Monday Motivations: What If It Was Your Son?!

I had mixed feeling when I read this story recently. I think you will know what I mean. But I wanted to share it because it conveys such an important message. I'll share my thoughts at the end.

A doctor entered the hospital in a hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call ASAP, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing up and down the hall, waiting for the doctor.

Upon seeing him, the dad yelled “Why did it take you so long to get here? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have a sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled and said, “I am sorry. I wasn’t in the hospital and I came as fast as I could when I received the call. And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work.”

“Calm down?! What if it was your son in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son was dying right now what would you do?” said the father angrily.

The doctor smiled again and replied, “I would say what Job said in the Holy Bible, ‘From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God.’ Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace.”

“Giving advice when we’re not concerned is so easy” murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours, after which the doctor came out happy. “Thank God! Your son will live.” And without waiting for the father’s reply he ran out of the hospital. “If you have any questions, ask the nurse!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t even wait five minutes so that I could ask about my son’s condition”, commented the father to the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears rolling down her face, “his son died yesterday in an auto accident. He was at the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he hurried back to his family to finish his son’s burial.”

Wow...some story, huh?! I know there are many times in my life where my actions or decisions may seem strange to someone who isn't aware of what is going on in my world. I'm not the kind of person that is quick to tell everyone (or sometimes anyone) about trials and tribulations in my life.

Maybe my actions could be interpreted as irresponsible, selfish or uncaring to them. However, if they knew what I (and my family) was dealing with they would have a very different perspective on it. Maybe, like the Doctor in this story, they would think the exact opposite and call me unselfish, giving and very responsible.

You never know what is happening in someone’s life or what difficulties they are dealing with. This story is a great reminder to cut others some slack. Let's not be so quick to judge. When we judge, we do so with the limited information we have. Experience has shown me that very rarely does anyone truly know what someone else is experiencing in life. Even when we do think we know, we rarely (if ever) fully understand how these experiences are affecting them. Sometimes we find out later, sometimes we never do. Either way, we should assume the best and treat others with the kindness and respect that we would want from them.

Have you ever had an experience where your perception of someone was changed by information you received at a later time? Has it made you less judging of others actions?


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The Donkey and the Well

Here we are at the beginning of a  new year. 2011. How do you feel about that? Are you anxious to see the close of an especially tough year or do you look back at 2010 as a year of learning and growth, both personally and professionally? Are you excited about the prospects 2011 offers?

As I contemplate the year past and the new year before me, I am reminded of the Donkey and the Well.

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. 

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw. As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.  As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off.

The Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less. 

There will always be 'wells' in life, some deeper than others. While we can't prevent the wells from appearing in life, we CAN control what we do with our wells. You are who you are today as a result of everything you have experienced in life to this point. Recognize the value in the difficulties and resolve in the new year to "shake it off and take a step up!"  What have you resolved to do in 2011? What are you going to continue that you started in 2010? Is there a 'well' in your life that you will now begin to 'step on'?