The three wise ones

I am grateful for the?gifts we enjoy and take for granted that of Health,?Family, livelihood, friends amongst?a long list.

This?year?in??matter of?a few weeks?between August and October 2019, I met?three persons and each of them made me reflect?and think about the blessings I have.

As a respect to their?privacy I shall not?disclose their?names?but perhaps since you may know?my?common friends?and could?figure them out, in which?case do say a prayer for them.

Edith?turned 91 recently and had expressed a desire to meet me.?I thought it was?special as I am of her many acquaintances and yet she chose me.??Edith, a spinster,??has been home bound since the last?few years due to various health?issues including the big C.?She also?experiences severe?pain in her arms almost every day. Even her food intake is restricted due to age. I managed to meet her the next?day after her birthday.?The?one room apartment?had many beautiful?flowers from the previous day. We just?sat and spoke to each other.?She was aware of Donald Trump and the state of our nation. Her mental agility was remarkable. Edith was a regular at the large cathedral?we used to attend as well. What struck me was however that even though she is unable to attend the?church services she keeps a portion of her offerings for each?week, including the special services she?misses.?Even though Edith?is in great pain,?her view was since she is alive, her life must be purposive. Her knowledge of?the Bible was amazing as Edith could?connect various promises of Jesus to her context.?I was also grateful she trusted me enough to disclose plans after her passing away.

Prior to any important event or?a?travel I rush to my barber?Karim, to trim my hair and beard. Karim who is about in his early forties has always been polite and professional and would not?speak unless spoken to.??We got speaking?this time?as I asked Karim how things were.?He narrated that it was only?4 months since he lost his wife to an illness.?He has two children and he has to balance?between taking care of his children and managing his earnings. There was a tinge of grief in Karim’s?voice but yet,?the “ here and now “ is important.?Perhaps he would not have?told me had I not asked him.

I met my classmate from?college Sahil after almost 4 decades?after we graduated. We are of the same age. Some one?told me that he was he had a physical ailment?but I did not?think there could be any but that thought lingered and I did not?wish to believe it. I was visiting Mumbai as Sahil lives there?and told him?where I would be staying. Sahil immediately?said lets catch up and said he would come to meet me.?I was secretly happy as I thought?I heard wrongly about?his physical condition and when we met that evening nothing seemed apparent.??As classmates do,?we caught up about?old times and?what we?did after college we also discovered?common friends in each of our life’s journey. Sahil was the eldest of two sons in his family.?After a while the dialogue was about the?family and I learnt that?he lost his wife about 20 years ago and did not?remarry.?As we spoke he also told me that he lost his parents?and younger brother?over the last?few years.?Then taking courage I asked him about his health, when?he said?“ Yes Emmy, I have had minor health issue, due to Diabetes one of my foot has been amputated from the ankle” I did not know where to?look. Sahil had a resolute?smile and for him this was no setback.?In?fact he is a CEO?in a niche Logistics MNC and despite all his personal?setbacks he has been able to?turnaround?a loss making?India operations to become profitable and reliable, so much so that?his principals have asked him to?continue in this role and he does international travel as well.?

I treasure?the meetings with?Edith, Karim and Sahil and?claim my Christmas Gifts from those interactions.?For me the?these?Gifts?are?gratitude, resilience, and purpose. I suppose each of us?may?take away much from these narratives. In fact?I am grateful for the?gifts we enjoy and take for granted that of Health,?Family, livelihood, friends amongst?a long list. Wish you a very happy Christmas and a Blessed 2020.

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