From an email: A Conversation Between a Pencil and an Eraser

Pencil: I’m sorry

Eraser: For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.

Pencil: I’m sorry because you get hurt because of me. Whenever I made a mistake, you’re always there to erase it. But as you make my mistakes vanish, you lose a part of yourself. You get smaller and smaller each time.

Eraser: That’s true. But I don’t really mind. You see, I was made to do this. I was made to help you whenever you do something wrong. Even though one day, I know I’ll be gone and you’ll replace me with a new one, I’m actually happy with my job. So please, stop worrying. I hate seeing you sad.

 

I found this conversation between the pencil and the eraser very inspirational. Parents are like the eraser whereas their children are the pencil. They’re always there for their children, cleaning up their mistakes. Sometimes along the way, they get hurt, and become smaller / older, and eventually pass on. Though their children will eventually find someone new (spouse), but parents are still happy with what they do for their children, and will always hate seeing their precious ones worrying, or sad.

All my life, I’ve been the pencil. And it pains me to see the eraser that is my parents getting smaller and smaller each day. For I know that one day, all that I’m left with would be eraser shavings and memories of what I used to have.

This is to all the parents out there.

 

From another blog: a recipe for macaroons with plum jam

For all of you out there who love to cook… stumbled upon this blog entry while logging on to WordPress. Go to the blog and read, there’re tons of pictures there to entice and inspire you. Check out the other recipes in the older posts too.

Ali Does It Herself

http://alidoesit.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/macaroons-with-plum-jam/

From Another Blog: An Exceptional Bus Driver

So the world can be cruel. People can be cold and calculating. Most people wish to benefit themselves. We need more compassion, more personal warmth in our lives. I wish we’d meet more people like Al. And, like Al, I wish we could have the courage to give warmth to others. Sometimes we are too timid to initiate positive vibes, making people feel at home before they make us do. In Singapore society, unless we’re acquainted, we rarely take the initiative to get the warmth going. I’m included. Perhaps we need motivation to show us the distance that positive vibes can take others, as well as ourselves.

As my youngest daughter just boarded her school bus for the second to last time this school year, she handed her bus driver, Al, a thank you card. My kids have been riding the public school bus for 10 years now and we have always given their drivers a ‘thank you’ at the end of the year. But it has never been as heartfelt as it was this morning.

This bus driver really made me appreciate how little things can make such a big difference in a child’s life. Every morning Al would say a cheerful ‘good morning’ to my daughter, stating her first name. I’m assuming he said this to every child. He would also smile and wave to me. Writing this out, it sounds almost silly to even consider this to be exceptional. However, this is the first time in 10 years that any of my children have been greeted by name by their bus driver. Such a simple act, but I know it made a big difference in my daughter’s day.

This year my daughter’s school had a competition among all the school bus routes for best behavior. It’s no surprise that Al’s bus won. My daughter actually looked forward to riding the bus, and this is for a ride that took well over 30 minutes that if driven directly would only take about 5 minutes. Not only did Al know the children, he also engaged them in guessing games and other conversations while driving his route. He really became a ‘person’ to my daughter and not just a mode of transportation. When he was out sick for a while, she was really concerned.

Have you had any similar experiences with people involved in your child’s life? Maybe it’s a store clerk or someone you pass regularly in the neighborhood. Who are the people who do the little things that make a big difference? Can you find a way to express your appreciation?