A sweet little girl Carla asked her father, “Father, I want a chocolate. Can you get me one? Her father replied, “Sure my child, I love you and I will bring it along when I come to pick you up from school tomorrow.” Carla hugged her father and said, “I love you so much.” After a great fun filled weekend with her family it was time for Carla to go to school. But today was a special day as her father had promised her that he would be picking her up from school and had also promised her a gift. Carla was eagerly waiting for the bell to ring at the end of the day at school. The school bell rang; she picked up her school bag and rushed towards the main gate to meet her father. She saw her father waiting for her outside the school next to their car. She rushed towards him and hugged him with joy. She was so happy to see him that she forgot to say good bye to her friends in the school bus which she usually takes back home. During the drive back home her father removed a big chocolate from his pocket which he had got for his loving daughter and gave it to her. She was so happy and thrilled with the gift and hugged and kissed him.
As soon as the car halted at a signal she quickly unwrapped the chocolate and was about to take a big bite from the chocolate when she saw a shabbily dressed boy selling balloons outside the car who just couldn’t take his eyes off the chocolate. Carla had been taught to share her food with her friend in school and asked her father if she could share this chocolate with him. Her father happily agreed and was glad that his daughter had learnt the most important quality of a successful person; ‘Compassion’, -to treat others the way you want to be treated and also the art of sharing. Carla’s father parked the car on the side of the road and called out to the little boy. When asked, the boy said that his name was Tom he had tasted a chocolate a long time ago and had relished it. He wished if he could have one more today. Carla quickly broke the chocolate into two halves and shared the chocolate with him. Tom had a big smile on his face and was very happy. He thanked Carla for sharing it with him and ran towards the foot path on the other side of the road. Carla’s father was watching him closely. The little boy was dancing and rejoicing as if this was the best thing that ever happened to him. He called out to his three other friends to share the chocolate with them. The moment they saw Tom and the chocolate in his hand they too joined in the celebration and started dancing with him. They were so engrossed in their celebration that for some time they forgot that they still have to eat the chocolate to relish it. After a tiring ceremony or should I say a ritual, all four of them sat together and relished the chocolate that Carla had lovingly shared with them. Carla had made their day. All of them blessed Carla and her family and thanked them for the wonderful gift. Carla father patted Carla on her back and was extremely proud of his daughter for her good deed. Because he knew the importance was sharing goodness. He knew that the more you give the more you get. He believed in the law of nature ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ If you plant a peach seed that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach. He believed that by sharing goodness, all that you get back is good. The moment they reached home, Carla’s father gifted Carla another chocolate as a reward for her good deed. She indeed deserved it.
It may be a deed as small as Carla sharing a chocolate to Tom. However, this small deed of sharing had made Tom’s and Carla’s day because as much joy there is in receiving goodness, there is in giving. Your deed may be as small as a seed but a small seed grows into a huge Oak tree. ‘Giving the way of living.’ A great way of living and greatness comes from within.
Shardul Pacharne
