Discover the true power in giving and receiving support. Learn why appreciating the help of others can uplift your life and deepen human connection.
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
~Maya Angelou
In today’s world, this is a potent message. We appeared to have lost our sense of direction and our bearings.
The Power of Help
A young individual who excelled academically applied for a managerial position in a large corporation.
Since he made the final decision, the director conducted the final interview after he passed the first one.
From secondary school to postgraduate study, the youth’s academic achievements were exceptional, with no year going without a score, as the director learned from the CV.
The director asked, “Did you obtain any scholarships in school?” The youth answered “none”.
The director asked, ” Was it your father who paid for your school fees?” The youth answered, “My father passed away when I was one year old, and it was my mother who paid for my school fees.
The director asked, ” Where did your mother work?” The youth answered, “My mother worked as a clothes cleaner. The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed a pair of hands that were smooth and perfect.
The director asked, ” Have you ever helped your mother wash the clothes before?” The youth answered, “Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books. Furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than I.
The director said, “I have a request. When you go back today, go and clean your mother’s hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.–
The young man believed he had a good chance of getting the job. He joyfully asked his mother to let him wash her hands when he returned. His mother showed the child her hands, feeling oddly joyful but conflicted.
Slowly, the young man washed his mother’s hands. As he did so, a tear escaped from his eye. His mother’s hands were so creased and covered in bruises, something he had never noticed before. When water was used to clean some of the injuries, his mother shuddered because they hurt so much.
The young person realized for the first time that it was these hands that cleaned the clothing every day so he could pay the school tuition. The mother had to pay the price for his future, academic success, and graduation by bearing the bruises on her hands.
The young man quietly cleaned his mother’s remaining clothing after completing the task of wiping her hands.
That night, mother and son talked for a very long time.
The next morning, the youth went to the director’s office.
The Director noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes, asked: ” Can you tell me what you have done and learned yesterday in your house?”
The youth answered, ” I cleaned my mother’s hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes’
The Director asked, “Please tell me your feelings.”
The youth said,
Number 1, I know now what appreciation is. Without my mother, there would not be the successful me today.
Number 2, by working together and helping my mother, I only now realize how difficult and tough it is to get her work done.
Number 3, I have come to appreciate the importance and value of family relationships.
The director said, ” This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are hired.
Later on, this young individual put in a lot of effort and gained the respect of his peers. Each worker put up a lot of effort and collaborated with others. The performance of the business significantly improved.
A child who has been shielded and consistently given what he wants would grow up to have an “entitlement mentality” and prioritize himself. He would not know what his parents were trying to do. When he first starts working, he believes that everyone must listen to him. As a manager, he would never understand the pain of his staff and would always place the responsibility elsewhere. These individuals, who might have strong academic credentials, might experience success for a while but ultimately lack a sense of accomplishment. They will complain, harbor animosity, and struggle for more. Are we truly demonstrating love if we act like this protective parent, or are we harming the child instead?
You can allow your child to live in a large home, eat well, play the piano, and watch television on a large screen. But please let them see what it is like to cut the grass. Allow them to wash their bowls and plates with their siblings after a meal. It is because you want to love them properly, not because you lack the funds to hire a maid. You want children to realize that, like their mother, their hair will eventually turn gray, regardless of how wealthy their parents are. The most crucial thing is that your child learns to value the work, understand the challenges, and develop the ability to collaborate with others to complete tasks.
