“A friend hears the song of the heart and sings it when memory fails.” – Martin Luther
Life in this world is not always a pleasant experience. One after another we see everyone being tortured by various problems and troubles. What gives a human being the necessary courage and energy to handle these problems is LOVE. The love and support of a friend, especially, can be of a great help because it is not very easy to find a true friend. There will be hundreds of them offering their friendship and promising to stay with us. But when it comes to an urgent need we find ourselves deserted by most of them. The value of a friend should not be assessed on the consideration of what he/she does when we are happy and free from problems. On the other hand, a true friend is to be identified form his/her approach to us when we are in trouble.
It happened in a sports stadium in Hyderabad recently. Eight children were standing on the track to participate in a running event. Ready!* Steady!*Bang! With the sound the toy pistol, all eight girls started running hardly had they covered ten to fifteen steps, when one of the smaller girls slopped and fell down, and due to bruised and pain started crying. When the other seven girls heard the little girl crying, they stopped running stood for a whole and turned back. Seeing the girl on the track they all ran to her. One among them bent down pocked her up and kissed her gently. They lifted the fallen girl. Two of them held her firmly while all seven joined hands together and waited together he winning post. There was pin drop silence at the spectator’s stand. Officials were shocked. Slow claps multiplied to thousands as the spectators stood up in appreciations. Many eyes were filled with tears and perhaps even God.
The sport was conducted by the national institute of mental health. All these special girls had come to participate in this event. They were spastic children, they were mentally challenged. But what did they teach the world? Team work, equality among all? Successful people help others who are slow in learning so that they are not left far behind.
“Life is nothing to be very serious about. It is a ball in your hands to play with. Don’t hold on to the ball.”
