A boy named Peter was
the only son of his parents. He displayed extraordinary artistic talent. He
used to draw perfect pictures, make marvellous models and carve realistic
images. His father was a bad-tempered drunkard and did not appreciate the boy’s
works of art. He used to scold him and beat him for wasting his time and paper
for such ‘useless’ works. But his loving mother encouraged him. One day, the
boy scratched a beautiful picture on the table in the house using the tip of a
sharp knife. The father returned from his work in a fully drunk state. He was
furious to see the scratched figure on their only table and violently thrashed
the boy mercilessly. The mother intervened, but she too got a few blows. The
boy ran away from home, crying aloud, unable to bear his father’s cruelty. He
was so angry and sad that he did not return to his home. His parents later
searched for him everywhere, but could not locate him. They were very sad. The
mother could not stop her tears and soon fell ill.
Peter boarded a
train and landed in a distant city. After doing some menial jobs with meagre
wages, he joined an advertising agency which painted display boards and erected
them around the city. His artistic talents made him a success in his new
profession and gradually he earned sufficient money to meet his needs. He grew
up and became a healthy young man and a good artist.
Peter often thought
about his family and felt sorry for deserting his parents in their old age. He
wrote several letters addressed to his mother, but could not get any reply.
Finally he returned to his native village, repenting for his action and wishing
to be reconciled with them. Reaching the spot where they lived, he was
surprised to see a new posh house in place of his old hut. The owner of the new
house told him that he had bought the land from the Peter’s father when he left
the place. He added that Peter’s mother died soon after her son deserted them.
The neighbours had no idea about the present whereabouts of Peter’s father.
Unable to bear the sad news of his mother’s
untimely death and his role in the tragedy, Peter returned to his work place.
Later his firm opened a branch in the city near Peter’s native place. Peter was
offered a transfer to the new unit and he readily accepted it. Reaching the new
place, he stayed in a rented house. As he had only a little money with him, he
decided to buy some cheap furniture for his house. He visited a shop selling
used furniture.
While examining
the articles, he was surprised to see an old table with a scratched figure on
it. He observed carefully and discovered that the figure was the one he
scratched on his table when he was a boy. Thus he could easily identify this
table. Rushing to the owner of the shop, he asked from where and rom whom he
got the used table. The owner thought for a while and recollected his purchase
of a few pieces of used furniture from an old drunkard’s hut. He was very poor
and sold the furniture as he had no money to buy food. He remembered the hut
and gave the directions to Peter to reach the hut.
Peter ran to the
hut and met his old father there, who appeared very emaciated after years of
illness and poverty. Peter fell upon his father’s feet and sought his pardon
for deserting him. He carried the sick father to the hospital and gave the
necessary medical care. He carried his father to his house and by his loving
tender care the old man became healthy and happy. They lived there peacefully.
God created man in His
image. He then instituted the 'family' in the image of heaven. The ideal family
is a heaven of happiness. The letters in the word, FAMILY may
be regarded as representing the first letters of the words in the statement, “Father And Mother In Love, Year-round”
or the
hearty remark of a loving little child, “Father And Mother! I Love You”.
Parents should
stand between their child and God- not as a separating wall but as a connecting
link
Addiction
to alcohol (alcoholism) has ruined the life of millions. We must abstain from
this harmful habit and pray for God’s grace to transform the alcoholics in our
society.
Let us remember that
‘ANGER’ is only one letter short of ‘DANGER’. Robert Green Ingersoll said,
“Anger blows out the lamp of the mind.” Benjamin Franklin said, “Whatever is
begun in anger ends in shame.”
Lord
Buddha taught, “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent
of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burnt.”
All religions
teach us to respect and love our parents. The Bible issues strong commandments to respect and
protect our parents. The Old Testament of the Bible prescribes the
following in the ten commandments of God, "Respect your father and your
mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you."
…………………………………………………………………
© 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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