The Most Important Person In Your Life
This happened in an American University.
Just before dismissal, the professor asked the students, "I'm going
to play a game with all of you, so who's game to try it with
me?"
A female student stepped onstage.
The professor said, "Please list down on the blackboard the names
of 20 people that you hold dear."
The girl followed the instructions. The names included those of her
neighbours, friends, kin and so on.
The professor said, "Please strike off one name in the list that
you feel is the least important to you."
The girl struck off a neighbour's name.
The professor then said, "Please strike off another."
The girl then struck off a colleague's name.
The professor then said, "Please strike off another."
The girl then struck off yet another name among the list of the
most important people in her life.
...
Finally, the three names that remained on the blackboard were those
of the girl's parents, husband and child.
The classroom turned silent, as the students looked on quietly at
the professor, realising that this was no longer simply a
game.
The professor went on calmly, "Please strike off another
name."
The girl hesitated, facing difficulty in making her choice.
She held up the chalk, and struck off the names of her
parents.
"Please strike off another," said the professor.
She was distraught as she used the chalk to strike off, slowly but
firmly, her child's name.
Immediately, she burst into tears and looked in pain.
The professor waited for her to calm down, then asked "The people
closest to you should be your parents and your child, because your
parents were the one who brought you up, while your child is your
flesh and blood, but you can find another husband, so why is it
that your husband is the dearest person to you?"
The rest of the students looked quietly at the girl, awaiting her
reply.
The girl responded, calmly and resolutely, "As times passes, my
parents will leave me, while my child will become an adult and
leave me as well. The only one who will be my true companion in the
journey of my life will be my husband."
