I've been nostalgic and low last three - four days. Benn thinking about the worthless and unproductive life, I've led last few months. 7 months to be precise. But then I remembered those 15 days.
THOSE days, when I contributed to people's lives around me. Those days that were one of the darkest period in my life and yet the brightest. Darkest because life was a mess, while brightest because I taught the deprived kids what they wouldn't get in school. A bit of respect, a bit of English and a bit of math and multiplication. These were kids, who'd take my tantrums and yet laugh with me. Kids from not so well - to- do families. Kids who were willing to teach me as much as learn from me. Kids who taught me how to make photo frames, how to make a bunch of grapes from playing marbles,and kids who looked forward to English vocabulary.
Children who'd fight amongst themselves, who'd weep when I scolded, and who would be almost serenely happy when I smiled at them. Kids who'd try to make me happy by studying harder. These were kids who stayed around because THEY wanted to, not because their parents wanted to. Not because they were forced to.
Kids who made me feel wanted, who made me feel I was worth existing when nothing else was good enough. When my best friends were overwhelmed, not knowing how to handle me, these kids brought those smiles and those tears to my eyes.
I had kept the classes for 15 days only because I didn't want to teach for free, while the children wanted to come for more time, and I denied because I didn't know when I might snap at them. But today, I miss those 15 days.
Lord,
Grant me many more 15 days of this sort. Make my life useful to those around me.
Amen!
©2010 anu (Exploring Myself)
