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Sitaram
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Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 1079
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 Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 11:28 pm Post subject: Advice to a Stepson in College |
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| Sitaram wrote: | The other night, as your mother was going to sleep, she said to
me, "Promise me only one thing, that if I die, you will help my son
to finish college."
I answered her, saying, "I will always help him in any way I can."
Of course, I am not wealthy, nor am I in the best of physical
conditions, so I am limited in the ways I can help you.
But I hope I have helped you these past 10 years by example.
It is very likely accurate to say that during the years you have
known me, since you were age 7, there is hardly a day that you have
seen me without a book in my hands, first thing in the morning, or
last thing at night. And perhaps you have noticed that I never dress
up and leave the front door without having at least one little book
in my pocket (though often I have two or three). What you have seen
in my daily life is a valuable lesson of example. Try to always
learn something new and different each day and even each hour if you
find the energy and discipline to do so. Try to do this throughout
your life, and not just during your years of formal education.
Each of us is given only so many minutes in life (though no one may
know exactly how many), but try to use each minute wisely.
Be proactive and do not procrastinate. Finish work first (and start
early), only then should you feel free to play and relax.
Before you utter any sentence, any statement, any remark, think first
of the consequences, for once something is said, you may never take
it back. Also, have an eye and mind to the quality of what you say.
If you always strive to say a few new and fascinating things, then
you will not only uplift and possibly change the lives of those who
hear you, but you will definitely grow and profit yourself, since you
will always be pushing yourself in the direction of quality of
thought, quality of speech.
I shall always remember the day when you were about 8 or 9 years
old. I watched you toss a small ball against the wall and catch it
for over an hour. When you had finished your pastime and turned to
me, I scolded you gently by saying "You have just spent an entire
hour tossing that ball, and you have nothing to show for it, nor are
you any happier now because of your activity, but are still just as
bored. But IF you had spent that hour reading, or viewing something
educational, or engaged in a meaningful discussion, why then you
might have something of great value, and you would definitely no
longer be bored, since you would have something of interest to occupy
your mind."
Words are very powerful. God chose to incarnate as Word or Logos.
Words can wound. Words can heal. Words can create. Words can
destroy. Make words your tools. Make language your friend.
An education is nothing more than learning to use words. If you can
recall the proper words on a black sheet of paper, you can pass a Law
Bar exam or earn a CPA. If you say the proper words in the proper
way you can win elections.
Make words your friends and companions and language your tool and
weapon.
====================================
(here is the reply):
Thank you so very, very much for the kind words of advice.
They seem to come at the most fitting moment too, for I am
reading your words right now, as I sit alone in my dorm,
trying to figure out ways to keep myself motivated and inspired
to continue to work hard. Well, your advice of trying to keep
learning as a main focus in life pretty much made that task a lot
easier. Really, thank you very, very much for your E-mail.
I know I never say it to you or Mom enough, but I miss you, and
I really do love you. I don't know if I could ever really express to
you, in person, how happy and how grateful I am to have you two as
some of the greatest influences in my life...when I've tried in the
past, it only resulted in my becoming overwhelmed with emotion, and
then petering out. I really don't know of any other set of parents
that could have done a better job than you did on me.
Thank you, both of you, so, so much. |
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