The only daughter
of a distinguished doctor got married and went to live with her husband and her
mother-in-law. She could not tolerate the words, habits and opinions of the old
lady. They started to argue with each other and to 'fight at first sight' every
day. When the situation became unbearable, her husband sought the intervention
of her father. The doctor called his daughter and had a detailed discussion
about her domestic life. She complained about her mother-in-law and sought her
father's help to eliminate her forever. “Give me a poison which would kill her
instantly”, she requested.
The doctor was very wise and
diplomatic. He told his daughter, “I agree with you that she should be killed.
But if you use a poison that kills her instantly, others may suspect you and if
you are caught, you may be sentenced to imprisonment or even death by the court
of law. We will do it more intelligently. I will supply a special drug which, though
poisonous, acts only very slowly. You must mix the contents of one capsule in
her food everyday and serve it to her, pretending to be very friendly to avoid
any suspicion in any one. We will celebrate her death within six months”.
The girl gladly grabbed the bottle of
capsules offered by her father and regularly fed it to her mother-in-law as
directed by her father. She took great pain to pretend affection to the lady
whom she hated like hell. She offered all assistance and tender care to her and
stopped all impulsive reactions to her arrogant actions. She prepared special
delicious dishes to serve the poison without arousing suspicion. As days rolled
on, both the ladies learned to control their temper. The old lady started to
shower love, care and affection on the girl as she appeared to be very loving,
gentle, simple and humble. The conflicts in their personalities came to an end
and the girl started to love the old lady like her own mother. She stopped
giving the drug and met her father with an earnest and honest request. She told
him, “Daddy, please prescribe an antidote to the poison I had been giving to my
mother-in-law. I am genuinely sorry that I misunderstood her and tried to kill
her. Now she is dearer to me than my own mother.”
The doctor was very glad
to see the transformation. He replied, “I was sure you would approach me,
reproaching yourself for being harsh to her. Don’t worry about the drug any
more. What I gave you were actually capsules of vitamins. They should have made
her healthier now. You may make her happier now.” The affection she showed to
her enemy was only pretence with the intention of appearing innocent after the
murder. But her acts of love could transform the old lady and sweeten their relationship.
There is a golden rule of life, “Do for
others what we want them to do to us”. The famous phrase, “As you sow, so shall
you reap” is based on this rule. A person will reap exactly what he sows.
Our actions have their reactions and
repercussions. We will receive the consequences of our actions. Let us not
judge others so that God will not judge us. Let us not condemn others, so that
God will not condemn us. Let us forgive others, so that God will forgive us.
.........................................................................................................
© 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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