Be Thankful for Little Mercies………..

At one of the construction sites that I visited in the suburbs of Mumbai, a building construction work was going on at full speed. Lots of poor laborers were hired and were working there from morning to dusk. They could not afford to send their small children to school as they were very meagerly paid by the contract workers. They did not have the means of buying basic toys for them.

Their small children devised few games for themselves and played amicably with each other. This new game that they played was called ‘Train-Train’ where each child used to hold onto one another’s shirt and play this game which they loved. Some boy would become the engine and others would become bogies.  Every day these children used to take turns becoming the engine and bogies. They never asked for anything more from their parents as they were completely satisfied with what they had.

I observed that there was one small boy of about eight years old wearing only a half pant who used to hold one small green cloth in his hand and become the guard daily. He was not given to play the part of bogies at all. So I went to him and asked him: “Son, don’t you also wish to become an engine or a bogie some time? He very softly replied: “Didi, I don’t have a shirt to wear so how will the other children catch me to make the train?” I could see the slight wetness in his eyes and I felt so bad for him. But the next moment he very happily went to play with the other kids not bothered whether he got the chance to become an engine or a bogie.

Once I went home, this whole incident got me thinking. The boy could have cried his lungs out or thrown a tantrum as he did not have a shirt like the other kids or simply sat at home sulking and being angry and harassing his parents for not giving him a shirt to wear. He was happy in his shorts and knew that his parents could not afford to buy toys for him but instead he chose to be happy and found another way to play and enjoy himself with the rest of his friends.

In life we don’t get all things we desire and we keep complaining at all times. Our children have been given enough, yet with grumpy and angry faces they will say, I don’t have a bike, I don’t have a car, I don’t have great parents, this or that and many more and they are never ever satisfied with what they have got. Even we are like this and our needs and wants never seem to be fulfilled. We are never grateful for whatever we have got and then we tend to become miserable and blame life and their circumstances.

Life is like what we make of it. We need to make it more beautiful and having an attitude of gratitude is the most important thing in life. Be thankful for the little mercies that are showered on us daily and thank Him who has given us enough. The laborers and their children were so happy in whatever they had and were so satisfied with life.  A life of Love, Happiness and Contentment is always important than having a materialistic way of life.

Life is to enjoy with whatever you have with you, keep smiling……….!