That night Misha got into a fight with her mother and left the house. On the way, she remembered that she had no money in her pocket, nor did she have any coins to call home.

Soon she crossed to a noodle shop. Suddenly, the aroma of noodles made her hungry. She wanted a bowl of noodles but had no money.

The shopkeeper saw her standing in front of the counter and asked, “Hey dear, do you want to eat a bowl of noodles?”

“But… I don’t have money.” She answered hesitantly. “Don’t worry, I have a solution for that too.” The shopkeeper said. “Come in, I’ll make you a bowl of noodles.”

A few minutes later, the shopkeeper brought her a bowl full of hot noodles. A few minutes after eating it, Misha started crying.

“What happened child?” the shopkeeper asked.
“Nothing! I’m just overwhelmed by your kindness.” Misha said, wiping her tears. “A stranger on the street gave me a bowl of noodles, and my mother kicked me out of the house after a small fight. What she did was wrong!!”

The shopkeeper remained silent for some time and kept listening to her. Then when she finished the noodles, he sat down beside her and asked her very patiently and affectionately, “Dear, why did you think so? Think again!! I just gave you a bowl of noodles and you felt a sense of gratitude…while your mother has been nurturing you since you were in her womb, even before you were born. Have you ever paid any attention to her? Have you ever felt heartfelt gratitude towards her?”

Misha was shocked to hear this. She thought to herself, “Why didn’t I ever think so? A stranger’s bowl of noodles made me feel grateful and I’ve never felt such gratitude for my mother, who has raised me since childhood. I didn’t even have the slightest feeling of it.”

At that moment, she got restless to meet her mother. A while ago, there was hatred for her mother in her eyes, but now she had tears of love for her mother.

She thanked the shopkeeper wholeheartedly and went back home.

As soon as Misha reached home, she saw that her mother was waiting at the door. She looked worried and tired and was looking for her everywhere. Seeing Misha, her mother said softly, “Where did you go Misha, come in, dear. You must be very hungry. I have prepared your favorite rice for you. Come eat it while it’s still hot.”

Misha ran to her mother and started crying in her arms. The mother’s heart was also filled with love, the atmosphere was brimming with love.

Sometimes, in life, we get so moved by a stranger’s small kindness that it becomes easy to appreciate them and be grateful to them. On the other hand, we tend to take for granted the love and support of those with whom we are very close, especially our parents. We get so used to their love, care, encouragement, support, and sacrifice that we see all this as their responsibility towards us, and start thinking of ourselves as deserving of it all!

And often without even thinking about it, we vent our anger on them!

The love and concern of parents is the most precious gift that is given to us from birth. Although parents do not expect anything from us in return for our upbringing, still we never think about what we can do for our parents, who love us more than we do!!

A loving embrace and respect for them from the bottom of our hearts, perhaps that will bring them the happiest moments!

♾️

“There is no place for expectation in love, there is only a place for gratitude. That is why love is the culmination of human nobility.”