An elderly man walked into a literature class on the first day, and the students stood up out of respect, assuming he was the professor. But instead of heading to the front, he quietly took a seat among them. After the class ended, the curious students gathered around him and asked who he was.
He replied, “I am a cobbler, a shoemaker by trade. I have seven sons—doctors, engineers, and one officer. My daughter is a pharmacist.”
“One day, we were all sitting together as a family, and my children were discussing a scholarly topic. I added my opinion, but one of my sons said, ‘Father, please forgive me, but we’re discussing something academic, and you wouldn’t understand.’ His words deeply hurt me, but I chose to stay silent.
The next day, I bought textbooks for ninth grade and began studying them in my shop without telling anyone. I took the exams and passed, keeping it a secret from my family. Then, I bought college books and studied them for three years until I was allowed to take the exams. I passed, and still, my family knew nothing.
Today, I’ve started my university education, and God willing, when I graduate, I will gather my children and say, ‘This degree belongs to the cobbler who raised you, educated you, and got you married, so he could one day join you in your conversations.'”
Lesson: May we always have the wisdom to respect and honor our parents.
