Just a Little Smile

My Dear Rishi,

This journey of writing of this blog started on May 24th, 2011 and I can't believe, it has been two years. Hopefully, some day you come across this blog and read these letters. Hope, you may find some answers in these letters  and hopefully give you a glimpse about your father apart from what you have been told.

You may at times wonder why I talk about compassion, love and forgiveness. You may ponder, "if these values have any place in this word"? Especially, when there are some elements in our society who will take advantage of these qualities.  I have learned end of the day one has to live with oneself irrespective with what we do. My mom used to say all you have is control over your actions and no one else.If our actions are from a place of love, compassion and forgiveness, you will sleep peacefully. Over the years I have learned that , "Life is nothing but 10% of what has happens to us and rest 90% is how we react to it?"  Lastly, I came across a brilliant quote, earlier this week which very eloquently captured what I wanted to say to you in this letter.  Here is the quote by, L.R. Knost:

"It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world.

It's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless."

 

 My only, hope, wish and prayer for you and your generation is that you all together have made this world a little less cruel and heartless Rishi. Your name also means "Ray of First Light", my prayers, hope and wish is that you can be that beacon of light.

 

 

Today''s story is called,

 

 " Just a Little Smile"

Author: Unknown

 

 

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder.  Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend

.

They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally, the long awaited senior year came and then the graduation week.   Bill was the class valedictorian and he was asked to give a speech on the graduation day.

  

Bill confidently, walked to the podium and started his speech by thanking Mark. He paused and asked,  "Mark, do you remember the day years ago when we met for the first time while walking home? Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" Bill, went on, " You see, Mark, " I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life! Thank you my friend. There was a standing applause as Bill finished his speech.

 

Rishi, Mark's compassion saved Bill's life and  in turn Mark found a good friend for life.  Everyone in this world is at some level or other are struggling through life. Sometimes all it takes is, "just a little smile,compassion and kindness" you can not only  transform some one's world but also your own life.

 

I hope, pray and wish you are blessed with a compassionate and kind heart, love.  God Bless you Son!

 

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

 

Daddy

 

P.S: I love you all the way from here to the moon and back times two, love.  Miss you!.

 



A Wise Woman's Stone

My Dear Rishi,

I was looking forward to speaking to you last weekend and I could not reach you.

This week's story is a very interesting story, which I found very appropriate for developing a compassionate heart. Hope you see the beauty in the story.

 

The Wise Woman's Stone

Author Unknown

 

A wise woman who was travelling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

 

"I 've been thinking" he said "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me something more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.

 

Rishi, the only the thing I can think of is that this woman's compassionate heart is the most precious which enabled her to part with the precious stone.  Developing a compassionate heart is more important than any riches in the world.

 

Hope, I can speak to you before you go for your holiday's.

 

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

 

Daddy

 



Mother's Day: A Tribute to Mother- Light of my Life

My Dear Rishi,

It was fun spending time with you from Friday evening till Saturday 1pm. Will post some of pictures next week. 

I came across an interesting story for Mother's Day and I wanted to share this with you while also taking this opportunity to pay to tribute to my mother and your grand mother who passed away on April 18th.

Wise words from a Child about a Mother

Anonymous

Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, 'I know all about adoption, I was adopted..'

'What does it mean to be adopted?’ asked another child.

'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'


Rishi, I am so grateful to have a had the opportunity of being raised by a wonderful mother who taught me by her own actions what is unconditional love. There are no words to describe how grateful I am to my mother who not only helped me when I was a child but has been foundation, roof and light of my life. All her sisters, my uncle (her brother) and her parents (my grandparents) equally love me. I might have done something very good in my past life to be have been blessed by such a wonderful mother and  at times I feel I was raised by a goddess (my mom) and surrounded by angels (my mom's sisters, brother and her parents).

She was always there for me.  When I was about 10 years old I was very ill, she stayed up all night taking care of me and did not leave my side for more than thirty minutes. After finishing my high school and ready to go to University she was there for me encouraging me and always saying never ever to give up. Her famous quote was, " Do your work and rest live it to God. Your duty is to study, work hard and results are not up to you. You only have the right to work hard and do your part. That's all!".. When I finished my undergraduate, I got an opportunity to study abroad and I hardly had any time. My dad was away from town, so she made the decision I should go ahead and study. She encouraged me and morally supported me. It was very difficult to leave my mother and go abroad. Mom's encouragement, love and support helped me to take that leap into an unknown world. She said to me, " I have faith in you, my upbringing and god. Go spread your wings, world is yours". It might have been very difficult for  mom to send me away but she always put my welfare and future in mind. Today, whatever good qualities I have in me it is all because of her. All my educational qualifications are once again because of her. She was always there, when ever I called, she would answer the phone. Recently, despite her illness she would at least say hello and always end the call by saying, "Good Luck! God bless you". Now when I call home I will not hear mom's voice.

Mom was always kind to everyone who ever came across her path. She was kind, compassionate, loving and very generous lady. She walked the talk, "Compassion in thought, word and deed". There was never a time I heard her say a mean or harsh word to anyone. She always taught me the power of forgiveness and to learn to speak the language of kindness and love.

You may be wondering why I am waxing lyrics of my mother so much, after all every mother puts her children's interest ahead of her own. Well Rishi, " I grew in my mom's heart rather than her tummy". Hence my gratitude towards her. I will miss her! Light of my life is gone but the light she lit in my heart and so many peoples hearts will continue to glow. Like an angle she will always be in my heart and her love will always be felt. I do miss her sitting alone in Singapore with no one to talk to but I feel my mother's love as I type this letter to you.

Happy Mother's Day. I am grateful and blessed to have been raised by such a wonderful human being. I am indeed blessed! Thank you God!

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Daddy

He Rescues the Birds

My Dear Rishi,

I can't wait to see you and spend time this weekend love.

Recently, I came across one of my favourite leader and a Statesman, Abraham Lincoln's story which I had never heard or read before. Before I get into the actual story let me take this opportunity to say few words about this great man.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America. He was the president from 1861 to 1865. He abolished slavery, led the country during one of the most tumultuous period in the US history i.e. during the civil war and finally united the country.  Hope one day you can read more about him and learn, love.

Now getting back to the story.

 He Rescues the Birds

 By Charles W. Moores.

Once, while riding through the country with some other lawyers, Abraham Lincoln was missed from the party, and was seen loitering near a thicket of wild plum trees where the men had stopped short time before to water the horses.

"Where is Lincoln?" asked one of the lawyers.

"When I saw him last, " answered another," had caught two young birds that the wind had blown out of their nest, and was hunting for the nest to put them back again".

As Lincoln joined them, the lawyers rallied him on his tender-heartedness, and he said:-

" I could not have slept unless I had restored those little birds to their mother".


Rishi, Abraham Lincoln's small acts of random kindness and compassion ultimately led him to abolishing slavery in the United States. I believe abolishing slavery was the zenith of compassion any human being could undertake when stakes were high,  there was much to loose and Lincoln stood his ground on abolishing slavery.


With lots of love, hugs and kisses.

Daddy


P.S: I just can't wait to see you love, I miss you so much.

Socks and Shoes

My Dear Rishi,

I have not been able to write this blog consistently for past few months. In the past few weeks since my mom's passing away it has been rather difficult to sit and write.

This morning I came across an interesting story on compassion and thought this would be a good one to share with you.

 

Socks and Shoes

Author Unknown

 

A little boy about 10 years old was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, " My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in the that window?" " I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.

 

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly  brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel. By this time the clerk had returned with the socks, Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and give them to him. She patted him on the head and said, " No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?'

 

As she turned up to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, asked the lady: " Are you God's wife?"

 

 

Rishi, this story when I read it I felt the power of compassion being conveyed in a very simple but very effective way. I hope, pray and wish you are a compassionate person.

 

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

 

Daddy