bickering.

The Idol replied: But do you remember that when the sculptor set out to carve an idol, it was you he chose, first. You were so impatient. In one strike, you broke into two. But when he tried on me, I grinned and bore all the hammers and chisel strikes with PATIENCE. Here I am the worshipful and happy Idol and you are the Stepping Stone.

Moral:
The difference between success and failure is patience and persistence!

Friday Gyan 10: Grandpa's Table

Story:
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped, the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word were spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Moral:
Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let’s be wise builders and role models. Because Children are our future. Life is about people connecting with people, and making a positive difference. Take care of yourself,... and those you love, ... today, ... and everyday!

Friday Gyan 9: The Cookie Thief

Story:
A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, brought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be...grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I would blacken his eye." With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought...oh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he's so rude, why don't he even show any gratitude!

She had never know when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate. She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she sighed in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

Moral:
There is a good old poem from Ernest Hemingway: "Before you act, listen. Before you react, think..."

Friday Gyan 8: Quality Excellence

Story:

A German once visited a temple under construction where he saw a sculptor making an idol of God. Suddenly he noticed a similar idol lying nearby. Surprised, he asked the sculptor, "Do you need two statues of the same idol?" "No," said the sculptor without looking up, "We need only one, but the first one got damaged at the last stage."

The gentleman examined the idol and found no apparent damage. "Where is the damage?" he asked. "There is a scratch on the nose of the idol." said the sculptor, still busy with his work. "Where are you going to install the idol?" The sculptor replied that it would be installed on a pillar twenty feet high. "If the idol is that far, who is going to know that there is a scratch on the nose?" the gentleman asked. The sculptor stopped his work, looked up at the gentleman, smiled and said, 2 people know it, "Myself and GOD."

Moral:

The desire to excel is inclusive of the fact whether someone else appreciates it or not.

"Excellence" is a drive from inside, not outside. "Excellence" is not for someone else to notice but for your own satisfaction and efficiency...

Image Credit: Prashant Bhandare

Friday Gyan 7: Gratitude and Appreciation

Story:

One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the initial interview, and now would meet the director for the final interview.

The director discovered from his CV that the youth’s academic achievements were excellent.

He asked, Did you obtain any scholarships in school…?

the youth answered “NO”.

Who paid for your school fees…?

” Parents “, he replied.

“Where did they work……?”

“They worked as clothes cleaner.”

The director requested the youth to show his hands.

The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.

“Have you ever helped your parents wash the clothes ?”

“Never, my parents always wanted me to study and read more books.

Besides, my parents can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, “I have a request.”

When you go home today, go and clean your parents hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.

The youth felt dejected.

When he went back home, he asked his parents to let him clean their hands.

His parents felt strange, happy but with mixed feelings,

They showed their hands to their son.

The youth cleaned their hands slowly.

His tear fell as he did that.

It was the first time he noticed that his parents hands were so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in their hands.

Some bruises were so painful that they winced when he touched it.

This was the first time the youth realized that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday to enable him to pay the school fees.

The bruises in the hands were the price that the parents had to pay for his education, his school activities and his future.

After cleaning his parents hands, the youth quietly washed all the remaining clothes for them.

That night, parents and son talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director’s office.

The Director noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes, when he asked:

“Can you tell me what have you done and learned yesterday in your house….?”

The youth answered,

I cleaned my parents hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes’

“I now know what appreciation is.

Without my parents, I would not be who I am today…

By helping my parents, only now do I realize how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own and I have come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.

The director said,

“This is what I am looking for in a manager.

I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life.”

“You are hired.”

Moral:

A child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an “entitlement mentality” and would always put himself first.

He would be ignorant of his parent’s efforts.

If we are this kind of protective parents, are we really showing love or are we destroying our children instead…?

You can let your child live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch on a big screen TV.

BUT,

when you are cutting grass, watering the plants, cleaning up the house or after a meal washing the plates and bowls, etc. then please let them experience it together with their brothers and sisters.

It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way.

You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow grey, same as the parents of that young person.

The most important thing is your child learns how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learns the need to work with others to get things done…

Friday Gyan 6: Establishing the loyalty

Story:

There were about 70 scientists working on a very hectic project. All of them were really frustrated due to the pressure of work and the demands of their boss but everyone was loyal to him and did not think of quitting the job.

One day, one scientist came to his boss and told him – Sir, I have promised to my children that I will take them to the exhibition going on in our township. So I want to leave the office at 5 30 pm. His boss replied “OK, You’re permitted to leave the office early today”. The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 PM. Suddenly he remembered of the promise he had given to his children.

He looked for his boss, he was not there. Having told him in the morning itself, he closed everything and left for home.

Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. Children were not there. His wife alone was sitting in the hall and reading magazines.

The situation was explosive, any talk would boomerang on him. His wife asked him “Would you like to have coffee or shall I straight away serve dinner if you are hungry.”

The man replied “If you would like to have coffee, I too will have but what about Children??” Wife replied “You don’t know?? Your manager came here at 5.15 PM and has taken the children to the exhibition”.

Apparently, the boss who granted him permission had been observing the scientist and noticed that he might never realize he had to go home. But if he has promised his children, they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. Feeling for the kids, he decided to take the kids with him instead.

Moral:

The boss does not have to do it every time. But once it is done, loyalty is established.

That is why all the scientists working with this boss continued to work under him even though the stress was tremendous.

The boss is none other than Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”