Foot Prints......

The True Romantic Love

2009-07-10T14:58:00.007+05:30

Recently, I heard from a friend of mine that the divorce rate is booming in India, especially in the southern part of the country. In the world of "instant" everything, this has become just a simple issue on the go. Be it a love marriage or an arranged one, it is same. Where then is the 'true Romantic love'?

I happened to meet my uncle recently in my native for a family gathering. His wife (my aunt) passed away last December. They don't have kids too. He is in his late 60s now.As a retired person, he is living all alone, cooking by himself and doing some petty works at home. In the gathering someone asked 'why can't he shift to his relatives' place where he can stay with his brother's family'. I was touched by his answer.His reply was, 'When my wife is here (he meant her cemetry), how can i leave her alone?' he gave an additional info that he has already reserved a place in the cemetry right next to his wife's. What do you call this? Heights of their romantic marital love? Yes it is.

I remember an ironical incident in Bible in Genesis which says "{23:1} And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: [these were] the years of the life of Sarah. {23:2}And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same [is] Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her".

Abraham weeping the death of his 127 year old wife. His love for his wife was strong as death!

Read somewhere, 'A true Romance must sail over the negative points of the partner'. When these days,its difficut to sail over a small breeze, then how wait for a storm to come :)

MY TOMORROW

2008-12-12T09:03:00.005+05:30

I read a wonderful verse from Bible about tomorrow…

” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16).

Tomorrow is just a vapour…But still we boast about it…is it not?

I should do a lot preparation for a better tomorrow…and land in a good position in some tomorrow…I should earn money for a better tomorrow…I have to do a lot of savings for the well being of me and my future generation in some tomorrow…And that too if its a girl child it should be useful for the guy who will marry her some tomorrow…

Parents do a lot of planning and preparation so that the children have a better future..some tomorrrow…And don’t know who said..if parents don’t do good deeds, their children will suffer in the future which is some tomorrow.

If I don’t attend the wedding of my friend today..she/he won’t attend mine which will happen some tomorrow…:)

We don’t know what the future holds but still we tend to live for that unknown tomorrow planning for it. Its very right to plan for the tomorrow which gives us hope to live for today. If there is no life for tomorrow we would mostly end up getting confused on what to do for today, and there would be no hope to live the life today. Eventually the hope for tomorrow gives us the life for today but we miss to live the life today busy planning about the future.There are many instances when we forget to live for today while we would get carried away by the thoughts of future. There would be so many things we want to do..but still put off them aside for sometime and get going planning for the future, an unknown tomorrow.

I remember one of my friend always tell its good being good to others , being loved and love everyone. What if we don’t have time today for accomplishing it and postponing it to do it because of the worries about tomorrow. None of us know what tomorrow holds for us but yet we plan for it for thinking to avoid the problems in life of some tomorrow.why did we become so pessimistic completely? Its very easy to talk about things like that and may be you will say why can’t we do what we feel like and say what we want to..but yet there is some kind of a fear of which stops us to do what we think, which eventually stops us to live today.

So just a food for thought…why don’t we think on this note? To do things which we like to do today, putting things of tomorrow aside.

To bring a smile on someone you love today, than postponing it for some occasion and what if you don’t get a chance again?

Have you enjoyed the rain? Why don’t we try it and what if a situation happens that you have 2 kids and you wanna dance and I am sure no one can help the situation :-)

To make someone’s day special, how about writing a note and keeping it on the table of a loved one and enjoy their feeling of happiness..what if you cant do it in some tomorrow?

To eat loads of chocolates today and what if you become a diabetic tomorrow?

We spend lot of money on the siblings and friends in treating them and buying gifts to see the smiles and what of we can't do it some tomorrow?

When an old friend of you wants to meet you today and if you postpone it since you were busy planning for the future and what if you can't meet them that tomorrow?

When we forget to express the love to a dear one while we were deeply carried away by the plans for future..what if may be tomorrow it won't be possible to do it?

You compromise..and that’s called life. Its true. But to live for today there should be no compromises. We are in need of a tomorrow to live today but tomorrow should not be a reason for not living today. The one precious day we have, since yesterday is already dead and we don’t know what tomorrow holds. The one who lives today the fullest will be the blessed one of all the being.

Read somewhere…

"We shall do much in the years to come, but what have we done today?
We shall give our gold in a princely sum, but what did we give today?
We shall lift the heart and dry the tear, We shall plant a hope in the place of fear, We shall speak the words of love and cheer but what did we speak today?
We shall be so kind in the afterwhile, but what have we been today?
We shall bring each lonely life a smile, but what have we brought today?
We shall give to truth a grander birth, And to steadfast faith a deeper worth, We shall feed the hungering souls of earth, but whom have we fed today?
We shall reap such joys in the by and by, but what have we sown today?
We shall build us mansions in the sky, but what have we built today? ‘
Tis sweet in idle dreams to bask, but here and now do we do our task?
Yes, this is the thing our souls must ask, “What have we done today?”

To hold on or let it go!

2008-11-04T16:49:00.003+05:30

I was wondering!!
What to do with the relation which is no longer mine..
to hold on or let it go?
it is a toughest choice..
to hold on..breaks my heart on and off..
to let it go...will tear me off..

Time passed by..
the relation wasn't fruitful to live with..
realized i am hurting myself
to hold on or let it go?
it is a toughest choice..
to hold on..breaks my heart on and off..
to let it go...will tear me off..

Heaviest is the heart
Deepest is the silence..
when i decided to let it go..
to break the chain that held me glued..

i tried and tried it hard,
and let it go which torn me apart..
Bad is the feeling that i let go..
but worst it became, it didnt affect any when i came to know..

time is the medicine...
finally i chose to let it go..

To myself...

2008-02-17T09:21:00.001+05:30

I am getting into too many thought process these days and the outcome....

*~* I don't care how strong you are, All I want to know is what holds you together when you are at your weakest self...

*~*I don't care how polite you are, All I want to know is the number of situation you were impolite which broke hearts...

*~* I don't care how honest you are, All I want to know is if you are truthful to yourself without believing the lies you say within...

*~* I don't care how intelligent you are, All I want to know is how many times you allowed yourself to look stupid to do something you want to compromise...

*~* I don't care what do you do for your living, All I want to know is the last time you really LIVED and felt ALIVE...

*~* I don't care how deep is your love for others, All I want to know is how far will you go for those whom you loved don't reciprocate it ...

*~* I don't care how good is your smile,All I want to know is how well are you spreading it around...

*~* I don't care how old you are, All I want is to know if the child in you is still alive, the purest and not touched by life's imperfections...

*~* I don't care how successful you are, All I want to know is if the fire to achieve something is still burning in you...

*~* I don't care how well you can create sympathy in other's eyes, All I want to know is how well you manage your situation and come out of it by God's help...

*~* I don't care how many enjoy your company, All I want to know is how well you like being yourself calm and quiet...

*~* I don't care how good you are to the outside world, All I want to know is the realization of yourself inside when you remove that mask...

*~* I don't care how many friends you have, All I want to know is how do you enjoy solitude when you are left alone...

*~* I don't care how beautiful you are, All I want to know is how the ugly side of you, how is it being loved...

Above all...

I don't really care what you are today in others eyes, All I want to know is who are you in God's eyes right away!!!

I wonder how! I wonder why!

2007-09-25T12:21:00.000+05:30

Its long time since I logged in blogger..Its not that I am too busy but pretty lazy:))

*Yesterday* During my childhood days, I always had the attitude of living being unnoticed.That was growing in my mind and later i came to know that i became so timid to move with people. But God was so merciful to me that He provided with people who understood me as I am and helped myself to speak out.These Childhood memories are always remembered and I should be really thankful for those friends who really stood with me.While I was in class V i guess, there used to be long queues to meet the teacher and get our notebooks signed. We used to run from our sitting place just to reserve seats in the queue. It was really easy for few of my fellow class mates to get a seat in the queue if i am already there standing. They will right away push me aside and chuck me to the end of the queue for no reason and take up my place.Desperate me ,I would always be quiet and sometimes used to throw myself out of the queue seeing them coming.And this friend of mine "Nissi", somehow glued to me became my consoling partner.After the short while of our friendhip blossom she never gave a chance for people who push me away from queues but used to push them aside and get me a place in the queue.What a friend!hehe

But I was not able to continue my 'keep mum' behaviour so long..While in college,the change in me was drastic...from 1st year to the final year ...The 'scared one' to the 'cared one' and sometimes 'a dont careone';-)...i remember one of my friends even today pulls my legs reminding this..Thanks to college days..I was carefreee and t'was all fun and fun only...

*Today* But came for work into Corporate, the learning is much more...and that too to Bangalore...there used to be the beginning days at work..stood in awe seeing all the mini skirts and the colored hair, and get confused and turned back to find a person if he is a male or a female...Many said this is the culture and 'yo man its fashion everywhere!' and I'd got weird looks from people for the honest reply that 'I dont have a boy friend'..Oh its a mistake or wat!!! Again the change.. that was not drastic though'..All I learnt is Corporate world is not really satisfactory which we cant expect it to be anytime..Except for putting weight eating all junkies..gossiping around..saying a formal 'sorry' and 'thanks' for anything and everything..calling someone who is of our father's age by name..culture!!I would think sometimes what will happen if I try that with my dad! hehe..And all the more cribbing about projects, saying a 'hi' to a person next to you in a mail ..sometimes it looks funny to think about this,but its just this which I need to accept..I was telling one of my friends sometime bak 'why should not I resign the job, go back home and take classes for Kindergarten kids?wont that be really satisfactory and I could understand what real joy is!' When discussed the same with my mom, the reply was 'B.Tech is over qualification for KG teachers and your application will be obviously rejected'..hmmm..I remember this 'Leisure' poem by William Davies studied during school days. It goes like this..

" What is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare"

But thanks to Bangalore, I got many new friends and most of all I could understand how necessary is to lean on God for everything and anything especially when you are away from home..

*Tomorrow* The future? Dont know how it is gonna be..I am not worried too..sometimes will lose spirits..but God is in control..:)

btw,any KG school admitting me??ahem!! ;-)

Do you love me?

2007-05-10T12:24:00.000+05:30

A thought while reading the scripture...

John 21:15 to 17 (KJV)

"{21:15} So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. {21:16} He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. {21:17} He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep".

Something clicked on reading the above passage. Which place am I giving the Lord? Am I loving Him more than everything else? Am I giving room to something else ? What takes His place? My family? My Friends? My Work? My mobile? My MP3 ?My books?wat else on earth? Am I walking with Him?Am I holding His hands always in the walk of my life?

God insists on loving Him more than anything else..yeah anything else.. Nothing can't /should take His place.

Peace:)

A lil' crap..

2007-03-27T11:51:00.002+05:30

I woke up today morning by the sms tone and the vibration of my mobile..it was little difficult to find the mobile under the pillow..and finally when i got it , there was a good morning message from my sis addressing me as 'fenii panni *so rhyming huh?* get up, good morning'.. This is one of the very few times she uses my own name..usually i bear the names of those faithful, or dumb 5 sense creatures on earth.. i I love it no matter what animal name she gives me;-)

For those who doesn't know where feni emerged from, it is from 'Fenella', my full name...There were times when I used to dislike my name especially when my maths teacher at school used to call me 'Benela'..She used to get on my nerves often when everyone else in the class grinning at me..

And i hate when ammichi (Grandma) used to call me 'funnela' (funnel??)..I used to tell her to call me 'feni' but she never listened to it since she prefered the Baptism name it seems..My nephew 9 years old calls me 'fenikuttypapa' sometimes,feni vanishes in that..If i try changing or threatening him not to tell, he will name me with still more "beautiful" names...And, I get scared when mom calls me by name, cos she does it only when she is angry on me or something like that sort..At office, needless to say few poeple prefer their own way of pronouncing my name..One colleague at office calls me 'Fanla'...Hearing him few of the other guys around started to tease me 'Fan'la, 'light'la,'AC'la etc.,

This reminds me of another incident. It was during a team treat in a restaurant when we were about to finish the lunch. People were ordering icecreams and desserts. I ordered for a Vanilla icecream. After some time when they served it, my manager suddenly turned at the guy sitting next to me yelling, 'Hey vanilla is for vanila..not for you'.. No one had any clue on what he was talking.. Then he pointed at me telling its for me and he took it by mistake..The crowd had a good laugh.. The best part is he never corrects it..not intentionally though..I too didn't give a try..:)

I used to introduce myself in places where I had to,like, in meetings and trainings only when there is no noise and people could hear me clearly..but anyways they are gonna ask me for a "Come again pls..". 'Feni' sounds easy i guess for this matter..and more than 70% of poeple I know calls/made to call me 'Feni'.The remaining strength end up giving me creative names :)

The bottom line is I believe that my name is special and unique, cos its a part of me. But more than the name, it is the people that mean a lot more, and when all the people who are close to heart call me by different/weird names, I don't mind a bit:))

*Just a crap...* hehe

Where's Love, Life and Joy?

2007-02-22T09:29:00.000+05:30

Lo! Runs a man crying
Hey! hey where's love?
Oh! oh! where's joy? joy?
Can I see it anywhere?
can I get it anywhere?

Asked he people who went in the east
Queried he people moving in the west
Wept bitterly searching for all these
Sat at home brooding over all day
Love, life, joy and trust, walked he in vain

Sudden he found a man so calm
Serene, soft so calm and bright
Love, life, joy and trust outflowing still
Reached the man's heart so drought and bare
Filled his heart with what he sought

JESUS! the name the man he bore
Stood there outstretched his arms about
'Son' he said, why so blind within and without
Love, life, joy and trust abundant still
Abides in you, plenty still find it out
you can when you give it to OTHERS!!!

A meaningful poem written by my mom long back. It speaks something to me now.

The Long day...

2006-08-31T12:09:00.000+05:30

Every fortnight, we girls will scoot out the garden city and head towards our native 'city'.Home sickness u see;-) It was on one saturday,during our stay in Bangy unlike any other week, myself and GIB* woke up very early i.e., around 8 AM. There was a power cut in the hostel..So could not continue sleeping...and having no other work, we planned to do something useful:)That ended up as a funny experience.

I have little pimple kind of 'papule' on my face... my Doctor aunty advised (??) me to visit a dermatologist so that it can be removed and i can prevent it from coming up further more.. It wasn't very obvious on my face and so my Mom did not recommend to do that. I was discussing this with my friends too... Yeah, coming back, since we didn't have any quality job to do that saturday morning, I had a wise(Again??) thought "Why should not I listen to Aunty's words and meet a Dermatologist?.Basically I am allergic to Hospitals and Doctors, but since GIB was voluntarily helping me to take to hospital, we both dressed up and decided to meet the Doctor.But which Hospital?? then people around me were telling about that BIG hospital which is very close to the place I stay.This Hospital is a very famous as well.

That was the first time we were into that Hospital. It was looking like the same BIG hospitals which we see in movies, where Doctors will perform a Heart surgery in stomach,without forgetting to place a 'scissor' and stitch the pit very carefully and wiping out all the bank balance of Patient's;-). I was imagining the same and in the mean while I was 'subjected' to many foramalities.It was long process to meet the dermatologist. Right from getting my admit card till registering my name to the concerned doctor, it was very long. I know it would be a few minutes job to examine me and tell me what has to be done further. Since this is a Big hospital, we were made to wait. I haven't seen such a crowd in hospitals...Every counter had a long queue. We reached the hospital by 9.30 AM and we were sent to the concerned Dermatology section by 1.00 PM. God! It was really a long day for us.

Atlast we reached the Dermatology section where we found hundreds of human heads again waiting to meet the Doctor. There were some 5 or 6 Doctors for advise. I reported to a nurse sitting outside the Doctor's cabin collecting all the damn forms we were given in the main counter. I handed over my forms to her and she asked me " Hey, tell me the Doctor's name whom you prefer to consult with"...Oh there are options...I wasn't knowing any Doctors particularly there..So after a pause I answered , "A good one!" The Person standing next to me started laughing and this nurse gave me a weird look....who cares! She wasn't pleasant to me and with anyone either around there...Then she gave me an honourable seat in the waiting room and GIB was already ready to doze off ..Poor she! The time was around 1.50 PM and we were still waiting. Then my name was called and we met the Dermatologist.It was a matter of 10 mins the Doctor examined my face, and asked my opinion about removing the 'papules' on face.Damn! what do I know? She told it is advisable to remove and there is no harm even if I don't.We thanked her and came out.I was put in a dilemma.To remove it or not to? I told my mom anyways, but will it pain???will they use any knife?Blood???????God!!Then again in the eyes of that bad bad nurse..She collected hundred bucks as the consultation fee...and remember I already paid 200 bucks in the main counter for a single white slip with my name written on that with a junk number suffixed to it. The nurse asked me If I would like to remove the 'papules'...And stupid me, asked her innocently "will it pain mam? will they use any knifffffffee..." .Before me finishing it,she started to yell at me..Basically she has a manly voice I guess...."Hey If u come to hospitals,don't talk about the pains...If you are scared about that, why do you come here?I'm not sitting here to counsel everyone about the pain and agony during 'surgery'..Not a social service i'm doing here either..and blah blah...." .She finished it and started to enquire others. Myself and GIB were like taken back..We can't talk back also...Many sympathetic looks were on us...we were clueless on what to do further...Why the hell I got this thought of removing the papules? Of all the hospitals in Bangalore,why should I come to this one and stand before this lady? .... We were quiet,but again and again the word "surgery" kept knocking my mind.. Oh then its a surgery now for me?? I called up my mom and told what happened. She advised me, "since this is a very very minor illness,no such complications will happen.And you have come all the way, waited for these many hours, So better do it and come. But if you are really getting scared about that, then leave it" Me again in dilemma.GIB called up her 'Doctor' brother and asked for advice..hehehe...See, how we created a scene.

Then We decided, Ok we have come here,waited for hours,so we can't go back..So I went again to the nurse and told her, "i will remove it". She smiled.The angry face was better than this.Then she asked me to pay 250 bucks in the counter for the 'operation'.I did it. We were made to sit again into the waiting room to meet the surgeon.The time was 2.30PM.We both were very hungry and very tired:( After a few minutes, the nurse came again saying, "I forgot to ask you pay for the injections and the medicines during surgery..So better go and pay 50 bucks in the counter". I did it. The time was around 2.45. Another nurse came out from the surgeon's room aka operation theatre calling my name. Fear filled my heart. I went inside. It was like a theatre, not an operation theatre..Around 15 to 20 student Doctors in white coats inside. I don't know to whom I should report to.Man, who is the Doctor here?Finally a guy among them introduced himself and asked me what has to be done. I told him that I've come here to remove the papules. Then he was just holding my face and was examining(??).The other 15 to 20 students standing inside the room rushed towards me, sorry, towards my face and was looking into it seriously. I can't even open my eyes. If I do, I can see all human faces 'close up' with curious eyes.My face had become an exhibition that day. That Doctor fellow was describing the papules in some "medical terms". It sounded like some biological-zoological names we studied in higher secondary:p. After the class on 'feni's face' Doctor asked me to wait outside. Again??:(. I came out.GIB with all curiosity asked me "Is it over?".. "hmmmhmm...nothing is started yet babe"My answer.We again waited. That was an examination session it seems..that nurse told me. A girl, 2 guys and a old granny were waiting in the Queue to meet the Doctor with me. The guy who was sitting in the front seat went inside. He came back after 15 minutes. Believe me...He was looking like a 'ghost' after that 15 minutes inside the room. He was normal before.Now, his face is full of Plasters. I can see only his eyes and lips. His eyes were watery.Or was it my imagination that he cried or something during operation? He can't open his mouth also.The nurse gave him a prescription and he 'ran away' from that place.Seems after operation face is this and it is over.Next the girl sitting before me went inside. I was sweating. GIB was holding my hands and consoling as if I'm going to some warfield.The fear was so strong and the pit of my stomach tensed up. I heard the voice of the girl who went inside...It was ahhh..ooohhhhh....Cold chills ran from the top of my head to the soles of my feet..I can't sit there any longer....I told GIB in her ears "Shall we run away from this place?I'm scared". The nurse was looking into my eyes...It was still more scary.Without any pause GIB replied "If 'Yes' for you, no probs for me"..Poor she..Guess she too got scared. Luckily the nurse went inside another room near by...and we both stood up and literally ran away from that place. I didn't have guts to turn back and check if anyone is noticing.I was more like a paranoid telling GIB "Heyyy seems they are calling my name"...It is a long route from the Dermatology section to the main gate...We didn't talk much till we reach the gate.Finally, we are now in the Hospital main roads. I just turned back. None was following us..hehehe....Myself and GIB laughed like hell.We bought a 'corn' eating it, laughing we reached the hostel. Thank God!

The money I paid to the hospital is a waste now.But no other way for me..I wasn't willing to take the 'risk' . It became a different experience for me.We had a good fun on that day in hostel.Fun apart,I was worried Am I still immature?? :(

Disclaimer: *GIB: Genie in a Bottle (The nick I gave to my friend:) )
I found the pic attached with this post, an apt one:)

Mother

2006-08-24T14:46:00.000+05:30

Not a mother's day poem , found it touching and posted:)
Dedicated to all the mothers in this world...

"Mother" is such a simple word,
But to me there’s meaning seldom heard.
For everything I am today,
My mother’s love showed me the way.
I’ll love my mother all my days,
For enriching my life in so many ways.
She set me straight and then set me free,
And that’s what the word "mother" means to me.
Thanks for being a wonderful mother, Mom!"

By Joanna Fuchs

Compassion is needed to heal the hurts and hearts of others...

2006-07-18T09:52:00.000+05:30

Me being vetti* at office today, here came the good(?) thought of crapping something in my crap blog:)This post is something which I wanted to share with my friends long back...

If I remember right it is one saturday in December,last year we girls from our hostel went on a visit to a orphanage cum Oldage home for mentally/physically challenged persons somewhere near Yelahanka,Bangalore organised by a trust. We had a thirst to visit those people and since it was the Christmas time we bought them some sweets and a few old clothes. The orphanage had a nice environment surrounded by trees, though its not a big campus. The first one we went was a Oldage home. Many Old grand parents were staying there;90% of them were sent out from their own house due to their illness.As soon as we entered the campus and stepped out of the van we saw many old people came running towards us. The Happiness and joy they had in their faces cannot be explained.They were very much happy about our visit.

Many of the people with whom we went are regular visitors and so most of the grannies ran to their own favourite people hugging them.We were just watching the scene since this is the first time we had been to this place. Suddenly a granny walked towards us and started kissing and hugging.We were really heart touched and realised the happiness they had due to our presence. Most of them are harmless people and a few had some problems, so they weren't let out in the campus but was looked after keeping them stay in a room. It was really a wonderful day with them. We realised how a spark of love and humanity heals the hearts of the people there. We sang some songs for them and they danced :) We served them lunch and they were overwhelmed. One granny was hugging me, she was very much fond of my bracelet at hand.Then she said "next time when you come, bring me some bangles":) It was a nice feeling to know that we have the ability to make people like them happy. They love if we talk with them and listen to their stories. Evening, when we started to move out saying 'bye' many were reluctant to leave us. Few started crying.It had become a real hard job for us to console them and send back to their rooms.

We enjoy all the luxuries and comfortable with what we have but it was on that day I felt, there are people somewhere who are in need of our love and compassion. The Orphanage gets lot of donations from all parts of the country but people visting it and spending their time with the souls there are meagre.It was a wonderful day full of satisfaction to us.

A few days back I got a forward from a friend of mine Anchal which I thought I can post here. Many would have read it but it is worth reading it again:)

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature doesis done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as otherchildren do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"The audience was stilled by the query.The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay,physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity torealize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the wayotherpeople treat that child" Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone likeShay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."Shay struggled over to the team's bench, put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give awaytheir chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing theother team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead,the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman,outof reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base.He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time.Hecould have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward thirdbase deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases towardhome. As Shay neared third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home,stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grandslam"and won the game for his team.

That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and cominghome and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of theday!

I believe we can make difference.We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the"natural order of things."

Disclaimer: *Vetti: Joblessness;-)

~feni:)

My Expectations on.....

2006-07-17T12:51:00.000+05:30

One of the things I've learned as I've grown older is not to expect much from people. There are always possibilites to pour huge love and energy to a friend or a person whom you like and then see no growth or receive no gratitude from them. It is not that love needs a "paying back", but its a human nature to expect a sign of applaude for our efforts...
If we expect everyone to realise and appreciate on what we have done, then probably we will be deeply hurt. I'm sharing this 'cos even I'm a victim too..In such times, we will end up asking "Is this all the thanks I get".."How mean the people are"...One more fact I learned at workplace is "Everything" is professional.

It is good in those times of disappointment to look at our motives.Do we have the passion to be seen and applauded for every of our efforts?It is from these experiences I've learned something which I want to share.The simple job I can do rite now here is to do my best of everything and leave the results to God.And friends are always there to comfort but none can replace the God "the comforter".

This beautiful poem tells it all...
The service that we do for God
May go unpraised by men;
But when we stand before the Lord,
He will reward us then. -Sper

Cheers!!!
Feni:)

Afterall this is Life....

2006-07-13T16:22:00.001+05:30

We are three"Feni,Shiv and Sugi" when we joined this Project in our firm. Straight from college, though we three are from different colleges and places, we had a fun time at office...Starting from taking long breaks to gossiping about our Boss, it was all fun....We don't have thoughts alike...though something binded us....

It is now this "Shiv" friend of ours resigning his job and decided to pursue his studies abroad...Today is his last day...."I should tell you, this is THE VERY BAD feeling of missing someone and don't know when can we see them again!!! People come and poeple go..But only a few a leave a foot print at heart....And you are one of them..Afterall this is life....

Smile speaks everything...

2006-06-13T12:19:00.000+05:30

I'm famous for my smile( read as grin) in my college and now in workplace too...Always grinning..I just thought i can share a simple fact that I sensed very recently..

A new lab technician "x" has come to our project.He is a typical village guy n very submissive.He is highly talented, a fact I came to know a few days after his appointment.My senior manager brought him and introduced him to all of us.We just SMILED and said a "hi".He too SMILED and nodded his head.Last week, i had a job that needed his help in soldering and stuff like that. While i was talking with him, I understood he is not fluent in English and he has a pucca Kannada accent, the language which I know 0% of it. Somehow I managed to tell him my requirement and got my job done.I should say he does things very efficiently.From that day on, whenever I used to see him or viceversa, he gives me a very very friendly smile from which I can read "how are u? hope everything is fine..Is there any help needed regarding work"...It may look funny but its real..I understood that "smile" is also a language where we can convey things..:) Smile costs nothing...It can even change lives.So,keep smiling and have a nice day:)

The Lord is our refuge!!!!!

2006-03-22T11:10:00.000+05:30

Let me post a wonderful poem which I love..

"Happiness keeps you Sweet!

Trial keeps you Strong!

Sorrow keeps you Human!

Failure keeps you Humble!

Success keeps you Glowing!

But only God keeps you Going!"

Trust in HIM alone!!!!

My love to all:)