We have the power to tolerate anyone and any situation. But tolerance is
not just suffering in silence. It means going beyond any personal
discomfort we may feel, and giving a gift to whomever we would
tolerate. Giving our time, attention, understanding, compassion and care,
all are gifts, which paradoxically, we also receive in the process of
giving. And, as we do, we will experience our own self esteem and
inner strength grow. We can turn tolerance into strength in this way.
It
is easy to see the mistakes of others but difficult to recognize our own.
We could become tired seeing the defects of others but we could feel
better by seeing only the good. In
life, we meet many people. All are significant and they deserve our
attention and care, even if we are fighting our own turmoil inside us.
The doctor in the following incident displayed true professionalism and genuine
faith when confronted by a furious father of a patient.
A doctor quickly entered the hospital after being called in
for an urgent surgery. He changed
his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He saw the boy’s father
walking back and forth in the hall waiting for the doctor.
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Everything
that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of
ourselves.~Carl Jung |
Once seeing the doctor, the dad yelled: “Why did you take all this time to
come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have the
sense of responsibility?”
The doctor smiled and said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came
the fastest I could… now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work.”
“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm
down? If your own son dies now what will you do?” said the father angrily.
The doctor smiled again and replied: “I will say what is 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 went out happy, “Thank
God! Your son is saved!”And without waiting for the father’s reply he
carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse.”
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Let
my eyes be a mirror for others, reflecting only the best and finest qualities.~unknown |
“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my
son’s state?” commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the
doctor left.
The nurse answered: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in
the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery.”
Every day we live is a priceless gift of God, loaded with possibilities
to learn something new, to gain fresh insights. Every happening, great and small, is a
story whereby God speaks to us,
and the gift of life is to get the message.
By Tim Pedrosa
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Be
nice and smile to everyone you meet. You don’t know what they are going
through, and they might just need that smile. At least for a moment, it
would make a lot of difference to them. Life gives us many such moments
to make others feel better. For tomorrow when you feel low, someone
might smile and you may feel better. ~unknown |
