Be of help to your family members

On a Sunday morning, little James was bored. He had finished studying and had nothing to do. There was no one to play with. `Mother could always do with some help, maybe I can help her!’ he thought.

 He ran into the kitchen, where mother was cooking. `May I help you? James asked hopefully. Mother looked at him and smiled. `You are too little to cook,’ she said, `but you can pick up all the toys lying around.’ James was disappointed that he could not help him mother. He picked up all the toys put them neatly in the toy rack.

 James then thought he should help his father. He went out and saw father washing his two-wheeler. `May I wash the two–wheeler for you, father’ James. `No, you are too little to do it. But you can bring some water for me in your little bucket.’ James was disappointed again, but he promptly fetched water in a little bucket five times and went inside the house.

 James went back into the kitchen. His mother was washing dishes. `May I wash the dishes, mother?’ mother smiled again and said, `Oh, no thank you my dear son. You are too little to do dishes, but could you please talk to Sweta until I am finished. She has started to cry.

 James rushed into the living room. His baby sister Sweta was crying in her playpen. James pulled her out of the playpen and played with her. She stopped crying immediately.

 James felt sad nobody needed his help. When mother finished doing the dishes, she told James and to go and tell dad that lunch will be ready on the table in five minutes. James did.

 At lunch, James was too sad to eat. He wished he were not so little. Mother noticed that James was not eating. `What is wrong, James?’ asked. `I do not like being little.’ James said. `Why not?’ asked father. `Because I am too little to help anybody,’ said James, and as he did, a tear rolled down his little cheek.

 Mother patted James and pulled his cheek. `What do you mean, James? You helped me when you picked up all your toys. You sure helped me when you played with Sweta and allowed me time to do the dishes. Had it not been for you I would not have finished my chores yet.’ James' eyes beamed.

 Father said, `And you helped me fetch water for washing the two-wheeler. It made my job a lot quicker.’

 James looked at Sweta. She smiled at him as if to `thank you’ James had helped her by playing with her.

 James smiled. He was very pleased. He had helped after all.

 James was too little to help, but that did not stop him from having concern for his family members. Like James, all of us must have concern for our family. We must try to share the responsibilities and help our parents in their day-to-day chores. We must also care for and be helpful to our brothers and sisters.