"The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.(Proverbs 30:17 N.I.V)
Most parents labor in obscurity because invisibility of effort is simply an unrewarding condition of parental life. In fact, because they are frequently ignored, discounted, tolerated, criticized, resented, and resisted especially by their adolescents, parents often feel treated as people to put up with, not care-givers who are sacrificing self-interest on a daily basis to help their son or daughter grow.
Teachers and other caregivers are similarly unappreciated.
One struggling mother tired of her daughter asking whether she could not be dressed more fashionably, told her the parable of the Stone and the Flower.
THE STONE AND THE FLOWER
“You have hardened”, said the flower, bending her petals downward toward the half stone at her roots. “These rains should have softened you, made you more fertile and receptive to the seeds of the fields; but no. You have accumulated minerals and have become more silent and full of calcium. Why do you stay here? Why do you resist the brook that gives us water?”
The stone said nothing.
A number of clouds passed by, the sun set and the night arrived with an immense bronze-colored freckled moon with acne scars upon her worn face and in this manner reflected down upon the silent stone which still had not fallen asleep. The flower, by now, had tucked-in her petals and slept profoundly, and at this time the stone began to answer:
“I stay here because your roots have made me yours. I stay here because it is no longer about my feeling the earth rather because I have become part of that which functions as a support of your stem which resists the wind and the rain. Everything changes, my sweet flower”, said the stone, “but I stay here because love is that microscopic space between your feet and my salted skin. You would only be able to feel it if destiny were ever to separate the two of us.”
The moon followed the fade of the stars. Dawn gave a yawn as the sun began to burn its horizon on the lower lip of the mouth of a new day. The flower awoke and extended her beautiful petals. “Good morning”, she said, “I dreamt that you were singing to me. How foolish of me, don’t you think?”
As for you, remember to appreciate your parents, teachers and all your caregivers and tell them:
“THANKS FOR ALL THE ACTS OF CARE, GREAT AND MOSTLY SMALL, THAT YOU MADE TO HELP ME GROW.”