My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body..?

Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer.

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so

I said, “My ears, Mommy.” She said “No-Many people are deaf.. But you

keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first

attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her,

“Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes.”

She looked at me and told me, “You are learning fast, but the answer is

not correct because there are many people who are blind..”

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years,

Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, “No. But

you are getting smarter every year, my young child.”

Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry.

My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final goodbye to Grandpa.

She asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my son..?”

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a

game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me,

“This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in

your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you

was wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you

need to learn this important lesson..” She looked down at me as only a

mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, “Son, the most

important body part is your shoulder ..”

I asked, “Is it because it holds up my head..?” She replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my son. I only hope that you have enough Love and Friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it..”

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish

one-it is sympathetic to the pain of OTHERS..

You are my friend and whenever you want, you may cry on my shoulder . . .