Significance of Parents

I know a wealthy person who, after his wife’s prolonged illness and death, became lonely. Neither his married son nor daughters were willing to adjust him in their families. With little boldness, he married a middle-aged widow. May be, now that his grown up son and daughters fear that their father’s property shouldn’t go to their step-mother. 

So much is the concern that the son has prepared a legal document stating that they (children) have legitimate share in their father’s rental income and mother’s gold and silver ornaments and in any other immovable property after their father’s death. May be there’s nothing wrong in preparing such a document, but then, on a second thought, the delight in having property share will be felt only after their father’s demise. So, with death, comes fortune to everyone.

Strange, but what to say when people carry typical mentality. I remember our old neighbor who was a mason by profession and his wife an obedient homemaker. We heard stories about this person who struggled hard and provided means to his children for proper education. Fortunately, two sons graduated in engineering and the youngest daughter became a medic. 

To keep the story in short—two sons were earning good, got married, bought new flats and settled there. Even the daughter got married and moved to her in-law’s place. Poor parents were left alone, in that old house at the mercy and help of the neighbors. Cruel, uncivil world, isn’t this? 

Okay, there isn’t any problem to build a spacious villa, with impressive interiors and have elegant furniture and facilities. Even people take pride to show their newly built houses. Oh, this is Italian-style kitchen, this is creative furniture and wardrobe, that is cozy bedroom, this is stylish drawing room, that is peaceful study room for kids, this is elegant, modern bathroom…and what not. Unfortunately, what sometimes lacks, is one single room for parents. What’s the worth of such expensive mansion when there’s no space for parents?

I remember, long back, once a preacher narrated a brief story about a wretched son who writes to his parents through mail that after paying the flat rent and children’s school fees, domestic and grocery bills, and other essential errands nothing remains. With this calculation, he wanted to express his inability to send some money to them. What an ungrateful and unmindful son! Firstly, he should have kept a portion of his income for his parents, and then allocate money for other expenses. 

Some parents are so good that they are least concerned to know what their children earn in high figures or what savings they have. They just feel joyous when they see their children happy and satisfied in their family lives. Verily, to have such parents is a double blessing.

Indeed, let this be a clear maxim: ‘Parents deserve respect, love and care from their children’. 

When children neglect their parents, they do injustice. Plainly yes. What’s the worth of wealth and worldliness when there’s no significance of parents in one’s sight?

Image source: Pixabay.com