There's a Perfect Time for
Everything
For sowing and for harvesting
The story is about a young man - the
only child of his parents.
As the only child he was pampered and no
wish of his was ever turned down. He grew up with the latest toys and a very
comfortable life. As a young man he made good. Managed to buy his own flat, a
car and was able to take an annual holiday overseas.
He was an eligible bachelor and much in
demand and pressure from his parents who were now in their fifties made him
agree to marriage.
He married a girl he did not quite know
but who came from a very rich family. She was also the only daughter of her parents.
She too was well-qualified and had a good career with a consulting company.
Being career minded they both got busy with their work which also involved lots
of travel.
Then the girl got pregnant but was not
too keen to have the child as it would interfere with her career prospects. The
man was keen to have the child because he wanted to shower on the child all the
goodness his parents had shared on him. However, the girl was adamant and the
child was aborted against the man's wishes.
A certain coldness crept into their
relationship and they spoke less frequently and became more and more involved
in their respective jobs.
The man's parents were growing old and
they were looking forward to a grandchild. They would often remind their son
about it. The son said, they were trying but it was not happening. It was of
course a lie.
The man felt pained because of his own
desire to have a child and that of his parents. He persuaded his wife and she
reluctantly agreed. Soon enough she got pregnant, but she miscarried.
When she miscarried, she was part happy
and part sad. She could get on with her career. And, her husband could not
say she did not try. She was also sad for the embers of having a child was also
tugging at her heart. But, for now career came first. She had her eye on the
top job.
After a while she realized that the top
job was not happening. Now she was willing to give it all up. It also dawned
her that she was getting on in years. Now, she desperately desired a child. The
embers were now, in full ablaze. But it was not to be. Every attempt only
resulted in miscarriage.
Having given up her career, she found
herself at home with no child and no career and increasing level of frustration
in her situation.
The man got even busier in his business
and began to come home later every night sometimes after his wife had gone to
sleep.
They were both growing old. They had
lots of money but no child and no joy in the relationship. There were deep
silences between them and when they spoke it was about a chore to be done or an
argument over something insignificant.
The man would often daydream what life
would have been with lots of kids around. He began to blame his wife for her
decision to abort when they had the blessing of a child.
They reached a point in life when they
both realized that they would not have a child of their own. They thought of
adopting.
But, by now the wife had begun to hate the
very thought of children and she did not want to bring a child into their home.
This created further friction in their life. Finally, they filed for divorce
and went in for a formal separation and began to live – each in their palatial
homes – surrounded by complete silence.
The boy’s parents, who were now in their
80’s wondered how did all this happened. Where did they do wrong? Were they too
casual about the match or were they motivated by reasons that did not result in
a good match for their son?
Did the abortion or delayed effort at
having a child cause the series of miscarriages? Did the desire for
professional success leave all other human desires a casualty?
The separated couple may also be asking
themselves, when scaling the ladder of achievement, was anything of any
significance achieved? Did they miss out on something on which you cannot put a
price? Something they both could have equally cherished and would have become a
part of their posterity.
The
Biblical scripture warns us in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the
whole world, but lose his soul?"
It bears remembering: Above all the
abilities we may develop in our life, the ability to do the right thing,
at the right time, for the right reasons, is the most
precious of all such abilities.
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