A major war was in
progress. A soldier informed her mother, "Mommy, my military service is
over. I am planning to return home. When I come home, I wish to bring along
with me, a close friend of mine who was wounded seriously during the war. He
lost one eye, one hand and one leg and needs our support." The mother
stated casually, without any interest or enthusiasm, "OK, dear son, you
may bring him. Let him stay with us for a few days."
Her words clearly conveyed that she did not
appreciate a prolonged stay of the disabled soldier in their family. Two days
later, she received a message from the military that her son had committed
suicide and that his body would be brought to her home.
When
the soldier's body arrived, she was surprised to see that her son lacked an
eye, a hand and a leg. Now it was very clear to her that her son had asked
about her attitude to the 'disabled friend' just to assess her attitude to her
own handicapped son. She was overcome with remorse for not having welcomed him
wholeheartedly. She realized that if she had shown more love, care and kindness
in her words, she would not have lost her dear son. She cried in agony for
rejecting her own son. Words are like swords. Harsh words may act as sharp
swords and inflict irreparable wounds in the minds of those who hear them. Such
words may cause despair, dejection and discouragement. Careful use of the
tongue is a prerequisite for peaceful life. Care, concern, compassion and
kindness are essential for promoting a healthy, happy, harmonious and heavenly
life.
The English poet, William Cowper (1731-1800) narrates in his poem, "The Solitude of
Alexander Selkirk", the lamentations of the sailor who landed on a
solitary, desolate island, far away from his family and friends:
"O Solitude! Where are the charms
That sages have seen in thy face?
................Society, Friendship and Love
Divinely bestowed upon man,
Oh! had I the wings of a dove,
How soon would I taste you again!"
Mother
Teresa said, "Kind words can be short and easy to speak; but their echoes
are truly endless." There is a famous Jewish proverb, modified by Rudyard Kipling: "God could not
be everywhere and therefore He created mothers."
The loving
Lord answers our lamentations when we feel helpless and hopeless. We can trust him.
സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു ഭൂമിയിൽ - മാതാക്കളെ." (Translation by Dr. Babu Philip)
........................................................................................................................
© 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 and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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