Tuesday, August 5, 2014

THE BEAUTY OF MATERNITY


                        An old widow had an only son. She was very poor and lived in a little hut in a remote village. She brought him up with great difficulty, suffering constant poverty and frequent starvation. When he grew up, he joined the emperor’s army. He was very honest and dutiful and strictly followed his mother’s instructions throughout his life.
                         One day, he happened to witness a serious crime committed by some of his colleagues. They devised a plan to trap him as they were afraid that he would reveal the secret to the emperor. They falsely accused him of a crime of utmost gravity and provided false witnesses against him. The innocent soldier was arrested, tried and sentenced to death.
                         The sad news reached his mother. She was shocked. She was sure that her son was innocent. There was very little time left before the execution of her beloved son. There was no one to help them. So she ran as fast as she could to the emperor’s distant palace to plead for mercy. She forgot her illness and old age and did not care to have food or water on the way. She was completely exhausted and broken-hearted when she reached the emperor and fell on his feet. Gasping for breath due to extreme exhaustion, she begged for mercy using broken words. Then she collapsed and breathed her last.
                       Greatly moved by her affection and sacrifice, the emperor ordered that the execution of the soldier be suspended. He ordered a fresh and detailed probe about the allegations against the youth. He deputed a team of just and honest officers to re-investigate the case. They could establish the innocence of the soldier and collect evidences against the men behind the conspiracy to fabricate the false accusation against him. The emperor acquitted the soldier and released him from the prison.  His enemies were arrested and imprisoned. The soldier rushed to the spot where his loving mother was buried. He burst into tears and fell prostrate on the burial ground.
                       It is said that God could not be everywhere and so He created mothers. Jesus taught, “My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them.” …………………………………………………………………
© By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally,  Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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