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"Parents are Love"

Thanks to my loving parents who visited us, October 2009 has been so special for me. A few precious days of color, love and pampering, that's what this has been for me. Experiencing life through their eyes brings so much joy because my parents are my strength. For most of us who get married and move to another city and a new home, we miss the loving presence and pampering of our parents and most importantly, their unconditional love. Here's a beautiful pic we clicked when we were celebrating Vishu together in Prasanthi Nilayam few years ago!

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My parents have always believed in the goodness of people. When things go wrong, their way of dealing with it is like this: "It is God's grace that everything is going this way. Maybe we don't see it now but this is happening for our highest good. We will see it much later." 

Sometimes, it angers me beyond words when I see their goodness being exploited and taken for granted. But their faith in Bhagawan is so rock solid that you need those very solid and down-t0-earth ties to remind you of your roots, your dreams and to focus again on making them come true. 

When we are growing up, we hardly value the time we had with our parents or the sacrifices they have made for us when we live with them. At that time, we are so keen to break the rules and rebel or just lead our life to the brink of adventure, danger or rebellion, that power to say 'No' but now when we become independent, all we want to do is go back and be with them.

With gratitude to my Guru, I can say that I have had a wonderful time with my parents in October 2009. We had endless conversations about everything under the sun. We ate at home and went outdoors too. The colorful pic below was taken at Raj Dhani, a very well known restaurant that is famous for traditional Gujarati dishes. Located in the very busy, happening mall called the Great India Place, Noida, this is the fantastic spread we helped ourselves to.

[READ: A Dad's Advice To The Daughter He Loves]




People say, "God is Love" and I agree. I just want to add to that by saying, "Parents are LOVE."

Today is a good day to do something thoughtful for our parents or elders in our family. Words and actions can never be enough to express gratitude for their unconditional love in our life. What matters is to carry forward the good values that our parents have always demonstrated through their choices and given us as the nectarine essence from their lives: PURE LOVE.

Comments

DreamTNM said…
Very warm post ;) Made me smile and think of all the special people in my life right now. ;)
Lavanya Sriram said…
Oh, Yes. We would not be where we are right now without our parents, right? I, for one, have always acknowledged that and am thankful that I have conveyed the same to them as well many times before and after my marriage. The recent one was a hard copy letter (original copy) copied and present in the following link

http://ipaytributeto.blogspot.com/2009/08/to-my-parents.html
Shady West Side said…
I had read Mrs A's posts a few days back, I admire her...and yes we are mere fruits of a huge tree of which our parents are the roots
Gautam Anand said…
I cudn't have agreed more.. thr is a shlok in hindi which says parents are above God.. n it's very true..

new to ur blog.. found some really interesting reads.. and I haven't completed yet..

u r invited too.. to give insights into my poems .. !
prerna said…
Hi Swapna,
What a wonderful way to spend the festival of lights.. lighting up your parents' life:-)
BK Chowla, said…
Superb.Very well written and expressed.
There always is a special place for the parents in one's life.
Felicity Grace Terry said…
What a lovely, heart-warming post - your love for your parents and their's for you shone through. If only we were all so lucky to have such close, loving families.
Pramoda Meduri said…
hi swapna,

well, parents are always the loving strength that one can have ..

their love is always soothing ..and its nice to know that u have enjoyed it alot..:)

and yummyy yummyy plate..wanna eat all items ..:( ...:)

Thanks for posting that pic..
Sojo Varughese said…
Swapna,

There is nothing I would do not to agree with you!

Right, we get to know how valuable parents are only once we grow up and they don't tell us what and what not to do! Wish some magic could bring the childhood back. Miss my mom's pinches and dad' whack on the back of my head!
Abhilash said…
hope you enjoyed with your parents. Nice to see the thali again.

I am also planning to be with my family in november... :)
Rohit said…
true..Yet most times the people who we take for granted are our parents and our family members... a very warm post indeed
Smita said…
Thats a nice post and most of us would agree with it!!! and thanks to our culture we have a solid a family as back up though it is in our hands to maintain the relationships and to not to take it for granted!!

That Thali looks awesome!!!
Swapna Raghu Sanand said…
When I wrote the post about parents, I had no clue I would get so many wise thoughts and emotions crackling from you all. It just shows how deeply we value our relationships and I feel so thankful to know that. Thank you all.

My thoughts:

@Tania: Thanks! I am happy that the post reminded you of all the special people in your life.

@Prerna, Tina, Shahid & Storyteller: Thanks, would have loved to know your thoughts.

@Lavanya: Thats so sweet of you to share. Your parents must have been so proud to get that.

@Gautam Anand: Great to hear your thoughts. I love poems so I'll definitely drop in to visit you.

@Petty: Thanks.

@BK Chowla: Thanks. Good to hear you liked it.

@Pramoda: Totally agree with your thoughts.

@Sojo: I really loved your words: "Wish some magic could bring the childhood back. Miss my mom's pinches and dad' whack on the back of my head!"

@Abhilash: I really hope you have a very happy time with your family in November.

@Rohit: Thanks, glad you liked it.

@Smita: Yes, thats true.It also has a lot to do with the Indian culture.
Harini said…
I completely agree :)
chow and chatter said…
oh sweet post and good food
Sandhya Sriram said…
nice one. parents are always special. they are those people for whom you mean the whole world
Swapna Raghu Sanand said…
Thanks for the warm thoughts, Harini, Sandhya and Chow and Chatter!
Diane said…
Sounds like a wonderful visit with your family. You're right, God is love and He definitely teaches us as parnets how to love too. :O)
Parents should be love! Yours seem wonderful indeed. Can I be adopted?
Swapna Raghu Sanand said…
Sure, Corine, I'm sure my parents would be thrilled:)
prerna said…
Hi Swapna, have given you an award :-) Please accept it at http://themomwrites.blogspot.com/2009/10/being-writer-awards-and-appreciation.html
Blessings!
kitchen queen said…
lovely blog with a beautiful tribute to parents. nice posts.you can visit my blog and give ur comments.
Susan Berlien said…
Yes..I agree onward with the love :)
Stephanie Thornton said…
Being a parent adds a whole new dimension to the word love.

And that spread of food looked totally tasty! Yum!
Swapna Raghu Sanand said…
@Prerna: Thanks a million for the award.

@Kitchen Queen: Thanks, sure, I would love to visit your blog too!

@Susan: Thanks!

@Stephanie: Yes, you've said it so well and I can connect to that thought: Being a parent adds a whole new dimension to the word love. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and hope you visit again.
abby jenkins said…
What a delightful post and thought. I wish my parents were still around so I could spoil them rotten and write down all my mom's recipes I miss so much!
Nivedita Thadani said…
Hi Swapna
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your sweet comments.
I liked your blog very much, going to follow you in the future.
Keep visiting me,
Rahul said…
I miss Onam with my parents! It's been a while since I got the chance to do that. It is so much more fun spending holidays, especially festivals, with them :)
Anonymous said…
Those thoughts brought tears back to my eyes..How much do I miss them.....My parents visited me coupla months back ... I am so ready to go see them again..
Much better if I can go see them everyday...:((
Swapna Raghu Sanand said…
@Aby: Mom's recipes, the very thought feels so good.

@Nivedita: Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments.

@Rahul: Festivals are the time when we really long to be kids to our parents again.

@Iddy: I feel the same too!

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