A boy who became physically disabled due to childhood paralysis had to live as a cripple. During that time, he lived with his grandfather and grandmother. The stories told by his grandmother nurtured a storyteller within him. But no one knew this. By the time he was eight years old and joined school, he could already read and write. He had a good knowledge of Spanish, Latin, French, German, and Italian, but he was weak in Greek. Because of this, his teachers did not show any special interest in him or recognize his abilities.
Time passed. One day, he attended an art exhibition at a gallery. Many distinguished personalities were present at the event. At the
gathering, the famous poet Robert Burns spoke about a poem that inspired one of the paintings on display. However, despite his efforts, Burns could not recall the poet’s name. No one else in the audience knew it either.
At that moment, our young protagonist stepped forward, not only revealing the poet’s name but also reciting a few lines from the poem. Impressed by the boy’s talent, Robert Burns embraced him and congratulated him. “You will one day become a great man of Scotland,” he said. For the boy, this was the first recognition he had ever received. Until then, no one had acknowledged his abilities or praised him. Those words of encouragement changed his life forever. This is an incident from the life of the famous poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott.
Recognizing someone’s talent and speaking kind words is not a trivial act. It is something many of us fail to do. The primary reason people hesitate to acknowledge others’ abilities or praise them is jealousy-the envy of a talent they lack but someone else possesses. However, when we overcome jealousy and offer a kind word, it can transform a person’s life. Praise costs nothing, yet it holds the power to illuminate others’ lives. All it takes is a kind heart.
So, let us try to appreciate and encourage others from now on. Isn’t it unfortunate that even those who pretend to be good often fail to acknowledge or appreciate others’ talents? If our words have the power to brighten someone’s life, why should we hesitate to say them?
Regards
Managing Director
Prof Antoney P Joseph
