love them, not FOR who they are, but DESPITE who they are

Michelle came from a poor family. Her mother was struggling, working in several homes. They had to go to bed on an empty stomach many times in a week. Her brother worked but barely made enough for himself. Michelle’s greatest wish was to study so that she could get out of the rut and lift her mum out of the daily grind and misery that she had grown accustomed to.

When Michelle did well in her ‘O’ Levels, her mother was overjoyed. She was not educated but she had always dreamt of seeing Michelle through to University. Michelle’s aunts, though well-meaning, were not too pleased. They were unhappy when she went on to do her ‘A’ levels and livid when she said she was going to the University. They felt she was being selfish. Her oldest aunt, the most vocal and brutally blunt of the sisters told Michelle, in no uncertain terms, that she ought to work and ease her mother’s burden.

Michelle had no doubt in her mind that her aunt wanted the best for her sister- Michelle’s mum- but was looking at short term solutions. She assured her aunt that her mother will live like a queen, when she completes her studies.
Of course, Michelle went on to excel and earn more than any of her relatives did. And she kept her word where her mother was concerned.

But she still harboured some ill-feeling about her aunts who did not want her to continue her studies and made no bones of the fact that they felt she was being selfish. Michelle’s mum – in her quiet wisdom merely had this to say…

They meant well. They wanted me to be happy. Don’t be angry with them. Show them love; show them they were wrong but by doing for them what their own children do not do for them. So Michelle, not only showed them her respect and love; she gave them some money each time she saw them- they never said much; but she could see from their eyes, that she had proved her point…not through harsh words and “one-upmanship”….through love and kindness.

Her aunts have passed on now…and she often thinks about them…very sure that they are pleased to see their sister living like a queen.

moral of the story - our elders may not always be right - but they mean well , in their limited wisdom...be kind to them