When I was young, my siblings and I used to argue over trivial matters. Our father, fed up with our irrational behavior, once said seriously, “tomorrow we are going to attend the Ray Home Sports Day. You must come with me. Perhaps you can learn a thing or two from those children.”
My brother rudely laughed and said, “Dad, Ray is a home for disabled children. What can we learn from them?”
To this, dad responded solemnly, “You will see.” It turns out that my father volunteers at Ray – a home for physically disabled children.
A variety of challenges are faced by the children at Ray Home, including difficulties with walking, hands, speech, and hearing. To assist these children in moving and exercising their limbs, my experienced father dedicates several hours each day as a physiotherapist. The following day, my siblings and I expressed our dissatisfaction as our dad brought us to Ray Home. As he went to assess if any of the children needed his assistance, we found a shady spot to witness the captivating events.
Prior to the start of the race, my siblings and I were already engaged in an argument. However, once the event commenced, other spectators hushed us. The race involved physically disabled individuals competing against each other to determine who could run the fastest over a distance of 50 meters. As soon as the race kicked off, all the children sprinted at their maximum speed. Unexpectedly, one of the girls slipped and fell, resulting in her crying out loudly. Without any delay, all participants immediately stopped running and a few of them helped the girl stand up again.
Witnessing a heartwarming scene, we observed others assisting in brushing the sand off her knees and clothes as they tightly held hands and proceeded towards the finish line. This display amazed my siblings and me because it was evident that the children had no desire to compete against each other. Upon reaching their destination, the audience rose from their seats and gave them a well-deserved standing ovation. Similar to previous sporting events, unity once again prevailed. The children simply desired an ordinary existence where they could run, jump, skip, and play without competition. Their affectionate nature made them endearing individuals who often waited for others while receiving applause from an excited crowd – an unquestionably beautiful encounter that will always be memorable; a true demonstration of genuine love and care. Consequently, my siblings and I engaged in fewer arguments after that fateful day at Ray Home; it was a lesson that will forever remain ingrained in our minds.
