Gift that lasts

 I realize now, how frequent internet access interruptions can dislocate one's desire to be in touch. I have not been able to post my thoughts for the last four days, as the access to the net that I have had, was not able to upload photos and sometimes even the text. This gives me an indication that my desire to write regularly on this blog may perhaps come to halt as it is unlikely that the speed promised by 2G will improve in the immediate future in the village where Anna and I now live. 

Let me give two illustrations to introduce my theme, 'Gift that lasts'.

Dr. Achamma Balraj, our neighbour while we were living at the Christian Medical College Campus, gave us a pot with a desert rose plant. She has a lovely garden with desert roses of different colors. This Photo was of its first blossom. We gave away this plant to another neighbour when we left the campus at our retirement and Anna and I were delighted to see this plant in blossom whenever we visited the campus, the last being a few days back. A few others have its cuttings which too have blossoms. 

The second photo is the lawn we had in the garden at our residence in the CMC campus. The grass for this lawn was given to us by Dr. Jacob Chacko, who had saved the grass in a pot, when his garden in the hospital  campus was taken up for new buildings in that site. We counted up to 54 such large or big lawns in the college and hospital campuses, which were grown from the lawn that we originally developed outside the Developmental Paediatrics Unit in the hospital campus, from the gift of the pot of grass given to us in 1997. This lawn outside our home is one those 54. The current occupants of the house we lived in, have kept the lawn in its original form, which delights us immensely.  

Both these personal experiences taught us an important lesson. Both gifts we received had the potential to last or perish, depending on how they were received and cared for. Many invest in our lives  their time, love, and care. Their gifts can stay and end with us or can get extended to others depending on how we pass them on. A gift becomes life giving only when its blessings are passed on. A gift turns to face its end, when it is contained or limited by us. 

There is greater value, if we can let the gifts we receive,  get extended to benefit others. A gift is for sharing. In doing so, we value the giver and the gift. Jerome, a seven year old boy, who visits me for consultation, brings with him his paintings, he makes with a water colour paint box, he received as a gift for his birthday. It i a delight to listen to his conversation about his painting. He invites me to share in his joy over the  gift he received. 

May we be those, who make the gifts we receive, last!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)