Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. "I must see him," she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. "I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a copper coin." "This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands," Gandhiji said. "If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn't mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees."
GENEROSITY
Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech a poor old woman got up. She was bent with age, her hair was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place where Gandhiji was sitting. "I must see him," she insisted and going up to Gandhiji touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Gandhiji picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Gandhiji for the coin but Gandhiji refused. "I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a copper coin." "This copper coin is worth much more than those thousands," Gandhiji said. "If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, it doesn't mean much. But this coin was perhaps all that the poor woman possessed. She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin more than a crore of rupees."
A GOOD JOB
The time was 9.15 am. I was watching TV looking for something interesting after having the breakfast. Sushil and Nivesh were playing table-tennis in the gym room next to the TV room. Suddenly i heard the flapping sound of the wings coming from the window of the tv room, i ran to see what was actually going on there and then i saw a pigeon hanging in the strings of a kite trying desperately to get free himself.
Only few weeks back we had celebrated the festival of "Uttarayan". Uttrayan is a festival of Kites and the celebrations are kick-started in the early hours of January 14th, and extended to the next day, which is celebrated as Vasi Uttarayan (Vasi literally meaning Stale). The flying of kites continues into the post-dinner evening as lanterns are hung on the thread of big kites and flown. The night-sky comes alive with glamour and splendour as these tukkals gently sway with the breeze. Those were our kite strings in which now the pigeon was hanging and fighting for his life. I called Sushil and Nivesh to help me get the pigeon out of there. I brought some chairs from tv room to stand upon so that i can reach the pigeon and Sushil ran to his room to bring a knife and a clothe to cut the string. We had a plan and we had finally saved the pigeon. The pigeon was suffering from some minor cuts on his wing made by the string so we did some first-aid and kept the pigeon in the towel for some time so that he can get some rest to make his way home.
Meanwhile we were discussing about naming the pigeon and i came up with a name "Masakali". It was the name of a pigeon in a movie called "Delhi 6" and everyone agreed with me so now we were calling our pigeon Masakali. I told Sushil to bring a camera so that we can take some pictures of Masakali since he was not going to stay with us for too long.It has been two hours now since we had rescued Masakali and he was looking good afterall so we decided its time to let him go home. I lifted him from the towel, we took some pictures with him and then finally i threw him in the air and he flew like a rocket straight towards his destination. We were amazed to see that and happy too and then we congratulated each other and said "Good Job".
Only few weeks back we had celebrated the festival of "Uttarayan". Uttrayan is a festival of Kites and the celebrations are kick-started in the early hours of January 14th, and extended to the next day, which is celebrated as Vasi Uttarayan (Vasi literally meaning Stale). The flying of kites continues into the post-dinner evening as lanterns are hung on the thread of big kites and flown. The night-sky comes alive with glamour and splendour as these tukkals gently sway with the breeze. Those were our kite strings in which now the pigeon was hanging and fighting for his life. I called Sushil and Nivesh to help me get the pigeon out of there. I brought some chairs from tv room to stand upon so that i can reach the pigeon and Sushil ran to his room to bring a knife and a clothe to cut the string. We had a plan and we had finally saved the pigeon. The pigeon was suffering from some minor cuts on his wing made by the string so we did some first-aid and kept the pigeon in the towel for some time so that he can get some rest to make his way home.
Meanwhile we were discussing about naming the pigeon and i came up with a name "Masakali". It was the name of a pigeon in a movie called "Delhi 6" and everyone agreed with me so now we were calling our pigeon Masakali. I told Sushil to bring a camera so that we can take some pictures of Masakali since he was not going to stay with us for too long.It has been two hours now since we had rescued Masakali and he was looking good afterall so we decided its time to let him go home. I lifted him from the towel, we took some pictures with him and then finally i threw him in the air and he flew like a rocket straight towards his destination. We were amazed to see that and happy too and then we congratulated each other and said "Good Job".
Small Story BIG Thought !!!
One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.
At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight,built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, “Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.
Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.
This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff.
By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself. So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, " Big John doesn't pay!"
The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, “And why not?"
With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, " Big John has a bus pass."
Moral : "Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one."
At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight,built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, “Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back.
Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it. The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the next.
This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him. Finally he could stand it no longer. He signed up for body building courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff.
By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself. So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, " Big John doesn't pay!"
The driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, “And why not?"
With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, " Big John has a bus pass."
Moral : "Be sure there is a problem in the first place before working hard to solve one."
THE WOODEN BOWL
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often 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 at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate 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 from 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 was 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. 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 that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.
Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, and those you love, today, and everyday!
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 from 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 was 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. 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 that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.
Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, and those you love, today, and everyday!
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