"Mom, tell us a bed time story', My little children 5 and 4 years old cooing , laying beside me on a cozy bed into the nook of my arms.
"Oh now, o no, I thought to myself. My mood was not good. I was so sad. I cant leave my little children just like that and go away for a Refresher's course for Lecturers in Bangalore. oh not now I cannot invent any story for them as I used to do"
I was taking the class for BA students, then suddenly our principal Sr. Winifred came and told me, ;"Miss!! there is a Refresher's course for Lecturers in Social work in Bangalore, in fact it was already started a week ago and still there is a vacancy for one more lecturer, so you please go tomorrow and attend this course for two weeks"--that was all that she spoke and left.
We lecturers need to do 4 Refresher's courses to get UGC// Pay commission recommended salaries, or we should complete PhD in our subject. This option is given only to some batch of lecturers who joined before 1985 or so.. As I had been in service since 1976 I was supposed to do these courses.
Its a good opportunity for me, but I was not happy to leave my little children like that to go. My husband was working in Railways , in Vijayawada 60km away , in those days to go to that place , he used to take a passenger train to and fro which would make him to go at 6 am and come in the night 10 pm
The responsibility about the children was too much but I used to take it gladly all through even at the cost of stress and sacrificial life. I hardly had any time for myself, all ways hurry baths, hurry gulping of a morsel of food , many trips to the school and hospitals when they were sick , it costs me lot of patience and physical strength .I was in a way used to take all the responsibility and never entertained, not even a single thought in my mind, to entrust that responsibility to any one , yea, not even to their dad. I used to give me relaxation time for him to spend with children rather than any responsibility. In such conditions leaving my children like that going out two weeks is like a nightmare to me.
See I am different kind, I take things very serious, I am made up of some stuff like too much sentiments, emotions, feelings.. may be that was the reason God all ways have to answer me for every cry of mine immediately. For He promised me that He would not bring any temptation beyond my capacity and even if it occurs He would make a way to get out of that. He is so kind and understands me so well, as I often being misunderstood by my very beloved people in close quarters.
Now.. 'how can I tell a story to my sweet little children here ', I all ways tell them a story and pray while they go to sleep nuzzling into my lap. Then I put them on bed. But today the scene is different, I need to be consoled more than they were. but I can't say 'no' to them.
As if I was inspired by God I stretched out my hand and got a small little book, Discovery Digest of Back to the Bible series. which was there on the table along with many other books just beside my bed. When I picked one of them, I found that little book with Penguin picture on it and a chick in between the legs. I did not read that book till then as it was a new book yet to be read.
when I started to read and explain the story to my children the words in that book jumping up into my eyes, and stars of the story were showering on us becoming so vivid...making me and my children accept the situation healthily and happily.
I found myself telling them the story weaving around the dad Penguin, how he need to take care of the little birds for some time while mom Penguin should relinquish; for me Refresher's course to be refreshed for two weeks"
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the book says like this---
. "Finally, the eggs come forth. The mother, even more depleted than the father after laying the eggs, makes a rush to the sea to binge-eat, replenishing her famished self and staving off post-ovum depression.
The father stays around to keep the eggs warm.'
The emperor penguin serves as one of the few examples in nature of a dedicated father. After the mother lays the egg, her nutrition levels are diminished and she must replenish them by feeding in the ocean for two months. The mother's absence leaves the father responsible for keeping the egg
The male tends to the egg when.. the female returns to the sea, in order to feed herself
A father Emperor penguin feed the chicks special liquid from their throats till the mother penguins return to care for the young."
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so by the time I told the story according to the grasping ability and understanding of the little ones, they were so exited to know that dad would take care of them in my absence and dad would cook for them , dad would dress them up , and 'dad would take them to school even?' they asked me while my husband was listening to us while he was reading something.
He said ,Oh yea I will do all that, just as the dad penguin did, and also another good news, your uncle from Intur would come to stay with you too, and I am applying leave for a few days to stay with you " They were more excited with this piece of news and slowly slumbered into deep sleep, and I am excited and into sleep.
Yes, I could leave them into the hands of God and their dad, and left for Bangalore, praising God.
But you know some people like me find a sort of satisfaction in still grieving over nothing.
In Banglore I was so much taken care , good comfortable bed, hot water baths, hot food served on our tables, and lot of food for the brain, good discussions and long long evening walks etc gave me rest and happiness, but still somewhere some how could not detach myself from my sweet home and sweet sweet children.
"Hey Leela what is that bothering you? huh? can you get your children to this place? nooo.. at least can you leave this course and go to them/ ? nooo... then what fun it is to be sad thinking of them..huh? "
Venus from Kerala university was exhorting me..
oh well then I came to my senses, and really started to learn to be refreshed.
When I came home, children were shouting with joy, "Mom, do you know dad cooked potatoes curry so yummy.". it was a great discovery for them.
"wow, they are so happy, by God's grace".
I praised God for His timely stories and also exhortations through a good friend, just to make me realize how much I need to refresh by taking rest to my self. to be refreshed and revived more enthusiastically.
Replinish -refill, top up, fill up, recharge,reload;
freshen; plenish
Refresher's course==Refresh physically and academically and mentally ...
Penguines two months but for me Two weeks.
