RECEIVING WITH JOY!

"Akka (elder sister) I want you to have this," said my little cousin brother as I was leaving my Grandpa's home after a short visit. I was surprised to see his little hand outstretched holding two chocolates in them. He must have been an 8 or a 9 year old kid then. I being very much older to him felt awkward to accept them. I remember that I was presented small gifts by my biological brother during my birthdays in the past when he was a student. Back then there was at least an occasion to accept gifts, but when I saw the little ones outstretched hand with chocolates in them, I thought that was very sweet and at the same time a thought kept gnawing in the back of my mind telling, "you over grown buffalo should be the one giving him sweets and not taking them from him." There was no special occasion for my cousin to be giving me chocolates nor did I have a befitting reason to receive them. Due to which I gently refused to accept them and told him that they were meant for him. My Aunt who is my cousin brother's mother was observing what was happening. Understanding the situation she gently persuaded me to accept them from him. She, very sweetly drew my attention to the fact that he wanted to give me something nice and since chocolates were all that he had, he wanted me to accept them. For the first time in my life did I accept sweets from a kid inspite of the fact that there was no special occasion. That day I learn't a very important lesson, 'Anything given out of love by a kid regardless of the occasion should be accepted without hesitation.' 💖

That's our sweet Honey Boy  standing beside me, who is now beautifully blooming into a teenager.

My story of accepting sweets from my cousin brother whom we address as Honey Boy for his innocence, genuineness and a lot of his good and divine qualities didn't end there. During my next visit to my Grandpa's house, I found him relishing a toffee. He being a replica of his mother, my Aunt when it comes to generosity (trust me, my Aunt has a large heart which is much bigger than she is) lovingly handed over a toffee to me. The lesson that I had learnt the previous time was so ingrained in me that I thanked him and without giving a second thought popped the toffee into my mouth forgetting the fact that I was actually observing a Fast the entire day. What a sweet way to break my Fast!😊 Instantly with much delight he asked me if I liked it. The toffee was a mixed flavor of both sweet and sour. As he had given it to me with much love I let him know that I liked it very much. I had no idea what was transpiring in the little ones mind until one evening my mother returned home after a short visit to my Grandpa's place. She had brought home a surprise gift just for me. It turned out that the gift was from my cousin. On discovering what it was, I bursted out laughing. It was the same sweet and sour toffee that I had had the previous time when I was with him. As I had acknowledged that I had liked the toffee, he had managed to send across four of them. I was extremely happy and grateful to the fact that, first of all that the little one remembered me in my absence, and secondly he took the trouble to send across toffees just for me. 💖

Through out my life I have been Receiving all good and beautiful from family, friends and well wishers to an extent that I feel that I have hardly got an opportunity to return the favor. Receiving not only material gifts during special occasions by family and friends, but also gifts that are priceless; Receiving knowledge from teachers and world in general, and on many occasions I was also at the receiving end by them; Received blessings from the elders and the venerable saints; and this mystifying life bestowed some very important lessons which I Received with much reverence as I traversed through its peaks and valleys, and in sun shine and storm. I wish I could return all that I have received and free myself from the burden of indebtedness. I am quite aware of the fact that it is nearly impossible to do so. If I consider it, it would be down right foolishness to return the insolent acts of the past to its bearers. Nevertheless, the holy saints advice that it is best we start serving the needy with love and gratitude to rid our burden of indebtedness to all those whom we cannot return their favor in this life time, just in case they are no more in our life. Remember, what goes round comes round, thousand times more. I believe it is best to have a child's heart just like our Honey Boy's and give away lovingly and generously all good that is useful to the other. Ultimately it was He who introduced me to Receiving Joyfully and Humbly from people who had nothing to give, except for LOVE.💖