47 - Utilizing the Spare Time

It was a quiet afternoon. Mama was taking rest. Outside children were making noise. Mama went out to check up. He noticed that children were standing outside the Mission hall. They were plucking the flowers from potted plants. Other children were scattering the flower petals on the floor. Mama called the children. Mama asked, ‘What were you doing?' Children replied, ‘Nothing, we were standing there and talking.’ Mama asked, ‘Who spoiled these flowers?’ Children replied, ‘While talking, we plucked them.’ Mama asked, ‘Those flowers were looking good on the plants or are they looking beautiful scattered on the floor?’ Children did not reply. Mama continued, ‘Flowers are ornaments of a plant. They look good on the plants and at the feet of God. By offering flowers to God, the soul of the plant attains liberation. It considers itself fulfilled.’

Children apologized, ‘We are sorry, Mama. Now, we shall not pluck flowers.’ Mama asked, ‘Don’t you have anything to do?’ Children replied, ‘What should we do? We are feeling bored.’ Mama suggested, ‘Play some game.’ Children complained, ‘Nobody allows us to play in the noon.’ Mama said, ‘Play some indoor game.’ Children inquired, ‘What could we play?’ Mama said, ‘You can write a story or a poem. You can read good books. You can learn to sing Keertan or you can learn music. At noon, if you cannot exercise your body, then you can sharpen your mind. You can draw good pictures. You can narrate the incidents of God to each other. You can discuss new inventions. Why are you wasting time in gossip? You can do any creative activity. Everyone has some talent. We can develop the talent in our spare time. Creative activities give us self satisfaction. We can be helpful to others.’ A child said, ‘I do not enjoy such activities.’ Mama suggested, ‘You are studying in English medium, isn’t it! Can you teach English to those who are studying in Gujarati medium?’ The child said, ‘Yes, I love teaching.’ He told a child studying in Gujarati medium, ‘Come on. Let me teach you English.’ Other children said, ‘We shall make drawings.’ A child said, ‘I will write a story. Mama, would you read my story?’ Mama encouraged, ‘Certainly. Please, write a beautiful story. I will check up everybody’s work.’ The children were delighted. They thought, ‘Mama will check up our work. We shall please Mama by showing him our best work. Therefore, he will bless us.’

All the children were busy working on their favorite subject.

Difficult words:
Invention - A new device or thing
Gossip - Idle talk
Talent - Special, natural ability

Points to ponder:
- Mama teaches the children that even a small living being like a plant could be liberated.
- Mama used to take care that the children should develop their abilities by doing some creative activity.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. At what time children were making noise?
2. What were the children doing near the Mission hall?
3. Where do the flowers look good?
4. Which activities did Mama suggest the children to do in spare time?

Fill in the blanks:
1. At noon, if you cannot exercise ___________ the incidents of God to each other.
2. We can develop the talent ___________ give us self satisfaction.