Monday 31 May 2010

To Feel respected and Loved is a Joy

Long ago, in the hills of the Himalayas near a lotus pool, there was once born a baby elephant. He was a magnificent elephant, pure white with feet and face the colour of coral. His trunk gleamed like a silver rope and his ivory tusks curled up in a long arc.


He followed his mother everywhere. She plucked the tenderest leaves and sweetest mangoes from the tall trees and gave them to him. "First you, then me," she said. She bathed him in the cool lotus pool among the fragrant flowers. Drawing the sparkling water up in her trunk, she sprayed him over the top of his head and back until he shone. Then filling his trunk with water, he took careful aim and squirted a perfect geyser right between his mother's eyes. Without blinking, she squirted him back. And back and forth, they gleefully squirted and splashed each other. Splish! Splash!

Then they rested in the soft muck with their trunks curled together. In the deep shadows of afternoon, the mother elephant rested in the shade of a rose-apple tree and watched her son romp and frolic with the other baby elephants.

The little elephant grew and grew until he was the tallest and strongest young bull in the herd. And while he grew taller and stronger, his mother grew older and older. Her tusks were yellow and broken and in time she became blind. The young elephant plucked the tenderest leaves and sweetest mangoes from the tall trees and gave them to his dear old blind mother. "First you, then me," he said.

He bathed her in the cool lotus pool among the fragrant flowers. Drawing the sparkling water up in his trunk, he sprayed her over the top of her head and back until she shone. Then they rested in the soft muck with their trunks curled together. In the deep shadows of afternoon, the young elephant guided his mother to the shade of a rose-apple tree. Then he went roaming with the other elephants. One day a king was hunting and spied the beautiful white

elephant. "What a splendid animal! I must have him to ride upon!" So the king captured the elephant and put him in the royal stable. He adorned him with silk and jewels and garlands of lotus flowers. He gave him sweet grass and juicy plums and filled his trough with pure water.

But the young elephant would not eat or drink. He wept and wept, growing thinner each day. "Noble elephant," said the king, "I adorn you with silk and jewels. I give you the finest food and the purest water, yet you do not eat or drink. What will please you?" The young elephant said, "Silk and jewels, food and drink do not make me happy. My blind old mother is alone in the forest with no one to care for her. Though I may die, I will take no food or water until I give some to her first."

The king said, "Never have I seen such kindness, not even among humans. It is not right to keep this young elephant in chains." Free, the young elephant raced through the hills looking for his mother. He found her by the lotus pool. There she lay in the mud, too weak to move. With tears in his eyes, he filled his trunk with water and sprayed the top of her head and back until she shone. "Is it raining?" she asked. "Or has my son returned to me?" "It is your very own son!" he cried. "The king has set me free!" As he washed her eyes, a miracle happened. Her sight returned. "May the king rejoice today as I rejoice at seeing my son again!" she said.

The young elephant then plucked the tenderest leaves and sweetest mangoes from a tree and gave them to her. "First you, then me."

What a joy there is in knowing that you are important in the lives of your family. That whatever you have done you have earned their respect and love.

Need I say anymore?

This blog is linked to my other where I discuss the artwork. Poppy Glory

9 comments:

  1. Ralph, your words make me wonder what heinous act I've done that disables me from my own children having love and respect for me. This is such a beautiful story, one that brings soft joy and a tear.

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  2. Was this post prompted by your daughter's visit? I hope so. I can tell that you are a very caring father. I feel very protective of my own father, too!

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  3. Good Morning, Ralph, I am alive and it will be a great day. What a wonderful, soft, gentle story, you have begun my day with tears! This should be our story, the one we all tell. What craziness gets us derailed from this truth? They are good tears!

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  4. Ralph,
    Again, as always, your words are a blessing to me.
    Nora

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  5. Love the story. Love the painting.

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  6. I had a tear in my eye too; so tender and graceful. However, my position is similar to Autumn Leaves.

    I think it was around here:

    'The little elephant grew and grew until he was the tallest and strongest young bull in the herd.'

    I think I fluffed my son's ego too much. So much so, that he took off full of his own importance.

    I just hope somewhere down the track he will see the light so that he can:

    'raced through the hills looking for his mother'

    You did well Ralph, parenting is unpredictable.

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  7. A very touching story. Avery lovely painting.

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  8. This is such a sweet story. And I love elephants too! Well done.

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  9. a beautiful story that makes everyone think..how are we doing--are we setting a good example? I know that you do, Ralph!
    Great painting to go with the story. Thanks for sharing both.

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