Healthy and Wise

by Lakshmi Menon
(Bangalore)

I woke up at six-thirty when the alarm sounded. Usually by seven my servant

maid Jayamma comes for work. It was seven-thirty and still there was no sign
of her.

When the bell rang I rushed to open the door for Jayamma. It was not
Jayamma, but her little daughter with a message - "Amma is down with flu
and needs five days leave." Five days! How could I manage without
Jayammma for five long days? Something like a current passed through my
mind. Since she is sick I have no choice and have to grant her leave. Now I
only hope that her child also does not get flu from her. Otherwise, I'm sure
she will have to take leave for another week.

The dirty utensils in the kitchen sink were winking wickedly at me. I walked
slowly and painfully to the sink. Somehow, I washed the vessels and came
out of the kitchen. After breakfast, I couldn't tolerate the sight of a set of
more dirty dishes, floating in the sink.

When the clock struck eight I sent my husband to the office and then my
children to school. With a great relief, I closed the door and came in. Then I
noticed the unswept floor. Painfully, I took the broom and swept the floor,
ignoring the sparkling nail polish on my long fingers.

I took the half-read novel Danielle Steel's "Daddy" in hand and sat on the
sofa, with the fond hope of completing it. Suddenly, I remembered the dirty
clothes lying in the bathroom. If I don't wash them today, by tomorrow they
will pile up. Praying for Jayamma's quick recovery, I slowly entered the
bathroom and bubbled up the soap.

When I saw the sparkling plates and the clean clothes, a strange feeling of
joy and peace came into my mind and I added a new lesson to my
knowledge bank: Every act is of equal importance and every moment can be
well spent.

After dinner, I feel extraordinarily happy today. What is making me so happy?

Is it my husband's sweet words or my children's appreciation for the work
that I have done?
Or my self-satisfaction of not idling away my time, and making use of my
energy in a better way?

Whatever it may be, while going to bed unusually early, with a determination
to get up early the next morning, now I am not afraid to welcome the next
day without the help of Jayamma.

I remember the words of one of my teachers from my school days. "To sleep
several hours before midnight at the time when sleep is most refreshing and
needed and rising up early next morning in good health and spirits to
welcome the hard labours and struggles of the next day, is really a great
thing."