Reading Transforms A Person: A Story of Grandfather And Grandson

A story of a Grandfather and Grandson reflects on why reading should be a part of daily routine:
An old farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. One day his grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagavad-Gita just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagavad-Gita do?

The grandfather listened to him quietly and replied, " Take this basket of coal down to the river and bring me back a basket of water".

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. After having tried for twice or thrice, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house.

The boy did it again. The result was same. Out of breath, he said, "see Grandpa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realised that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, you might not understand or remember everything of what you read, but when you read it, you will be changed inside out."

Reading helps one learn new things and in turn helps one being creative.
And Changes The Way One Looks At Life.

The Tree Analogy of People

I have this tree analogy when I think of people in my life, be it friends, family, peers, whomsoever... They are all placed inside what I call my tree test. And it goes like this.

There are three kinds of people in life:

1.      Leaf people - Some people come into your life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can’t depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone.

2.      Branch people – There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it’s possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it’s tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them.

3.      Root people – If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you.

Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are few roots. 

Look at your own life. 

How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? 

What are you in other people’s lives?

Thank GOD for the ROOTS!

Courtesy: Tyler Perry