Topic(s): Pain & Suffering

When I was a child, my mother asked me, “What is the most important part of the body?” Since sound was very important to me, I guessed, “My ears, Mommy.” She said, “No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the answer a lot. So this time I told her, “Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes.” She looked at me and told me, “You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind.”

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge. Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, “No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child.”
Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?”

I was shocked that she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between us and this didn’t seem like the time to play a game. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, “This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I gave you a reason why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson.” She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, “My dear, the most important body part is your SHOULDER.”

I asked, “Is it because it holds up my head?” She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.”

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is one that is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said...People will forget what you did...but people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.                                                            

—The origination of this letter is unknown

“A friend loveth at all times... Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not...” —Proverbs 17:17; 27:10