ALL SAID AND DONE.. A TRUE SERVICE IN TOTALITY!

Once, a Master asked a group of disciples thus..

• “Suppose a friend of yours leaves his advance aged parent with you for a day under the pretext of some urgent work but goes around for his own relaxation/merry making..

• You, suppose at that point of time fully knowing the friend's intentions still accept the task not able to say 'NO' there.. 

• In such a scenario, if the parent develops some urgent requirement on the health front which needs your time, energy, money and attention and further the friend can't be contacted at that moment, what is the best course of action you would like to follow in that situation?”

A few replied on their own perceptions what to do and the Master smiled and looked at the others who were silent all the while. At length, one disciple with all humility said thus..

“Reverend Sir!

• It's no doubt that one should never leave the responsibility of taking care of such a parent with any one else around for own enjoyment in life and that way the individual is surely committing a great sin in doing that.. 

• And who knowing all this accepts the care of the elderly man just because he could not say 'NO' on the face of the request is equally committing a sin..

• But that having happened, at the time of prime need, the one given the temporary charge of the parent if stops the required service to the elderly person, he is sure committing a greater sin..

• It's imperative in such a situation that the man takes care of the friend’s parent in the best way as required and handover that responsibility as soon as the friend is located or returns on his own.. 

• Further it's better there, he doesn't ask for the return of that spent on the elderly in that connection unless the amounts go beyond his affordability.. 

• It's equally important that he firms up and never feels weak in saying 'NO' in all such future instances whoever be at the other end..

• And finally to say, it's the best discipline if the man subsequently speaks nothing of the service he had done in the absence of the original caretaker thus avoiding criticizing the friend in the process!”

The Master smiled and said,

“God bless you dear! A true service to humanity in total ultimately lies in such actions alone!”

Keywords: humanity, service