In plain words
Whether others respect us or not, we must first of all learn to respect others. Because God is in everyone.
Abraham Lincoln, an exemplar
Abraham Lincoln, who once rose to the President's seat in America, was born into a very poor family. His mother earned money by mending torn clothes. Lincoln would sit and study by the street lamps at night. He did not even have proper clothes to wear. One day, as he was going to school with his fellow students, they looked at his clothes and jeered. Lincoln came home crying: ‘Mother! The other children look at my clothes and mock me. I want good clothes,’ he said. His mother was a woman of great virtue. “My son! Understand well the state of our home. Whoever may slight you, you must not slight anyone. Respect everyone. Live with self-confidence. Develop self-respect. You will surely rise to a high place,” she taught him. Following his mother's words, Lincoln learnt to respect everyone. He respected others and received respect from them. Little by little he earned a good name and became the President of America. How could a poor boy who studied by the street lamps become the President of America? It was only by fostering self-respect that he could reach so high a place.
‘Mother first…’
Parents bring up their children enduring many hardships and losses. So we must show fitting gratitude to our parents. One who has no gratitude is equal to a cruel beast. Long ago many died in the war in Rangoon. A great many were left without shelter. One mother, taking her son with her, somehow reached Madras. With no food to eat and no water to drink, they grew very weak. The mother sat her son down under a tree: ‘My son! Do not grieve that such misfortune has befallen us.