A Heartfelt Reminder: How Do We Treat Our Aging Parents with Patience and Love?

An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated son. Suddenly, a crow perched on their window.

The father asked his son, "What is this?"

The son replied, "It is a crow."

After a few minutes, the father asked his son the second time, "What is this?"

The son said, "Father, I have just now told you 'It's a crow'."

After a little while, the old father again asked his son the third time, "What is this?"

At this time, some expression of irritation was felt in the son's tone when he said to his father with a rebuff, "It's a crow, a crow."

A little after, the father again asked his son the fourth time, "What is this?"

This time the son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later, the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:

"Today my little son, aged three, was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated; I rather felt affection for my innocent child."

While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this," the father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times. And when today the father asked his son the same question just four times, the son felt irritated and annoyed.

So, if your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble, and kind to them.

Regards,

RAJ

It's a touchy story that reflects the expectation of the same affection we gave to our small kid. In healthier relationships, one should not expect it; rather, it should come naturally.

Raakesh

Hi, the story was weird. When the kid asked the father, he was small and did not know it was a crow. The father, in spite of knowing it was a crow, was asking his son just to prove a point.

Though I know that already many have praised you for this, and just one more praise would hardly make any difference... But still, I have to say... It's a very beautifully written short story, but the important part is that we should not just read it, praise it, and forget it... Some stories like Snow White are always to be remembered... This is one of those sweet stories, which I'll always remember and keep in mind. May God bless you. Regards, Fatima

A very simple and effective way to remind those who misbehave or raise their voice with elders is that we should think twice before doing so. I'll keep that in mind.

Deepa

Friend,

Crow is just an example. Please try to take the lesson from the story and not the contents.

Thanks,
Raj

That was so wonderful! To this, I would like to add one thing: one should never, never forget their parents and whatever they have done for them. After all, it's because of them that we are here.

JYOTI

My father used to tell me this story when I was very young. It serves as a good reminder for us to keep our values and respect our elders.

A good story and a reminder for us to treat our parents and other elderly people properly and with compassion.

Regards,
Vasudev

Hi all,

It is very easy to write comments, but the practical aspect is always more influential and sets an example for others. How often have we found ourselves in pain, and it is our family, especially our parents, who are there to help us without any personal gain? We are literate, but how many of us are truly educated? I especially feel that a person working in HR is more mature and able to understand human behavior. We can make a difference, and it is the duty of all HR members to instill this sentiment in the new generation. We can at least start within our company where numerous people work.

Hope the message is clear.

Suresh

A touching story; a crowing story; well, apparently it may seem to be the great patience of the father. Now, the grown-up son is impatient; yes, apparently true. Equally, the impatience of the grown-up son should be given an empathetic understanding.

Well, a child keeps on asking because to a child, the world looks ever fresh, and a child always takes it as it is without any pre-recorded name and form. The moment the figure it sees is a crow, it is registered, and the freshness of the brain starts fading.

ANYTHING DEFINED IS CONFINED.

Regards, V. Ranganathan
Sales and Self-Development Trainer