PARENTS

his was narrated by an IAF pilot to IIT students during a
> > Seminar on
> > Human Relations:
> >
> > Venkatesh Balasubramaniam (who works for IIT) describes how
> > his
> >
> > gesture of booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden
> > flight,
> > brought forth a rush of emotions and made him (Venkatesh)
> > realize that
> > how much we all take for granted when it comes to our
> > parents.
> >
> > My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we
> > went to the
> >
> > airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never
> > traveled by air
> > before, so I just took this opportunity to make him
> > experience the
> > same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I
> > got them
> > tickets on Jet Airways. The moment I handed over the
> > tickets to him,
> >
> > he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The
> > excitement
> > was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of
> > travel. Just
> > like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and
> > we all
> > went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his
> > luggage, the
> >
> > baggage check-in and asking for a window seat and waiting
> > restlessly
> > for the security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly
> > enjoying
> > himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him
> > experience all
> > these things.
> >
> >
> > As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he
> > walked up to
> > me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very
> > emotional and
> > it was not as if I had done something great but the fact
> > that this
> >
> > meant a great deal to him.
> >
> > When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank
> > me. But
> > later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at
> > my life.
> > As a child, how many dreams our parents have made come
> > true. Without
> >
> > understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket
> > bats,
> > dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their
> > affordability, they
> > have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the
> > sacrifices
> > they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we
> > ever say
> >
> > thanks for all that they have done for us? Same way, today
> > when it
> > comes to our children, we always think that we should put
> > them in a
> > good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will
> > ensure that
> > we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys,
> > etc. But
> >
> > we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot
> > for our sake
> > to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that
> > their
> > dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they
> > were young.
> > It is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all
> > those and
> >
> > their life is complete. Many times, when my parents had
> > asked me some
> > questions, I have actually answered back without patience.
> > When my
> > daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in
> > answering. Now
> > I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us
> > realize
> >
> > that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care
> > of our
> > children, the same attention and same care needs to be
> > given to our
> > parents and elders. Rather than my dad saying thank you to
> > me, I would
> > want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this
> > small dream. I
> >
> > do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I
> > will do my
> > best to give the best possible attention to all their
> > wishes.
> >
> > Just because they are old does not mean that they will have
> > to give up
> > everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren
> > also. They
> >
> > have wishes, too.
> > Take care of your parents. THEY ARE PRECIOUS.
> > - KEEP THIS MESSAGE GOING BY SENDING IT TO YOUR FRIENDS
> >
> > Standing for what you believe in Regardless of the odds
> > against you,
> > and the pressure that tears at your resistance.
> >
> >