My
hands
Every time when I look
at my hands, I think of my mother.
There was one time when
we were at the jewellery shop. She was trying on a sapphire ring. As she
stretched out her right hand to see if the ring looked good on her finger, she
sighed and took off the ring.
"No ring will
look good on my fingers. You see, they are so wrinkled."
Now I realize the
heaviness of that sigh. My hands look
exactly like hers then.
People age if they are
blessed with longevity. But is long life a true blessing? It is, generally
speaking, if one possesses these three basic assets – fund, friends or family,
fitness. Missing one, life can be very miserable. Think of these scenarios -
rich and surrounded by lots of family members and friends but bed-ridden or
rich and healthy but lonely fearing that everybody is after his wealth.
Even those who have
the good fortune of being healthy, well-off with no financial worries, loved by
spouse, children and grand-children can still be unhappy. These are the people
who are reluctant to accept the fact that they are aging. No matter how healthy
one is, he has to admit that he is no longer young and that his looks, his life
vital signs etc. are changing. How one deals with all these determines whether he
can age gracefully and happily.
Often we hear adult
children nagging about their aged parents saying that they are like babies
again. Sarcastic as this remark is, there is truth in it. The elderly want
attention. To solicit that, some might “fake” sickness such as coughing their
lungs out. They render themselves a burden. Others would stretch out their
helping hand and putting their fingers in all their children’s pies. They make
themselves a nuisance.
How should the elderly behave so as to be
loveable? Well, be like good children – don’t speak unless asked, don’t ask if
not told and above all, always be there when approached.
