HELPING THEM FIND THEIR OWN GRACE...
“But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is
still see God in other people,
and do
our best to help them find their own grace.
That's what I strive to do, that's what I
pray to do every day.”
Today, a
gentleman had brought his ten-year-old daughter to be enrolled for our on-going
PD course (Pre-teens). Once the girl was sent inside the class, he said, “Sir,
she frequently back-answers us, which worries us a lot. See if she can overcome
that habit.”
“We
will help her to overcome; but don’t stress out... Children do back-answer while
growing up... as we all had,” I tried to calm the father.
“But
sir, we weren’t as vocal as today’s kids are... We were not exposed to so much
of TV, Internet and cell-phone stuff...” Like this, the concerned father went
on...
“Our
parents said the same when we were growing up back-answering to them,” I said
smilingly, “Every age has its own gadgets and one cannot shut children from
them... We need to just guide them wisely and patiently... The habit of
back-answering will drop, soon, don’t worry,” I assured.
Inside
the class-room, this little-one surprised me! Others had completed six
sessions, and, for this little-one, it was the first session... She mixed with
everyone, took part in every skit, cracked a few jokes and tickled others’
funny bones, teased their brains with some riddles and quiz... and, while all this
was happening, I, or any of her little-classmates, did not get, even for a second, the
feeling that she had a ‘bad habit’ of back-answering to her parents... On the
contrary, she stole our hearts!
After
the class, when the father came to pick the little-one, I said to him, “Your
daughter was so adorable... She was so expressive, energetic and active... She
stole our hearts. Smart girl!” I moved my hand softly over the little-girl's head, as she tucked
herself in her dad’s fold, blushing!
I am 56. I thought of myself and wondered: “Would I like if anyone ‘critically’
drew my attention to my flaws – my ‘bad habits’?”
I
have enough of my own flaws – bad habits... and, many around me don’t like
them. They want me to change, drop my bad habits... But, if they tell me that
bluntly, insensitively and mockingly or sarcastically in front of others, I sulk,
become angry and end up only resisting someone’s attempts to change me... no
matter who that person is, and no matter how good his or her intentions are...
Tell
me with caring words, I will listen to you...
Point
to my good habits and praise me, I will promise you that I will drop all my bad
habits... Yes, I promise!
Even
a monkey and a donkey have a need to feel good about themselves. I am a
human-being, after all... I deserve to be treated as one...
If
you want to bring the best out of me, please look at my strengths... honor
them, celebrate them. And, my weaknesses? For goodness’s sake, please shut your
eyes to them... and smile...
Life
is beautiful when I do it for you... and when you do it for me... Yes, as Barack Obama said, when we help to see God in each
other... find our own Grace!
GERALD
D’CUNHA
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