IN THE SHADE OF THOSE TREES


 



“Someone sitting in the shade today,

because someone planted a tree long time ago.”

Warren Buffet

 

 

What Warren Buffet said (through the above lines) about being prudent in life, by managing our money wisely and with a long-term vision, applies to everything else, too… especially, to raising our children.

Every generation of parents has tried its best to offer something better to the next one. I have talked about it so many times… My great grandparents must’ve almost lived like tribals… But, they tried to give a better life to my grandparents… I had the opportunity to see how my grandparents lived… Yes, it’s not as good as my parents did… and, the life of we five brothers was much better compared to our parents’… and, we tried to give even a better one to our own children… Doubtlessly, the same will continue… Our children are geared up to offer a better life to their own.

But, then, the question comes up: “What does a ‘better life’ mean?” Does it mean only a better living condition – better education, better financial cushion, a better accommodation etc.?

Well, Warren Buffet, certainly, was referring to such a better life… Save and invest money wisely so that your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren can reap its benefit.

So, every generation of parents tries to follow this advice… It leaves a better life – a greater legacy – to the generation next.

I remember this old dialogue between a little child and his grandpa. The little one asked innocently, “Grandpa, why are you planting this sapling? You will not be around when it grows and starts giving fruits.”

“Yes Honey, I won’t be there around to enjoy its fruits,” the grandpa said tenderly, “I am planting it for you.”

Is that not how all parents think and go about life?

Maybe, some of us emphasize on leaving more financial security for our children… while some of us may leave a stronger emotional and intellectual security… But, we all strive to do it. We just don’t ‘plant trees’ for ourselves… We want to provide ‘shade’ for our children and their children…




Today, it seems, is the ‘International Parents’ Day’. Our son had carried (in his two hands) two tender coconuts on his way back from the church…

“For parents?” I asked when I opened the door.

“Yes, Dad, ” Son replied.

“Nice gift on Parent’s Day,” my wife declared in the background.

“Today?” our son reacted, sincerely.

I thought of the anonymous man who had planted that coconut tree…  somewhere, some long time ago…

Denis Waitley says, “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”




More power and much love to all parents – the tree-planters!

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic’s: 1. www.treeforlife.ca   2. www.vecteezy.com  

Video: UNICEF India


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUTHU KODI KAWARI HADA

Image
Pic.; Ashwin Mohta M y Hindi was always bad. It still is. One reason for this was, that they introduced Hindi for us only in 6 th standard. Or, was it in 8 th ? I don’t remember… I only remember struggling to write and read… leave alone speak! But, I loved Hindi movies, and, strangely, I could understand the dialogues and the lyrics of the songs… I used to sing those songs (of course when no one was around me!) as if I was the lyricist… One of the songs was a very funny one. ‘Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada’. It was from Mehmood’s super-hit comedy – ‘Do Phool’. I was a 15-year-old high-school boy when I had heard that song (not watched the movie). I could grasp the meaning of two words – ‘Muthu Kodi’… which meant ‘Give kiss’… But, what ‘Kawari Hada’ meant, I have no clue till date! It was just like ‘Why this kolaveri di’... Yes, why ask? Simply enjoy the beats… And, the beats are great… The rest... Who cares? Really! So, whatever bit of Hi
Read more

"HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS NOT A FAIRY-TALE... IT IS A CHOICE"

Image
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone… It has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” – Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Lathe of Heaven T welve years ago, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married, the world began to hail the couple as ‘Brangelina’. It became a fashion for couples around us to call themselves so… Norbert and Teresa renamed them as ‘Noresa’…  Amol and Vishaka baptized their relationship as ‘Amoshka’… and, Salman and Nargis became ‘Salgis’! I and my wife, too, got tempted to re-christian our matrimonial relationship as ‘Germa’... That is, Gerald and Anima, to be precise! B efore I proceed any further, let me make it very clear, here… that, I have no business to judge on the break-up of Brad Pitt and Angelina’ Jolie’s marriage. I have no inclination to go into why, how, what when etc behind it… The couple ‘chose’ to split. And, it’s their choice… Only they know how good or bad… how joyful or painful that
Read more

SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND

Image
“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How does it matter
Read more
THE WILD, WAYSIDE FLOWERS
There is, always, something extra-ordinary in the wild, wayside flowers...