Mother
Mother Teresa came to Jamshedpur in the early 90s to open her MoC. She spent two days in the city and went to quite a few meetings, arranged for her in schools and other institutions- including a dialogue with the officers of the Tata Steel Company.
I was her “ Local Manager” by the Company and had the privilege of accompanying her to all the designated locations. She sat on the rear seat of the car with another Sister from MoC and kept the conversation alive ~ from the history of the city to welfare, from education to sports et all.
Two eventful days of public meetings and interaction with many social groups. During those conversations I also told her that we shared our birth dates and she wished me though this was months after August!
She was small, frail and her wrinkled face established the years of selfless service but a bundle of energy and, I daresay , restive.
On the third day I drove with her to the airport where the Company aircraft was waiting to fly her back to Calcutta. There was quite a crowd at the gate -all waiting to get her a glimpse of her.
She met those waiting for her, stopped at the last step ,waved and got onto the aircraft. The door of the small aircraft was about to be pulled in when she came back, climbed down that stepladder and gave me a small bag that contained a handful of her Miraculous Medals and asked me to distribute it to those waiting outside.
She also whispered something which I didnt quite catch so I bent down and told her so.
Never have I felt more of a sinner, a mere mortal nor more humble as she placed her tiny clenched fists on my cheeks and repeated what she had said, almost in a whisper :
“Pray for Us”.
I was her “ Local Manager” by the Company and had the privilege of accompanying her to all the designated locations. She sat on the rear seat of the car with another Sister from MoC and kept the conversation alive ~ from the history of the city to welfare, from education to sports et all.
Two eventful days of public meetings and interaction with many social groups. During those conversations I also told her that we shared our birth dates and she wished me though this was months after August!
She was small, frail and her wrinkled face established the years of selfless service but a bundle of energy and, I daresay , restive.
On the third day I drove with her to the airport where the Company aircraft was waiting to fly her back to Calcutta. There was quite a crowd at the gate -all waiting to get her a glimpse of her.
She met those waiting for her, stopped at the last step ,waved and got onto the aircraft. The door of the small aircraft was about to be pulled in when she came back, climbed down that stepladder and gave me a small bag that contained a handful of her Miraculous Medals and asked me to distribute it to those waiting outside.
She also whispered something which I didnt quite catch so I bent down and told her so.
Never have I felt more of a sinner, a mere mortal nor more humble as she placed her tiny clenched fists on my cheeks and repeated what she had said, almost in a whisper :
“Pray for Us”.
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