An old widow had an
only son. She was very poor and lived in a little hut in a remote village. She
brought him up with great difficulty, suffering constant poverty and frequent
starvation. When he grew up, he joined the emperor’s army. He was very honest
and dutiful and strictly followed his mother’s instructions throughout his
life.
One day, he happened
to witness a serious crime committed by some of his colleagues. They devised a
plan to trap him as they were afraid that he would reveal the secret to the
emperor. They falsely accused him of a crime of utmost gravity and provided
false witnesses against him. The innocent soldier was arrested, tried and
sentenced to death.
The sad news reached
his mother. She was shocked. She was sure that her son was innocent. There was
very little time left before the execution of her beloved son. There was no one
to help them. So she ran as fast as she could to the emperor’s distant palace
to plead for mercy. She forgot her illness and old age and did not care to have
food or water on the way. She was completely exhausted and broken-hearted when
she reached the emperor and fell on his feet. Gasping for breath due to extreme
exhaustion, she begged for mercy using broken words. Then she collapsed and
breathed her last.
Greatly moved by her
affection and sacrifice, the emperor ordered that the execution of the soldier
be suspended. He ordered a fresh and detailed probe about the allegations against
the youth. He deputed a team of just and honest officers to re-investigate the
case. They could establish the innocence of the soldier and collect evidences
against the men behind the conspiracy to fabricate the false accusation against
him. The emperor acquitted the soldier and released him from the prison. His enemies were arrested and imprisoned. The
soldier rushed to the spot where his loving mother was buried. He burst into
tears and fell prostrate on the burial ground.
It is said that God could not be
everywhere and so He created mothers. Jesus taught, “My commandment is this:
love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for
his friends is to give his life for them.” …………………………………………………………………
© By: Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India
( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts
Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo.
S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil
John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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