Most Important Body Part
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, Mother."
Mother said, "Not many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."
Several years passed before mother asked me again. Since making my
first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I
told her, "Mother, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be
our eyes."
Mother 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. Over the years,
Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No, but
you are getting smarter every year, my 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 my father cry. My Mother looked at me when it
was our turn to say our final good-bye to grandpa.
Mother asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear son?"
I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a
game between her and me. Mother 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 were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is
the day you need to learn this important lesson."
Mother looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up
with tears. Mother said, "My dear, the most important body part is your
shoulder."
I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?"
Mother 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 dear 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. People will forget what
you said... People will forget what you did... But people will NEVER
forget how you made them feel.
True or not, the story makes you stop and think. Be blessed. Be a blessing. Get your shoulder ready.