My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the
body. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was
the correct answer.
When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as
humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy." She said "No-Many people are
deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again
soon."
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my
first attempt,I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time
I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it
must be our eyes. "She looked at me and told me, "You are learning
fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people
who are blind."
Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the
years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer
was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my young child."
Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was
crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because
it was only the second time I saw him cry. My mom looked at me
when it was our turn to say our final goodbye to Grandpa. She
asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my son?"
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this
was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face
and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you
have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in
the past, I have told you was wrong and I have given you an
example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important
lesson."
She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up
with tears. She said, "Son, the most important body part is your
shoulder." I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?" She
replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a
loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on
sometime in life, my son. I only hope that you have enough love
and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when
you need it."
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a
selfish one-it is sympathetic to the pain of OTHERS.
You are a friend and whenever you want, you may cry on my
shoulder!!!
People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did.
But, people will never forget how you made them feel!