SOME PEOPLE LIVE A LIFETIME IN A MINUTE

 



“Happiness, not in another place, but this place…

not for another hour, but this hour.”

Walt Whitman

 

A dear friend’s elderly father is presently in one of Mumbai’s reputed hospitals. My wife and I were quite concerned about the situation our friend had to go through. This friend of ours lived abroad and back home, here, the elderly father has been facing many health-related challenges. Our friend, who has been making frequent trips to India, is gracefully accepting her challenges. The family abroad and family here – she is torn between these two responsibilities of hers…

Last noon, my wife and I had visited the hospital. Our friend, despite the two back-to-back surgeries performed on her 83-year-old father, seemed composed…

“Anything we can do, please let’s know.” We say this to our near and dear ones in their testing times. But, how much can we really do to lighten their burdens?

As I write this piece, my thoughts go to at least a dozen people who are close to us… They all are going through their respective challenges – about health, money, relationships, or their young children. Yes, when they open up before us, we do show care and concern. “Anything we can do, please let’s know.” Yes, we do say, as if it’s a formality…

People, I have seen, know, that their burdens are to be carried by their own shoulders. Others, like you and I – their well-wishers – can only offer them kind and comforting words… But, the ‘cross’ is one’s own…

It may not sound pleasant when I say this: One has to bear one’s burden on his/her own shoulders… Gladly, gracefully!

Well, having said that, the empathy and kindness from people around does help us bear our respective burdens gracefully, with dignity.

While we were there with our friend, last noon, I placed a beautiful rosary into our friend’s hand… Her face glowed even brighter than the radium glow of that simple rosary. “My dad (a Sikh), often, visited churches, all alone,” our friend said joyfully, “I am going to place it under his pillow.”





While leaving, our friend insisted on joining her in the café. She had carried her lunch with her; for us, she ordered some snacks. What was endearing to watch was how – in that brief moment - our friend conversed with the young girl at the counter. “Ma’am, why are you looking sad, today?” our friend was asking genuinely the young lady at the counter, “You looked so happy, every day.”

The young girl seemed a lot better from our friend’s words of genuine concern… Something was bothering her… Our friend, who had her own reason to be sad and glow-less, had brought  the glow back on a stranger’s face…

That’s how life goes. Nothing is permanent… Neither joy nor sorrow. But, hope helps us to stay sane – and optimistic. Hope, also, helps us never to expect others – no matter how near and dear they are to us – to carry our personal crosses. The cross on the glowing rosary, which I had gently pressed into our friend’s tired hand, yesterday, seemed to convey this truth…




You see, Cross is the symbol of great strength, not great burden…

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic’s.: Pixabay

Video: Scent of a Woman/Popcorn Picks

 

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