Mymotherusedtoaskmewhatisthemostimportantpartofthebody.ThroughtheyearsIwouldguessatwhatIthoughtwasthecorrectanswer.WhenIwasyounger,Ithoughtsoundwasveryimportanttousashumans,soIsaid,"Myears,Mommy."
Shesaid,"No.Manypeoplearedeaf.ButyoukeepthinkingaboutitandIwillaskyouagainsoon."
Severalyearspassedbeforesheaskedmeagain.Sincemakingmyfirstattempt,Ihadcontemplatedthecorrectanswer.SothistimeItoldher,"Mommy,sightisveryimportanttoeverybody,soitmustbeoureyes."Shelookedatmeandtoldme,"Youarelearningfast,buttheanswerisnotcorrectbecausetherearemanypeoplewhoareblind."Overtheyears,Motheraskedmeacouplemoretimesandalwaysheranswerwas,"No,butyouaregettingsmartereveryyear,mychild."thenlastyear,myGrandpadied.Everybodywashurt.Everybodywascrying.MyMomlookedatmewhenitwasourturntosayourfinalgood-byetoGrandpa.Sheaskedme,"Doyouknowthemostimportantbodypartyet,mydear?"Iwasshockedwhensheaskedmethisnow.Ialwaysthoughtthiswasagamebetweenherandme.Shesawtheconfusiononmyfaceandtoldme,"Thisquestionisveryimportant.Itshowsthatyouhavereallylivedyourlife."Isawhereyeswellupwithtears.Shesaid,"Mydear,themostimportantbodypartisyourshoulder."
Iasked,"Isitbecauseitholdsupyourhead?"Shereplied,"No,itisbecauseitcanholdtheheadofafriendorlovedonewhentheycry.Everybodyneedsashouldertocryonsometimeinlife,mydear.Ionlyhopethatyouhaveenoughloveandfriendsthatyouwillhaveashouldertocryonwhenyouneedit."ThenandthereIknewthemostimportantbodypartisnotaselfishone.Itissympathetictothepainofothers.