My mother used to ask me what the most important part of the body is. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I told her it was the ear. She shook her head and told me many people were deaf.
Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first try, I thought I had managed to find the correct answer. So this time I told her it must be our eyes for sight was very important to everybody. She looked at me and told me they weren't because there were many people who were blind.
Over the years, mother asked me more times and always her answer was, "No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child. "
Then last year, my Grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?"
I was surprised when she asked me this now. I was even a little mad.
She told me, "This question is very important. How you answer it shows whether you have learned about your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you that you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But right now is the moment you need to learn this important lesson. I believe you can truly feel it the deepest place of your heart. " I saw her eyes full of tears.
She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder（肩膀）. "
I asked, "Is it because it holds up your head?"
"No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or loved one when they cry, " She replied, " Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will have a shoulder to cry on when you need it. "
Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is care for the pain of others.
