Happiness at the cost of dinner!

This post could be unarguably the most important of the ones I've written until now in my blog. I am both happy and more conscious and aware of my life on this planet after the experience I had on 10 Mar 2008; the day is possible the most 'well-lived' day of my life until today. And all it took was a small step. That is why I want to share this experience with all of you so that you could also take that step.

I have been sponsoring a child for about two years now through an organization called World Vision(WV). I must add here that this organization has really shown me how a not-for-profit business can be as professionally run as any other business that is run for profit. Coming to the main subject, this organization helps people like us who are fortunate to have the many luxuries of life sponsor those children who are getting left behind because of the circumstances in which they happen to be born. And this organization not only helps children go to school, they also adopt entire villages and use the funds to develop the whole community through self-help-groups and community initiatives like building toilets, etc. The organization does not stop with taking donations and giving tax exemption receipts in return. They help you bond with the child you sponsor by sending regular progress reports of the child, letters from the child and arranging visits to the child's home if one is interested. This is something interesting as it gives one a feeling of being personally responsible for the child( though one can choose to discontinue sponsorship anytime). It is almost like adopting a child and giving him or her a life which he/she can be proud of and happy with.

So, March 10th was the day I decided to give my sponsor child Maruthupandian a visit as Ganesh(my hubby) and I were traveling to Trichy for a wedding and this village was only an hour's drive from there. The run up to the day was filled with anxiety as I was not sure what to expect; how would the child and his family feel? how would i handle the whole thing? a lot of questions were running in my head. Finally after lunch on Monday(March 10) one of World Vision's staff took us to the child's home. I was so overwhelmed when I saw the child waiting just at the entrance to the road where he lives and on seeing the WV marked jeep running cheerfully ahead to show us the way. His mom and his 3 year old sister were also with him. then we got off the jeep and headed towards his home. I was shocked to see the whole neighborhood was waiting for us. And I was given a VIP welcome bouquet and all. My eyes welled up and when I entered the house, instantly tears gave way to shock. Because, the house was smaller than my bathroom back home. But the warmth and happiness of all gathered was thick in the air and I was more than happy. We had bought some gifts for the child and his sister and the family. i gave them all, all the while smiling away with joy like I've never experienced before. Then came a big surprise!!! The family had got me a gift! It was a small but beautiful gift. Then I started relaxing as we got talking - about the child's school, his daily life, his family's occupation, his sister and also about the other neighbor's story. I know I am going on and on without making any big point. It's just that I haven't been able to put the feelings I felt that day, in that house, into words yet. And I don't think I will be in the future. It was just a great experience which made me feel so happy with myself and my life. A feeling of a truly well-lived day. Also, a lesson in how I'm wasting life cribbing about small things when there are so many people with much more pressing needs.

By the way, do you know how much I give from my pocket each month for this wonderful feeling of joy and happiness? Six hundred rupees - lesser than what we all spend on an average for dinning out every week! Think about it. And then if you want to act on it log onto www.worldvision.org.