But we can do small things with great love.”

  – Mother Teresa

All of us may not be in a position to donate whopping sums to charity, but we all can do small acts of kindness with great love. Kindness can be expressed through simple acts like extending a helping hand, feeding a hungry person, giving an approving smile, sharing a genuine compliment, speaking an encouraging statement or educating a poor child. I was once again reminded of the beauty of Mother Teresa’s quote when a couple of days back, I received this note from a student:

I was deeply touched. The selfless, unconditional love and concern that this young boy has shown towards those children is a beautiful example of humanity.

The incident of helping an elderly couple that he talks about had happened a year and a half ago. With only 5 minutes for my class to start, I was hurrying towards the Mechanical Engineering Block after a meeting in the Administrative Block. As I pulled off my car, I was stopped by the security guard asking me if I was headed towards the main gate. After telling him that I was headed towards Mechanical, I turned towards my destination. It was only when I had almost reached the Mechanical Engineering Block that I figured out the reason why the guard had asked me that question- he was trying to facilitate the move of an elderly couple from the Administration Block parking to the main gate. As the university campus is huge (approximately 600 acres), distances do matter there, especially for the elderly or unwell if they have to negotiate the distances on foot. With only 2 minutes left for my class to start, I had two choices: 1) To reach my class on time; or 2) To turn back and help that couple.

I don’t like being unpunctual for the very reason that our students learn more from what they see us doing rather than from what we preach them. However, to be in a helping situation and not rendering help causes me significant emotional discomfort which can only be alleviated by extending the necessary help. I chose the second option, reversed my car, picked up the couple from the Administrative Block Parking, dropped them to the main gate and reached back to the Mechanical Engineering Block for my class. I was late by a few minutes, but because I felt happy and satisfied, in the remaining fifty minutes, I was able to deliver more than the content of one hour!

As the incident was fresh, I happened to narrate it to my class. At that time it was a routine event, nothing extraordinary but what makes it special to me today is the meaning and significance that my student has attached to it by taking it further. I feel greatly blessed to have students like him.

Surprisingly, though we do not expect to be paid back for kindness, it has mysterious ways of reaching back to its source. A week back when my son was returning from Mumbai, his extra luggage had exceeded by several kilograms. He was helped by an elderly gentleman!

This is just one random example of how even the smallest and simplest act of selfless concern flows in the universe blessing both the receiver as well as the giver. I have been fortunate to have experienced many such blissful coincidences. The goodness of goodness is in its flow, pure and selfless.

We must let our goodness flow…

Why should it ever be withheld, just because it may not be big enough.

Even the smallest acts of genuine care, may touch a life in unexpected ways.

Creating ripples of bliss and joy…

And then it gently touches base with the source, blessing it with

pure happiness.

-Pummy Sheoran