I was having a conversation with my almost 90 years old granny , just sitting by her side , listening to her stories when she started talking about Japanese occupation in Malaya ( not for the first time of course :) . Still, i was interested to hear her experiences again and again. But his this time she had a story that was new to me. Somehow she missed that one part all these years , so i was paying attention to every word with interest.
My late grandpa was a trailer lorry driver then, both my grandma and grandpa came from India only to be thrown into the Japanese hands. Living in a scanty home, they both survived with meagre food supply. My father ( their first child) was just a toddler then.
It was in this situation one day, my grandpa falls ill, having stomach upset and fever, lying at home unable to go to work. My grandma decided to make some plain rice porridge for him. And thats when she realised there was no salt at home. She had no heart to serve unsalted plain porridge for my grandpa and sat there pondering over the hopeless situation she was in. She ONLY had rice and thats it...so,she started praying to "Kaliamma"(Goddess Kali ) asking for help, for some salt at least. It was then, she heard someone at the door. It was one of our relatives who also came from the same village in India. He says, here..i went to the shop and managed to get some extra salt...you can have this ! My grandma couldnt believe what she was hearing. She thanked him and her Kaliamma for the MIRACLE. She then made the plain rice porridge seasoned with the miraculous SALT !
Now, do you know what amused me when she told me this story ? Its Not even about what hard life she had been through at such a young age , still a teenager then ! And its not even about her faith in her Kaliamma ...no, what amused me was, that she was able to tell me that story without feeling sorry for herself ...not a tear drop while recalling such a difficult moment !! She NEVER blamed anyone for having gone through a pregnancy with potatoes and plain porridge alone ! Never blamed the Japanese for holding their guns pointed at her demanding to give them food ! Never angry at my Grandpa for bringing her to Malaya away from home and relatives...without the help and love of parents and siblings. She couldnt speak english or malay then...she had no one here to help while she was pregnant when my grandpa goes off for days driving the trailer. No, she blamed no one...no regrets ! No tears ! She never a moment blamed God !!
BUT ...
She was totally thankful for that small packet of salt her "Kaliamma" gave her for the porridge !! She told me, thats how kaliamma had helped her through her life ! I have not heard her utter another name but "Kaliamma" all my life !
And today, after bringing up 7 kids...all educated and married and doing well, she is content with her whole life like it was simply PERFECT ! And that is why she had no tears....she saw the bright side always...she has not read the Secret ...she knows nothing about law of attractions or positive vibes..she knows nothing about meditation or mantras...she doesnt chant or even fast....she is not a vegetarian. But she has 101 percent faith in Kaliamma...and that did it ! she was saved ! a living proof for what faith is about !
She finished her story and cont talking about other things like it was no big deal to go through such situations. But i was sitting there looking at her beautiful face, thinking....
I have so much to learn !!! To have FAITH UNSALTED ! :)
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