The Pathways of Our Lives
I was assigned as a community doctor in Pacuan Community Primary Hospital in La Libertad Negros Oriental.
When I came to the hospital, the first thing that I wanted to improve was the backyard. It was covered with a thick growth of shrubs and "cogon"grass which I feared served as a perfect haven for snakes and other creepy crawlies. After a lot of hard work, we were able to replace the shrubs with corn, some vegetables and a small pond. We also created a pathway so that the hospital can be approached from the back.
Since the soil was the type which turns into clay when wet and almost impossible to traverse after a downpour, we had the pathway cemented. Then we planted ornamental shrubs on both sides to of our pathway. We took extra care of the shrubs ... watered them everyday, pulled out the weeds and applied fertilizers until they were lushly green. Naturally, we zealously protected our "babies" from every type of creature which threatened their existence.. EXCEPT on one occasion.
It was raining the whole morning and it was just starting to subside into a light drizzle. I was with our nurse Irene in the nurses' station gazing at our backyard when we noticed a couple with their 3 kids walk through the gate at the back.
When the mother who was carrying her youngest came to the cemented path, she stopped. She looked perplexed and summoned her husband who was tugging on their two other kids. They both looked at the cemented path and had a sort of discussion. Suddenly, and to our horror, the husband deliberately walked on our precious ornamental shrubs followed by the kids then the wife.
Irene and I scurried hastily to the door but it was too late. Much of our precious shrubs were flattened! It was impossible for our "babies" to withstand the assault of four pairs of feet !!!
Trying our best to subdue our anger, we asked them why they did not walk on the pathway. Looking a little embarrassed, the husband replied that they did not want to spread the mud from their slippers on the concrete path!
I never hesitated to walk on the pathway with dirty footwear because I knew that was the purpose of the pathway... to be walked on. Although the cemented path kept us from slipping when the soil is viscous and wet, we gave more attention and respect to the ornaments which served only to adorn.
There are people in our lives whom we take for granted because they are always there, playing the role we think they are obligated to play.
The mother who takes care of the household, the father who works for a living, the teacher who lectures, the aid who cleans the street...
Beyond the fame and fortune recognized by the world, beyond the ornamental plants on the path, are the real everyday people making our lives better.
They are the PATHWAYS OF OUR LIFE waiting to be recognized and appreciated.
When I came to the hospital, the first thing that I wanted to improve was the backyard. It was covered with a thick growth of shrubs and "cogon"grass which I feared served as a perfect haven for snakes and other creepy crawlies. After a lot of hard work, we were able to replace the shrubs with corn, some vegetables and a small pond. We also created a pathway so that the hospital can be approached from the back.
Since the soil was the type which turns into clay when wet and almost impossible to traverse after a downpour, we had the pathway cemented. Then we planted ornamental shrubs on both sides to of our pathway. We took extra care of the shrubs ... watered them everyday, pulled out the weeds and applied fertilizers until they were lushly green. Naturally, we zealously protected our "babies" from every type of creature which threatened their existence.. EXCEPT on one occasion.
It was raining the whole morning and it was just starting to subside into a light drizzle. I was with our nurse Irene in the nurses' station gazing at our backyard when we noticed a couple with their 3 kids walk through the gate at the back.
When the mother who was carrying her youngest came to the cemented path, she stopped. She looked perplexed and summoned her husband who was tugging on their two other kids. They both looked at the cemented path and had a sort of discussion. Suddenly, and to our horror, the husband deliberately walked on our precious ornamental shrubs followed by the kids then the wife.
Irene and I scurried hastily to the door but it was too late. Much of our precious shrubs were flattened! It was impossible for our "babies" to withstand the assault of four pairs of feet !!!
Trying our best to subdue our anger, we asked them why they did not walk on the pathway. Looking a little embarrassed, the husband replied that they did not want to spread the mud from their slippers on the concrete path!
I never hesitated to walk on the pathway with dirty footwear because I knew that was the purpose of the pathway... to be walked on. Although the cemented path kept us from slipping when the soil is viscous and wet, we gave more attention and respect to the ornaments which served only to adorn.
There are people in our lives whom we take for granted because they are always there, playing the role we think they are obligated to play.
The mother who takes care of the household, the father who works for a living, the teacher who lectures, the aid who cleans the street...
Beyond the fame and fortune recognized by the world, beyond the ornamental plants on the path, are the real everyday people making our lives better.
They are the PATHWAYS OF OUR LIFE waiting to be recognized and appreciated.
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