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A STORY OF APPRECIATION
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Once, there was a young man who applied for a managerial position in a multi-national company. He passed the first interview. The director did the final interview in order to make the last decision. The director discovered from the resume (CV), that the young man's academic results were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until completion of university.
Once, there was a young man who applied for a managerial position in a multi-national company. He passed the first interview. The director did the final interview in order to make the last decision. The director discovered from the resume (CV), that the young man's academic results were excellent all the way, from the secondary school until completion of university.
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The director asked, "Did you obtained any scholarship in school?"
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The young man answered, "None".
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The director asked again, " Did your father paid for your school fees?"
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The young man answered, "My father passed away when I was a child. It was my mother who paid for all my school expenses".
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The director asked, "Where did your mother worked?"
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The young man answered, "My mother worked as a cloth cleaner".
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The director requested him to show his hands. The young man showed a pair of smooth and perfect hands to the director.
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The director asked, "Did you ever helped your mother washed the cloth before?"
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The young man answered, "Never. My mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother washes cloths better than me".
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The director said, "I had a request, when you go back today, go and help clean your mother's hand and then see me tomorrow morning".
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The young man felt that the chance of being hired for the job is high. Back home, the young man happily wanted to clean his mother's hand. Feeling stranged, his mother showed her hands to her son. While the young man was slowly cleaning his mother's hand, his tears dropped. This was the first time he saw his mother's hand wrinkled with bruises. Some bruises were painful that shivers her mother's body when cleaned with water. The young man realized that it was this pair of hand that washed the cloth everyday to pay for all the school expenses for all her children. The bruises paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future. After finishing the cleaning, the young man quietly washed all remaining clothes that were left by his mother. That night, they had a long talk.
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The next morning, the young man went to the director's office and the director noticed tears in the young man's eyes and asked, "Can you tell me what happened yesterday in your house?"
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The young man answered, "I cleaned my mother's hands and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes.
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The director asked, "Can you tell what have you learned".
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The young man said, "Firstly, I knew what is appreciation. Without my mother, I would not be successful today. Secondly, when I help my mother, I realized how difficult and tough to get something done. Finally, I realised the importance and value of family relationship".
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The director said, "I want to recruit a manager that can appreciate the help of others that knew the sufferings of others and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life. Young man, you are hired!".
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A child who has been protected and habitually given all that he wanted in life by his parent, he (the child) developed 'ungrateful mentality' and selfishness. All the while, this child was ignorant of his parent's efforts. He can have good exam results and be successful in life for a while, but eventually, he would not feel the sense of achievement. If we are this kind of parent, did we love the kid or destroy him? You can let your kid lived in a big house, eat good meals, watched big TV screen, but when you are cutting grass, please let them experienced it. After meals, let them washed their plates and bowls. It is not because we do not have money to hire maids but it is because we want to love them in a right way. Make them understand that no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hairs will turned gray and eventually will leave this world forever for good.
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This story continues....
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A few years later, the mother passed away. This young man, while reading the medical report, saw a doctor's comment that his mother's womb dropped. For the first time, his mother's medical secret was revealed. Later on, the young man found out that the main cause was, the mother did not adhere to the grace period of few months rest after each birth of her child. Being single mother, she cant afford to rest for she has to carry on with her daily job to earn a living in order to raise up her children. The mother's womb dropped because of excessive work. Her mother worked very hard to feed her children. The young man was unable to hold on to his tears streaming down.
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ps. This article is in appreciation to my late mother who worked very hard to raise up her children. I love you mom. - jja
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