The Silent Lesson

Once, a person had the joyful surprise of meeting his old professor after a long time. He was really happy to see his beloved teacher again. He went up to the professor and asked, "Professor! Do you remember me? I was your student a long time ago. And now, like you, I am also a professor!"

The professor smiled kindly and replied, "Yes, I remember you! I'm glad to hear that you're a teacher now too. But what made you want to be a teacher?"

With gratitude in his eyes, he began to explain, "It's because of you, professor. Maybe you don't remember, but something happened when I was your student that I've never forgotten."

"One day, while I was playing with my friends, I saw a really shiny and beautiful watch my friend had. It looked so amazing that I really wanted it. I couldn't resist and secretly took the watch without my friend noticing."

"After a while, my friend realized the watch was missing and told the whole class. You, professor, took charge of the situation. You asked everyone, 'If someone has the watch, please return it.' But I didn't confess and admit my mistake."

"Then, professor, you gathered all of us in a circle and said you would check everyone's pockets to find the watch but you told them to close their eyes while you check so that no one would know who stole it. You kept on checking the pocket even when you found it in mine. After checking everyone, you said " We've got the watch". You didn't tell the class who was that student. At that time, you saved my dignity forever professor.

Looking directly at the professor, the person expressed their gratitude, saying, "You saved me from feeling ashamed and taught me a very important lesson without making me feel bad. Do you remember that, professor?"

The professor's face lit up with recognition, "Yes, I do remember that incident very well, but I have to admit, I didn't know who was that student because I also kept my eyes closed while checking. I never found out who took the watch."

The person was surprised, realizing that the professor had also closed their eyes during the search. The impact of the professor's decision to keep their identity secret became even more meaningful.

Thinking about the experience, the person shared, "That moment, professor, changed me in ways I didn't fully understand at the time. Your kindness and understanding transformed how I saw things. It wasn't just a lesson about taking things that didn't belong to me; it was a lesson about caring for others, the importance of dignity, forgiving, and giving second chances."

Feeling a renewed sense of purpose, the person added, "Professor, your actions inspired me to become a teacher myself. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of students, just like you did in mine. Your ability to handle that situation with kindness and understanding taught me what teaching is truly about. It's not just about sharing knowledge; it's about shaping hearts and helping students grow."

The professor's eyes filled with pride, realizing the powerful influence they had on their student. They replied, "I'm deeply touched to hear this. It makes me happy to know that I played a role in your journey. You've embraced the spirit of teaching, and I'm sure you will positively impact the lives of many students, just as you impacted mine."

As the conversation came to a close, the person and the professor shared a meaningful connection, knowing that their paths had crossed for a reason, and the lessons learned would continue to inspire them both.

~ inspired by great talks