PARENTS -THEY ARE PRECIOUS

[Guest guest]

This was narrated by an IAF pilot to IIT students during a Seminar on Human

Relations:

 

Venkatesh Balasubramaniam (who works for IIT) describes how his gesture of

booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden flight, brought forth a rush of

emotions and made him (Venkatesh) realize that how much we all take for granted

when it comes to our parents.

 

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to

see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just

took this opportunity to make him experience the same. In spite of being asked

to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Jet Airways. The moment I handed

over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air..

The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel.

Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to

the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in

and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to

happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy

watching him experience all these things.

 

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with

tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if

I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.

When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later,

thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As a child, how

many dreams our parents have made come true.

 

Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats, dresses,

toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have catered to

all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to

accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have

done for us? Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that

we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we

will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys,

etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake

to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are

realized and what they failed to see when they were young. It is our

responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is

complete.

 

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually

answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been

very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those

moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take

care of our children, the same attention and same care needs to be given to our

parents and elders. Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to

say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how

much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best

possible attention to all their wishes.

 

Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up

everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes,

too..

 

Take care of your parents. THEY ARE PRECIOUS.

 

KEEP THIS MESSAGE GOING BY SENDING IT TO YOUR FRIENDS As I Did...........