July 2nd, 2011
My Dear Rishi,
Yesterday was Canada Day and I was at the Ashbridges Bay Beach watching fireworks. I called you few times starting on Friday morning Singapore time and I could not speak to you.
I was reading The Soul of A Butterfly-Reflections on Life's Journey by Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali was one of the Greatest Boxer, he won Olympics Gold Medal for Boxing in 1960. There was an interesting story about Gratitude and Generosity, one of Ali's favourite story. I wanted to share this with you.
Gratitude and Generosity
Once upon a time there was a slave named Omar. He had been brought in front of the king along with one hundred other slaves. As soon as king saw Omar, the King was captivated by his radiance. Immediately King made Omar his assistant. It was not long before Omar gained trust and confidence of the king, who put him in charge of his treasury, where all of his precious gold and jewels were kept. Many of the King's men became envious of Omar's new position. They could not understand why Omar should raise from a slave to a keeper of the king's treasure
Soon their envy grew into spite. They began to tell stories in order to bring Omar into the king's disfavor. One of the stories was that the Omar woke up before everyone else in the palace and went into the room where the king's jewels were kept and he was stealing the jewels little by little every day.
When one of the king's men told him what was being said, the king responded, "No, I cannot believe such a thing ! You'll have to show me".
Therefore they brought the king to watch in secret as Omar entered the treasury room. The king saw Omar open the safe. But what did he take out of it? It was not king's jewels , but his old ragged clothes that he had worn as a slave. He kissed them, pressed them to his face, and laid them on the table. Incense was burning and the king could see that Omar was doing something important to him.
Omar put on his old clothes, looked at himself in the mirror and said, "Look, Omar, see what you were before. Know that it was not your worthiness that brought you to this position, but the king's generosity and kindness in overlooking your faults. So guard this duty as your most sacred trust, in appreciation of his generosity and kindness. Most important, never forget your first day-the day when you came to this town, for it is the remembrance of this day when you came to this town. For it is the remembrance of this day will keep you grateful."
Omar then took off his old slave clothes and put them back into the safe. Then he put on his princely robe. As he headed for the door he noticed the king standing in the doorway.
The king looked at Omar with eyes full of tears and said, " People told me that you have stolen jewels from my treasure room, but i have found that you have stolen my heart. Omar, you have taught me a valuable lesson. It is a lesson we all must learn, whatever our position in life may be, we must always be grateful, even for the hardships we have known. Then the king looked into Omar's eyes and said, "Omar, I may be the king, but it is you who have the royal heart"
Rishi may you learn, understand and live your life with Gratitude and Generosity. Here is a recipe for a GOOD LIFE By Ali
Mix in determination and add lot of courage.
My Dear Rishi,
Yesterday was Canada Day and I was at the Ashbridges Bay Beach watching fireworks. I called you few times starting on Friday morning Singapore time and I could not speak to you.
I was reading The Soul of A Butterfly-Reflections on Life's Journey by Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali was one of the Greatest Boxer, he won Olympics Gold Medal for Boxing in 1960. There was an interesting story about Gratitude and Generosity, one of Ali's favourite story. I wanted to share this with you.
Gratitude and Generosity
Once upon a time there was a slave named Omar. He had been brought in front of the king along with one hundred other slaves. As soon as king saw Omar, the King was captivated by his radiance. Immediately King made Omar his assistant. It was not long before Omar gained trust and confidence of the king, who put him in charge of his treasury, where all of his precious gold and jewels were kept. Many of the King's men became envious of Omar's new position. They could not understand why Omar should raise from a slave to a keeper of the king's treasure
Soon their envy grew into spite. They began to tell stories in order to bring Omar into the king's disfavor. One of the stories was that the Omar woke up before everyone else in the palace and went into the room where the king's jewels were kept and he was stealing the jewels little by little every day.
When one of the king's men told him what was being said, the king responded, "No, I cannot believe such a thing ! You'll have to show me".
Therefore they brought the king to watch in secret as Omar entered the treasury room. The king saw Omar open the safe. But what did he take out of it? It was not king's jewels , but his old ragged clothes that he had worn as a slave. He kissed them, pressed them to his face, and laid them on the table. Incense was burning and the king could see that Omar was doing something important to him.
Omar put on his old clothes, looked at himself in the mirror and said, "Look, Omar, see what you were before. Know that it was not your worthiness that brought you to this position, but the king's generosity and kindness in overlooking your faults. So guard this duty as your most sacred trust, in appreciation of his generosity and kindness. Most important, never forget your first day-the day when you came to this town, for it is the remembrance of this day when you came to this town. For it is the remembrance of this day will keep you grateful."
Omar then took off his old slave clothes and put them back into the safe. Then he put on his princely robe. As he headed for the door he noticed the king standing in the doorway.
The king looked at Omar with eyes full of tears and said, " People told me that you have stolen jewels from my treasure room, but i have found that you have stolen my heart. Omar, you have taught me a valuable lesson. It is a lesson we all must learn, whatever our position in life may be, we must always be grateful, even for the hardships we have known. Then the king looked into Omar's eyes and said, "Omar, I may be the king, but it is you who have the royal heart"
Rishi may you learn, understand and live your life with Gratitude and Generosity. Here is a recipe for a GOOD LIFE By Ali
Take a few cups of kindness
One dash of humility
One sprinkle of laughter
One teaspoon of patience
One tablespoon of generosity
One pint of forgiveness
One quart of love
And add a gallon of faith
Mix in determination and add lot of courage.
Stir it up very well, spread it over the span of your lifetime
And serve it to each and every person you meet.
Rishi I love you and my prayers are always with you have a great life love, I miss you, love you.
With lots of love, hugs and kisses,
Daddy
Beautiful.
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