I was sitting on a bench . When I noticed a young mother with two children who were small. The youngest one was whining, “Pick me up,” I heard him beg, but the mother’s face grew angry as the child clung to her leg. “Don’t hang on to me,” she shouted, as she pushed his hands away. I wish I’d had the courage to go up to her and say: The time will come too quickly when those little arms that tug, Won’t ask for you to hold them or won’t freely give a hug. The day will sneak up subtly just as it did with me, When you can’t recall the last time that your child sat on your knee. Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings when we cherished time alone. Our babies grow and leave behind those special times we’ve known. So when your child comes to you with a book that you can share, Or asks that you would tuck him in and help him say his prayer… When he comes to sit and chat or would like to take a walk, Before you answer that you can’t because there’s no time to talk… Remember what all parents learn so many times too late, That years go by too quickly and that childhood doesn’t wait . Take every opportunity if one should slip away Reach hard to get it back again, don’t wait another day. I watched that mother walk away, her children followed near, I hope she’ll pick them up before her chances disappear…
By Strive Masiyiwa A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London. After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive. He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life. Even during our dinner...
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