Friday, January 13, 2012

A Glass of Milk



                              A poor student was walking along a road, carrying a bundle of books, to his school. He was from a very poor family and his parents could not provide him even regular food. As he was already late, he was almost running. He was hungry and very weak. Suddenly he felt exhausted and fell down, scattering his books on the roadside. Seeing his fall, a lady rushed to the spot from her house. She helped the boy to get up, collected his books and carried him to her house. The boy was very weak and hungry, but he did not ask for food. He asked for a little water to drink. The lady sensed his state and offered him a glass of milk. The boy accepted it with gratitude and continued his journey to the school. The incident remained fresh in his mind.
                               Several years rolled by. The lady became old, sick and weak. She was admitted to the local hospital. As her condition became worse, she was shifted to a large medical institute in a distant city. The senior doctor, who was also the director of the institute, examined her. He diagnosed her disorder and performed an immediate surgery. She was carried to the best room in the hospital and provided expert medical care. The staff was always ready to offer all assistance and care. Within a month, she could regain her health fully. She was informed that she would be discharged the next day. She was worried about the bill as she was poor and could not afford to pay a large amount. She planned to sell her house to settle the bill. She enquired about the bill. The bill was presented to her. She examined it anxiously. On the top of the bill, there was a note signed by the director of the institute, “THE AMOUNT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL BY A GLASS OF MILK.”
                                Slowly she recollected the incident when she gave a glass of milk to a poor, weak and hungry boy who fell down on the road near her residence. By this time, the director himself came to her room and she could recognize his face. He was the same boy whom she had helped with a glass of milk a long time ago. He had recognized her earlier and gratefully made elaborate arrangements for her treatment and paid the expenses from his own pocket, all for a glass of milk and tender care received in a crucial moment of his life, during his hard times, long before he became a distinguished doctor by his hard work and earnest efforts.
                               Let us be of help to any one in need. Those who are merciful to others will receive mercy and God will be merciful to them.



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© By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and Leo. S. John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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