Monday 22 March 2010

DO YOU REALLY KNOW THEM

Do you know your near and dear well enough? We often take for granted, the acts, sacrifices and gestures of our close relations as a part of normal day to day activity that we fail to notice the intent Love, Affection and Care that is behind such things. For eg: your wife neatly arranging the things that you have to carry with you to office, like your Blackberry,Laptop,Spectacles,Purse and the inevitable Lunch Box containing fat free food! You always got your important message on time, you never missed your credit card payment,Your eye check up was not needed before a good three years gap,you could buy that gift for your boss on time and thank God your cholestrol and BP were under control thanks to this simple habit of hers which you never bothered even to acknowledge.

When you planned that trip to USA to meet your children, after your retirement, for a long Holiday the arrangements your Son made to send a “Bouquet” through the Cab driver who came to fetch you and your wife from the Airport along with a Flask of homemade coffee, which he knew, you loved was not just an ordinary gesture. It shows the deep love and affection he had for you and his desire to ensure that you never missed your favourite drink. The extra length your son-in-law went to arrange a full fledged office room complete with PC,wireless Keyboard,Broadband and webcam etc for you during your stay with them to ensure that you never felt bored and got your share of intellectual activity that you were used to was no ordinary act. Remember, he knows how you miss that Exquisite Office of yours. The video clip, which your daughter sent from USA showing your 4 years old Grand Daughter singing "Happy Birthday" on your birthday with her inimitable American accent was not just an ordinary mail. It was meant to tempt you to make your trip earlier to see your Grand Daughter and give them the pleasure of your company.

There was this friend, who just happened to stay in the same neighbourhood with you, that volunteered to finance your son's foreign education efforts till you got your Bank Loan sanctioned, was not just an ordinary friend. His timely gesture, without and expectation from you, was pure act of friendship distilled and deserves your gratitude for life.

Fortunate are those who are blessed to have the company of their parents with them during their own old age! They can very well appreciate the feelings and desires of the poor old souls and would do well to take good care of them. You cannot forget how your Dad never wanted to buy a car because he wanted to finance your studies or the special food your Mom prepared for you to fortify your strength for withstanding the rigours of Competitive Academic pursuits! The least you could do is to keep them with you instead of sending them to the most advanced “Old-Age Home “.

8 Comments:

  1. Nalini Hebbar said...
    Absolutely...The least we can do is keep our parents happy in their twilight years.
    Some parents have encouraged their children to go abroad and now repent for having done so...going up and down to their daughter in the US is a tough ask as they get into their 80's.
    Chapters From My Life said...
    Most of us fail in this duties and it is one of the saddest feature of our modern society...
    chitra said...
    Every one must read this post. Respects for parents is not sending gifts or sending money for their monthly expenses .If the children can just understand for a minute what the old parents yearn- i.e love and affection it would be good .
    Tulika said...
    Truly!

    Care, love, small words but they make a bigg difference to our lives.

    Amazingly written n must read!
    vidya said...
    How true! blessed are those whose children go out of their way to make their parents feel wanted and cared for. It is the least a child can do for his parents after the sacrifices they have done for him.
    K.Sundara Raman said...
    While the musings are worth their weight in gold,the comment on the taking for granted attitude in regard to the contribution made by wife in shaping one's life and career is an eye opener for many of us belonging to earlier generation.Hats off to a majority of the present generation boys who really treat their better halves much better!
    S.R.Ayyangar said...
    Changing values and morals have changed the mind set of siblings. Its a million dollar question as to why this change in attitude?
    Milana said...
    It is indeed a very sad thing that people have absolutely no respect for their old parents. The sacrifices that the parents have had to take on the child's behalf is completely forgotten. Most people forget that their parents were their strength and support in their childhood and completely abstain from the fact that parents need them as much as they did in their old age. Wonderful post.

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