Most important part of the body?

My mother used to ask me, "What is the most important part of the body?"

Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought that sound was very important to us as humans. So, I said, "My ears, Mommy."

She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again one day soon."

Several years had passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So, this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody. It must be our eyes."

She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

Stumped once again, I continued my quest for the answer to her question.

Over the years, my mother asked me several more times and always her answer was, "No. However, you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurting. Everyone was
crying; even my father cried. I especially remember that, because it was only the second time I had ever seen him cry.

My mother looked at me when it was our turn to say a final good-bye to my grandpa. She asked me, "Do you know the most important part of the body yet, my dear?"

This time I was surprised when she asked me this. I had always thought
this was just a game between her and me. When she saw the startled look on my face, she told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For each of the parts of the body that you named in the past, I have told you that you were wrong. I also have given you an example as to why each was wrong.

But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson." She looked down at me, as only a mother can. I saw her eyes fill with tears as she said to me, "My dear, the most important part of the body is your shoulder."

I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?"

She replied, "No. It is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love in your heart to always provide your friends and loved ones with a shoulder on which to cry. I also hope that you will always have friends and family who will provide you with a shoulder to cry on whenever you have that need in your own life."

It was then and there that I knew the most important part of the body is not a selfish one. It is a heart that can share the pain of others!

People will forget what you said...
People will forget what you did...
However, people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.

So...please be a blessing...share your shoulder with others.

Author Unknown