Efforts and encouragements !

Anna and I visited the Cochin port and went on a cruise on a motorised boat. We noticed a large tanker berthed near the port and two fishermen casting their net from a boat for a catch of fish. We watched them for a while and did not see any fish whiny theory drew the net. Till we left the boat they were  still at the sea hoping for a catch.

I remembered this incident when a friend narrated his story to persuade shoppers to use only paper or cloth bags, instead of the plastic bags. The efforts yielded were not proportionate to the outcome. In his persuasion, at least one  shop agreed to stock paper bags, and sell cloth bags. He is still persisting. He was glad that the message is spreading. The garbage bins have lesser plastic bags at least in some residential areas of the campus where he lives.

I have been afflicted with a tendency to give too soon. The first difficulty in any venture is enough me to step back or doubt the value of the initiative.

In the beginning years of ASHIRVAD, when we had least response from professionals and parents to our desire to offer to help to children with special needs, Anna and I thought several times to drop the idea and return to mainstream medical work.

One person, who used to visit us almost every week in those initial years, was Dr. Rachel Chacko, a retired professor of Paedaitrics from Madras Medical College, Chennai, who was the first formally trained lady paediatrician in the city. Her constant refrain to us, ‘be steadfast and persevering’. I liked the way she encouraged and supported us during those years we lived in Chennai.

On 14th November 2013, ASHIRVAD completed 30 years of mission among children with neuro-developmentla needs.

Among many others whom we want to remember specially is Dr. Rachel Chacko, who still keeps in touch with us. Her love and affection has been an inspiration!

There amy be many around who found the going hard. Are we in touch with them to encourage and show the way ahead.

We carry two lessons from these 30 years of the mission of ASHIRVAD. Let us have a determination to pursue when the going gets tough! Let us bring encouragement to others in their need!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)