Day 9844

A rich man once took his eight year old son for a visit to his distant cousins who lived on a farm. He said,” Son, I want you to see for yourself the difference in our lives and the lives of those who live in villages.” They stayed at the farm for a weekend. They watched the farmers plough the fields. They watched them milking the cows. The son enjoyed himself running after the hens and looking for their eggs. They ate the simple meals of soup and bread, sitting crossed-legged at the floor in the backyard.

On their way home, the father asked his son,” Son, did you see how the poor people live?”

“Yes,” said the boy with a wistful look in his eyes. “I realized Dad, how poor we are!” The father raised his eyebrows; surely he had heard wrong! The boy continued,” I realized that we have air conditioned rooms only; they have the air conditioned country side.

I realized that while we buy 6 bottles of milk, they have six cows to give milk to them.

I saw that while we only have a small patch of land behind our house, they have acres of it.

I saw that while we have to go to the rooftop to watch the stars, they can watch them all night and anywhere.

I saw that while we eat bread that comes from a packet with only a thin layer of butter, they eat fresh home baked bread with dollops of fresh butter on them.

I saw that while you jog on your tread mill, they can run anywhere on their land.

I saw that while we have to go to the clubhouse for a swim, they have a whole stream of their own.

I realize now father, how poor we are. Can we visit our rich cousins again sometime?”