Competitions
in sports and games were announced in a school in a remote village. Most of the
students came from the poor rural area around the school. Many attended the
classes mainly for enjoying the free noon- meal, which was a big boon for the
poor pupils, whose parents could not afford to provide even regular food for
their children. The first prize for the winner in the racing competition was an
electric iron. The second prize was an umbrella.
Little
John came from a very poor family. He was a good sprinter and everyone was
sure that he would win the first prize in the race with ease. But on the day of
the competition, while the race was almost over, John, who was leading in the
race, was found to slow down. He let the second boy overtake him and reach the
finishing point as the first. John gladly received the new umbrella as the
second prize.
John’s class-teacher was
watching the race. He came to John and asked him why he had voluntarily
sacrificed the first prize though he was sure to get it. He told his teacher,
“Sir, I have no use with an electric iron, the first prize. There is no
electricity in our poor house. Moreover, I wished to give the new umbrella as a
loving gift to my little sister, Lily, who has no umbrella to come to school on
rainy days. She shares my torn umbrella and usually both of us get wet on rainy
days. So I needed the second prize.” The teacher was deeply moved on hearing
these loving words of little John. He gifted a new umbrella to John.
A racing competition was in
progress in a school for the mentally retarded children. Three students were
positioned in a line and were trained to run at maximum speed towards the
finishing line. After several trials, the teachers could train them to compete
in the race. On the day of the final competition, several invited guests were
present, along with the parents of the children. The signal was fired to start
the race. The three friends started the race. A little later, one of the
students slipped and fell down. Immediately the other competitors stopped their
race and cared for their friend. They consoled him and held his hands firmly.
Then they marched forward, still holding the hands of the fallen boy with
utmost care on either side. They reached the finishing point together and were
really happy that they could finish the race together. Everyone in the audience
was moved by this act of tender care. Many were found to be in tears.
Infants are
inherently innocent and loving. Unhealthy competition with colleagues and unholy
attempts to succeed in the race of life, ignoring the rights of others are
harmful habits introduced into their tender minds by an unsocial and anti-social
society. Children should grow up, retaining the innocence of infancy. Parents,
other relatives, teachers and society have a major responsibility in training
children correctly.
Peace and joy are the results and reflections
of a pure and innocent heart. Let us learn to listen to the whisper of our
conscience. That is the word of God from within us.
..................................................................................................................
© By Dr. Babu Philip,
Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue,
Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and Leo. S. John,
Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala , India
For more moral stories,
parables and anecdotes for students kindly visit our web-site:
This is Story No. 101 in this site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to
read previous stories and click 'Newer
Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in this site. Please
click on a word in the 'Story Themes'
to read stories on that theme.
No comments:
Post a Comment