A Blessing!

Suman and Silu were two brother and sister who were the only children of there parents. Their Dad worked in a big building in the middle of the City. Mom worked as social worker in the local slums. She used to go their daily after Daddy and Suman, Silu left for their respective office and school. They used to meet as a family only in the evening after Dad returned from the office. Suman and Silu always enjoyed the evenings because both Dad and mom had several stories to share from their workplace.
One evening mom seemed very upset over something. During the family prayer, she prayed for a certain man named Mohan and his family who were struggling due to illness and poverty. After prayer Mom and Dad discussed about the particular family.
Mohan was a truck driver and was the only breadwinner of his family that comprised of his wife Savitri, daughter Rina and two sons named Raju and Jagu. Both the sons were twins. Mohan has suddenly fallen sick because of which the family has run into trouble. Not that they never had any trouble, but now with Mohan out of work, the family was in real trouble. Savitri tried to provide food by working as maid in two three houses, but that was not sufficient. The three children were studying in the local school but now it was difficult to pay their fees. So they were also trying to find work in order to run the family and provide medicines for their sick father who was coughing endlessly. The question was how to help this family?
As Suman lay in bed that night, he was pondering over his good fortune since he did not have to work for a living. Infact he had never tried to understand how his parents provided them food and clothing, books, chocolates, cricket bats, bicycle and many more. He and Silu always had endless list of things, which they wanted for themselves. And here were three children who are struggling to have a proper meal a day. Sleep eluded Suman as he looked at the costly mosquito net that was covering him from the mosquitoes. Perhaps Rina, Raju and Jagu never knew what that comfort was. Across the bedroom, Silu also was thinking the same thing. Perhaps Rina was sitting by her Father’s bed now. Or was she cooking something? Silu never had to cook any thing at home. All she did was to order her Mom. Yes! Life had been very easy for them. They have been fortunate indeed.
The next morning was a government holiday. So Suman and Silu and Daddy were at home. All sat down for the Morning Prayer. The Bible was read and Daddy read from a portion about a sick beggar Lazarus who died without food and proper food. No one took care of him even though there was a rich man living just near by the where Lazarus was lying by the roadside. After the reading they all sang songs asking Lord Jesus to make them a blessing. Suman and Silu were wondering how they could become a blessing for any one?
Mom was setting the table for breakfast as Suman and Silu came down from their room. They had gone up after the prayer and discussed something among themselves. Mom looked fresh and busy as usual, even though it was a holiday. Was she going somewhere? Dad looked up from his newspaper and said, “After breakfast. We are going to visit Mohan’s family. Suman and Silu, are you going to accompany us or stay at home and play video games?”
Other days Suman and Silu had always gone for a picnic to the park with their parents, but today the schedules have been changed. Suman would have said “no” but something within him compelled him to say, “ Daddy, I too would like to come with you both. Well I do not know about Silu…………”
“ I also want to go”, quickly joined Silu.
“Very well then,” smiled mom. “ quickly eat your breakfast and get ready. I wonder what we can take for them?” Mom was murmuring as she went into the kitchen.
Within an hours they reached the small hut where Mohan was lying inside in a broken cot. Savitri was out for work. Rina was trying to make some red tea for her father. Raju and Jagu were helplessly watching Father as he was coughing.
Mom immediately took out some Chapaties, curry, apples and bananas from her bag. She alos ahd brought some sari’s for Savitri.
Suman and Silu also had brought something. Silu brought out a Barbie doll, which she had received as a gift on her last birthday. She also took out chocolates and a brand new tooth paste which presented to her by her aunt from Canada. Silu wanted to give from what she had for Rina.
Suman seemed to be carrying his school bad behind. Out came his not so very old, T shirsts, and bermudas and also a new pair of jeans.
Mom and Dad were surprised so also the residence of that small hut. With tears rolling down Mohan tried to thank the family who looked odd in his shabby home.

While retuning Suman asked, “ Daddy, I know it is not enough what I have tried to give from my belongings. But can’t something be done for them?”
Daddy was smiling while driving the van, “ yes, Son something should be done definitely for them. God has given us enough so that we can share. I am so proud of you both.”
Looking less tensed now Mom said, “ I am so glad that our children have understood that their good disposition are by the grace of God and what they posses should be shared with others who are in need.”
Suddenly silu cried out, “ Daddy, we all tried to give some thing though it is so small before their needs, but what did you do for them?”
Mom said, “ your Dad has promised to take Mohan to a good Doctor who can treat tuberculosis effectively. Rest is in God’s hand. We can wait and pray for them”
As they drove into their garage, Suman was thinking, “ yes we can pray for the family, and meanwhile as God works for them I can go on and be a blessing for them according to my capacity. Perhaps Lazarus the poor beggar needed some one to be blessing to him by giving love and care. Let me not miss the chance like the rich man.

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True Stories that Inspire: Bold and Beautiful

This is true account of brave girl who is just like you but she did something, which very few can do.
Joni Eareckson was the youngest of the four Eareckson sisters. They lived happily with their parents in one of the towns of America. Joni was the vibrant one always ahead of her sisters. She loved horse riding and even had her own pony named Tumbleweed. Often she would go for long rides with Tumbleweed.
When she was fifteen years of age, one day Joni did some serious thinking about her life. At one of the Christian camp that she attended she gave her life to Jesus. She was assured of her sins forgiven and then began a new journey with Jesus as her best friend for life. Life seemed so beautiful and smooth as she learnt new truths about God from her daily devotions and she enjoyed every bit of each day until one day some thing happened which totally changed the course of her life. Nothing was the same except that Jesus was still her best friend and only that gave her the strength to look at life straight on the face and live a life of contentment.
Onw of Joni’s other hobby was diving. One afternoon as she went diving with her sister Kathy and other friends. She was really good at diving and liked others to watch her dive. So every one waited to watch her great dive into the water.
Poised for the dive, Joni took a long breath and jumped. She slid into the warm silkiness of the water in a graceful curve and…………..
Joni panicked when she didn’t rise or rather she could not rise…she couldn’t move….she couldn’t breathe. Her mind was bursting with fear. Her lungs were desperate for air. And still she couldn’t rise. Her body and mind screamed for help……….
Finally when her sister rescued her, Joni to her horror could see Kathy’s arm around her but she could feel nothing. Somehow they got back to the shore.
Frantically Kathy was trying to rub Joni’s hands and legs. “ Can you feel that”? She asked.
“No”.
Then Joni felt something. It was her sister’s fingers touching her neck. Joni tried to reach out to hold Kathy’s hand but nothing happened, nothing at all.
The unbelievable had happened! At seventeen, Joni was paralyzed from neck down. All she could murmer was “the Lord is my Shepherd, the Lord is my Shepherd.” It was 30th July 1967.
The months that followed were terrible. Joni had to be strapped to the bed. Most of the part of the day she was on her back looking at the ceiling, sometime she was on one or other side facing the walls and for the rest of the day she was suspended from the bed looking at the floor. She could do nothing by herself. Some one had to wipe her face even blow her nose. Imagine not being able to go to toilet or even know when you need to go. Imagine having to be fed, having to be washed, having to have your own teeth cleaned for you.
Joni’s parents, sisters and friends did everything to help her but she had to travel through her feelings alone.
Sometimes Joni was upset about her situation and even snapped at others but one day she prayed, “ Lord Jesus, no body understands my hurt apart form you. I can only get through the days if you help me. And I just can’t imagine how I will get through life.”
Only the presence of Jesus in her heart kept her from loosing her temper, kept her insane through the months and years that went by. She took it as a challenge to live life as it was and not to allow depression and negative thoughts to crowd her mind. She never gave up on life. She was not a coward to commit suicide or any thing of that short.
As years went by she even got married to a very loving and outstanding husband who loved and cared for her. Of course people were there to help her at every thing. Do you think she a boring and worth less life? The answer is NO.
God made it possible for her to travel to different places sharing her testimony with others. Her faith was a living and personal one on the God who is Living and Personal who relates to us. In fact her faith in Lord Jesus kept her alive and not just like a vegetable but full of meaning and substance.
She learnt to paint with the mouth. She would hold the brushes with her teeth and paint such beautiful pictures, which was sold everywhere.
Years later, she is still thankful to Jesus and counts her blessings instead of brooding over what could have been.
How often do we not grumble and fret at little difficulties and huddles? Let us learn from Joni Eareckson Tada to be thankful for all blessings and to live life with the help of Jesus the best friend.
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They never smiled again………

Shyam and Binu were very good friend. Shyam’s and Binu’s daddy were business men in the city. They were very close to each other until a small seed of doubt sprouted and spread its root of bitterness and hatred between them. It was so strong that they became each other’s worst enemies.
One day, Shyam’s father suffered loss in his business, due to a mistake of one of his employee. He was very upset and sacked the employee.
After some days, the employee was seen working with Binu’s father. This incident made Shyam’s father very angry and he advised Shyam not to mingle with Binu anymore because they were enemies.
Binu was surprised at Shyam’s cold behavior at school. Shyam no more invited Binu for a lift in his car while returning from school. Both were in their 12th class and were preparing for the final exams. Previously both used to study together after school but now they were no longer together. This rift was quickly noticed by others at school. Kalia was very happy to see Binu and Shyam going apart because he had never liked to see them together. So Kalia was very happy. He tried his best to create more enmity between them. Binu too became convinced that Shyam was no longer his good friend. H even felt that Shyam was competing with him for better marks in the Final exams. When Binu saw Shyam talking to his girlfriend outside the canteen he was very upset. Without a second thought, Binu went and slapped Shyam right in front of the other students. It was actually Kalia who was playing the trick between them and making them look hostile and rude to each other. Shyam was schocked because he was actually just asking for some help from Binu’s girl friend about the school magazine wheras Binu had clearly misunderstood him. Shyam did not bother to go out of the way and clarify the doubt between them either. He was now surer about Binu’s wickedness. Kalia, through his wicked remarks fanned Shyam’s hatred towards Binu.
Both of them could have sat down and talked but the pressures of studies and the vain superiority complex crept into their clean and healthy friendship. Neither Shyam nor Binu could handle this wave of hatred and revenge that was so overwhelming. It was counted as cowardice to go and short out the problem between friends. It was even demeaning to say “sorry”. Kalia said it was mark of weakness to say sorry or to even forgive a friend. People those who forgive and forget are not “real men”. Hence revenge was the only way. But Shyam and Binu did not realize that their enmity had impacted their studies and everyday life. They both had become, irritable, incapable of laughing at and enjoying the every day incidents.
Thus the rift between Shyam and Binu began to expand and one day the atom of doubt, bitterness, hatred and anger exploded.
It was the final day of exams. Shyam saw Binu riding on his new motor bike. Binu accidentally rammed into Shyam’s Mercedes. The next day was the college farewell function. As soon as Binu was seen parking his bike, Shyam came up from behind, took out his sharp pocket knife and stabbed Binu in the back. Binu did not know it was his once best friend as he fell to the ground unconscious.
Shyam felt a relief in his heart for avenging his enemy but was it really the end?
After one year in prison, Shyam became even braver to portray such skills of hatred. Kalia said it was real courage but was it courage or animalism? Shyam may look like a hero for his age but his heart was never at peace thereafter for he never could smile from his heart again……………….If you are interested to read more from the Magazine, visit prajapatimag.wordpress.com .