opportunity knocks once - but you can answer thrice !!

here's a story i remember from my childhood:

there was a poor farmer who lived with his wife and his blind mother. they were desirous of a child but fortune did not bestow them any. they lived a difficult life.

one night, after toiling all day in the field, the farmer went to sleep in the cot placed outside the house for summers. he dreamed of seeing a bright light. it was indeed lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. she was pleased with the industriousness of the farmer and told the farmer that she would grant him one boon.

the farmer began to think about what should he ask for ? if he asks for wealth, they would still be childless, and the mother won't be able to see. on the other hand, if he asks for a child, they won't have money to feed the child, and the blind grandma won't be able to see her grandson. if he asks for eyes for his mother, he would still be poor and childless. "Alas, if i could have all 3 wishes!" he thinks to himself.

the farmer, quite unprepared for this opportunity, finally asks the goddess to let him carefully think about what he really wants! lakshmi grants him an additional day and promises to return to grant him his wish whatever he may decide.

the farmer wakes up in the morning and remembers his dream. he goes to his wife and narrates it to her. facing the situation where they could have one of their 3 problems resolved, the farmer asks what should he ask when lakshmi returns to grant him a wish. but the clever wife had a plan :)

the next night, goddess Lakshmi again appeared in his dream and asked if he was prepared to get his wish. And he bows and brings his hands together saying: "dear mother goddess, i have one and only one desire and that is: i would like my mother to see her grandson being served food in a golden platter." lo and behold! goddess smiled at the resourcefulness and grants him his wish!

so the farmer becomes rich. he now has a beautiful mansion with many servants, his wife gave birth to a son. and his mother was able to play with her grandson live in riches.

value of the moment

here's a poem from my childhood that continues to inspire me, and touches everything that i do....try to do little things right and the big things will take care of themselves....

क्षुद्र का महत्त्व

छोटी छोटी जल की बूँदें सागर को भर देती हैं
बालू की रज् नन्ही-नन्ही सुधर भूमि रच देती हैं
क्षण-क्षण काल इकठ्ठा होकर लंबा युग बन जाता है
क्षण को क्षुद्र न समझो भाई, यह जग का निर्माता है |

छोटी-छोटी सी ही भूलें हमको बुरा बनती हैं
निज सुधर के पथ से हमको कोसों दूर भगाती हैं
दया भरे लघु काम हमारे और प्रेम के मीठे बोल
कर देते सबके जीवन को सुन्दर सुखमयी अति अनमोल |

Translation:

Significance of the insignificant
-------------------------------
tiny drops of water that fill the ocean

minuscule particles of sand that formulate the earth
moment by moment sums up to form an era
a moment is not insignificant by any means...it is the architect of the world !

seemingly insignificant misdeeds turn us into sinners
distancing us away from the path to righteousness
small deeds of compassion and loving and caring words
make (everyone's) life beautiful, joyful and very precious