By Kapil Dev
Like everyone else I, too, had heard of Mother Teresa but never met her till the very end of her life. I wonder why. Some things have no explanation.
The Indian cricket team won the Prudential Cup in 1983. It was a great victory. I was married to Romi, a Pakistani, and leading a life of fulfilment. But the happiness of having a child eluded us. Even 14 years after marriage, we remained childless. We were written about in newspapers, and we appeared happy. But no one saw one aspect of our life that had created a vacuum.
In 1995, we visited Kolkata for some work. It was then that a friend of mine took us to meet Mother Teresa. The friend introduced us to Mother. She appeared frail. Despite her health issues, the meeting made us very happy.
Our friend informed Mother about the unhappiness in our life. She blessed us and then said, “Do not worry, God is kind.” I felt as if she would allow us to adopt a child from one of her orphanages. She spoke in such a peaceful manner and kept saying that God would look into the matter. I felt at peace.
Months passed and I forgot about the visit. Suddenly, one day the same friend from Kolkata called. She said that Mother had inquired about Romi. I was happy because by then Romi was five months pregnant. We had not informed Mother about her pregnancy. I realised then that Mother must have inquired about Romi because she had knowledge of Romi’s pregnancy.
A growing feeling inside told me that the pregnancy was occasioned by Mother’s blessings. It was a unique and spiritual experience. Our daughter was born a few months after that. I did not return to see Mother after her birth, but I always tell my friends that Mother knew all along of Romi’s pregnancy.
Mother passed away a year later in 1997. I am thankful that I got an opportunity to meet Mother and be blessed by her. My daughter, Amiya, is a gift from Mother Teresa.
(Kapil Dev was captain of the Indian cricket team that won the World Cup in 1983) Mother Teresa "Missionary of the Millennium"
by Nirmala Carvalho _0830_-_M._Teresa.jpg) Baruipur (AsiaNews) - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta "is the best missionary of the century if not of the Millennium as she committed herself totally for the cause of Christ. Mother was absolute in her total surrender to the Lord, right up to her last breath and made her life so simple for herself and the Missionaries of Charity", says Bishop of Baruipur, Mgr. Salvadore Lobo, who headed the diocesan Commission of Inquiry into the beatification of religious, speaking to AsiaNews.Last August 26 to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Blessed, the bishop celebrated a Mass with 13 priests of the diocese. In his homily, Mgr. Lobo recalled: "The Eucharist was the central point of the life of Mother Teresa, who attended Mass every morning." 500 faithful gathered outside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - highly desired by Mother Teresa and inaugurated in Baruipur last November 13 - the bishop asked them to "be channels of peace, as she has always asked her missionaries." Speaking to AsiaNews, Mgr. Lobo recalled: "My association with Mother began as a young seminarian the 4th August 1968,when she had come to Morning Star College and she spoke to us of the Love of Christ, her simplicity and her devotion to her mission was palpable. She was totally dedicated to the cause of Christ, in her absolute submission to God until her last breath". It is this dedication that had a particular influence over the Indian people. The case of Kapil Dev, captain of Indian cricket, is exemplary. As the bishop said, "the player had no children. In 1995, he met Mother Teresa, telling her he had been trying to have children for 14 years without success. The Mother blessed him saying not to worry, because God is good. Months later, Kapil's wife gave birth to a daughter. As Dev said “little Amiya is a gift of Mother Teresa”. "For me – continues Mgr. Lobo - Mother Teresa was a real mother and often she was my counsel and guide and gave me peace of mind and direction in life, I cannot divulge additional details as I had to take an oath of confidentiality for the commission, but she was a light for all India". Watch It - Little Things Watch your Thoughts - they become words.
Watch your words - they become actions.
Watch your actions - they become habits.
Watch your Habits - they become character.
Watch your Character - for it becomes your Destiny. Thanks Giving For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free"
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! |
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