Monday, March 29, 2010

When the world doesn't seem to understand

Jerry’s mother resented her daughter’s loneliness. Jerry was a quiet and shy child always wanting to make friends but, never knowing how. When the all the other girls were busy playing, chatting and gossiping, she watched butterflies and fed school pool ducks. At times, she tried to join them but somehow neither they nor she understood one another and ,the talks more or less ended up at confused ends: more compassionate ones understood and smiled and, the wicked ones ridiculed. And, Jerry knew she didn’t matter even slightest to them. Her mother seemed to be the only one who she can count on.


One day her mother gave Jerry a bright yellow stone and asked her to present it to the grocer nearby. She walked across the street and forwarded the stone to the Grocer. Without much notice grocer took it from her and, pushed it aside. Following evening Jerry’s mother asked again to go back to the grocer and check if he wanted to keep that stone.

“I could keep it Jerry, but it is not of much use and it is occupying space. You know I am always short of space” said the grocer.

So Jerry brought it back

After a few days her mother asked Jerry to try and sell the stone to the local bead artisan for 10$.

“It looks nice and shiny but, I cannot pay more than 1$ for this” said the artisan.

she bought the stone back with her.

Weeks passed.

One evening on their way back to the market her mother and Jerry stopped by a local Jeweller. Her mother took out the stone from purse and passed it to the Jeweler.

“May I know its price?” She said.

The Jeweler looked through his magnifiers, rotating the gem slowly to the side.

After few minutes of careful study the Jeweller said“It is a fine gem. I have never seen one recently.”
“Well, how much can you pay me for this?” Jerry’s mother asked again.

“Can you sell it for 10,000$?” said the Jeweller looking in Jerry’s mother’s eyes through his lowered glasses.

She kept quiet

“Ok. What about 12,000$?” He said again

Jerry’s mother smiled.”That’s ok. I just needed to know its price."

And, they walked back home.

Her mother held Jerry’s hand gently and said” sometimes the world doesn’t treasure you, because it fails to judge your worth. It can throw a gem considering it a stone. But, that doesn’t make the gem become a stone”

So when the world doesn’t seem to know you, know it lacks the understanding of who you are. Each person is a fine Gem crafted by the greatest artist and only He knows every person’s worth.

ps:Inspired by Osho's parable

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