A smile on the face and gratitude in the heart
My friend’s father left for his heavenly abode recently. Loved and admired by all, a large number of people poured in to share their grief at the ‘bhog’ ceremony. A pall of gloom descended on the prayer hall as everybody was empathising with his family. Some of his close friends made soul-stirring speeches.
Just then the Pandit ji, who was conducting the ceremony, made an announcement. He informed the gathering that my friend’s father had pledged his eyes and kidneys. The family had honoured his wish and promptly informed the doctors.
Applause reverberated in the room. Everyone was overwhelmed. For a few moments, there was no sorrow, only gratitude. The sadness had given way to a strange form of joy. Tears turned into praise of the departed soul.
Amid all this, a 10-year-old girl stood up. She was there to express gratitude to the divine soul, whose kidney had saved her father’s life. Two more relatives of the patients who had received his eyes and second kidney also came forward to share their life-changing experience.
In his death, my friend’s father had given a new lease of life to three people. Can there be a nobler gesture towards mankind? It was a moment of reckoning and realisation. What an act of kindness! The happiness of the recipient families was beyond words. He had not died but continued to live through them.
Giving life to someone is an act next to Godliness. He showed the world that you need not enter into a competition to be called a winner. You can simply be great by such exalted deeds. Man has not been able to conquer death but he has certainly won over life.
His family members, who adopted a balanced approach, in such a trying time also deserved applause. It takes a brave heart to respect such a call.
Such magnanimous acts are still new to our society. Yet, it’s heartwarming that people are waking up to this reality. We are gradually learning to help each other in the most humane manner. The heart swells with pride to see that some of us are moving away from redundant customs.
How many of us are willing to embrace death which brings glory, blessings and gratitude to our souls? There is a journey beyond and God is watching over us. There is no better way to bring dignity to our lives than by giving the same respect to others.
I’m truly indebted for this revelation in the journey of my life and am ready to take the pledge. I earnestly hope that from now on whenever someone dies, the death does not go waste. Somewhere someone should have a smile on the face and gratitude in the heart.
MAN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONQUER DEATH BUT HE HAS CERTAINLY WON OVER LIFE