As I walked by my mother’s side with childish steps, I always held in my hands a small portion of all we garnered in our farm and in the market. When we bought tomatoes at the stalls, my mother always let me choose the first one and hold it in my hand. Whenever she carried heads of cabbage in her basket, she would entrust me with one to carry in my hands. When it was time for the chickens to brood, Mother would call me to the coop and tell me to pick all of a hen’s eggs one by one and intuitively decide which eight we’d let the hen brood. Even when my unsteady hands broke an egg, she would just smile and tell me to pick another.

As I grew older and became more inquisitive, I once asked why she always let me hold everything. She smiled, took me to the chicken coop, and, standing outside, told me to go in, hold each of the chickens in my arms one by one, and then go back and give her my thoughts.

“I think they are heavy, Mother,” I said, once I had finished the exercise.

When I came out, I found her seated on a stool. She took me into her arms like I was little again, and said, smiling, “As I hold you like this, I can tell your story. I remember it from its earliest moments to the present. So when we go to the market next week, I want you to hold each chicken in your arms and tell the customers the beautiful story of each chicken from the day you held it as an egg and chose it for brooding. Tell them how each chicken’s story is a story of your work.”

After a short pause, in which her eyes gazed into a vague distance, she continued, “Son, when you hold something in your hands, its story becomes your story. And when you tell its story from your heart, you can inspire everyone else.”

    4.8 5 votes
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    Voice-Team
    Voice-Team(@voice-team)
    Admin
    2 years ago

    A lovely story with wonderful life lessons. We hope everyone will read and savor this story, then carry the concept into their daily lives. Beautiful writing!

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    2 years ago

    Daniel, this story is simply beautiful. I love that it’s told through the eyes of a child, one who has a very wise and loving mother. This is a wonderful interpretation of the prompt “Inspiration”, and a story I will read again and again. I think this must be your first story here? Welcome to Voice.club!

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    Wow  ? ! I am impressed with her mother’s character. I hope I can apply that to my children as well. She is very wise and clever. I guess it is the simplest but the best way of raising a good child. Very inspiring especially for a mother like me. I love to read it again and again.

    Ndolo Anthony
    Ndolo Anthony(@ndolo-anthony)
    2 years ago

    This story captures the gentleness of mothers and their role as mentors in the lives of their children over and beyond the classic role of co-provider & disciplinarian.

    Well told story Dan!

    Edwin Mburu
    Edwin Mburu(@edwin-mburu)
    2 years ago

    …when you hold something in your hands, its story becomes your story. And when you tell its story from your heart, you can inspire everyone else.

    What an amazing piece.

    Genya Johnson
    Genya Johnson(@genya-johnson)
    2 years ago

    I love stories told through the eyes of a child and you captured everything in this short story. The nurturing of the mother, the stories and the lessons to be learned. Beautifully written.

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    You’ve very nicely portrayed the nurturing relationship between mother and child. I hope I managed to inspire my children in my own way too. Nicely written.

    kepha osoro
    kepha osoro(@kepha-osoro)
    2 years ago

    Wow. Very encouraging to read from an informed view point.
    Encouraged to be reading more of such writings. Thoughtful and interesting.
    I will read again and again

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Hello Daniel, a very tender and loving story, expressed beautifully. I like the sentence – when you tell its story from the heart. That is what makes a good story teller too, Daniel. I will look forward to reading more from you.

    Santina Forlenza
    Santina Forlenza(@santina-forlenza)
    2 years ago

    Hi Daniel, I find your story great. You proved that beautiful stories are inspired by simple and unexpected things and events like… a chicken, or a farmer’s market. This is amazing. Congratulation, really.

    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    2 years ago

    A truly heartwarming story, Daniel. I loved how you made us, the readers, slowly come to realisation and inspiration along with the protagonist as the story progressed.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    2 years ago

    Daniel, this story has such a lovely message. It is really beautiful and food for thought.

    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    2 years ago

    A truly inspirational story, Daniel. It is fascinating to ponder what a mother, or any mentor, can do to a child who is in his formative years.

    Santina Forlenza
    Santina Forlenza(@santina-forlenza)
    2 years ago

    My LIKE to your story Daniel. “Son, when you hold something in your hands, its story becomes your story”: it beautifully sticks to this contest`s topic.

    Fuji
    Fuji(@fuji)
    2 years ago

    Daniel, this lovely story is one to treasure. Congratulations on winning second place!

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations, Daniel! This was such a beautiful story, one that will stay with me and will remind me to look more at the little things in life that one might overlook. It will inspire me to keep telling my stories. Thank you for sharing this.

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Well done Daniel Congratulations on getting second place. A wonderful story.

    Bonaventure Ogeto
    Bonaventure Ogeto(@bonaventure-ogeto)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations. It’s a great story.

    Katerina Bizirtsaki
    Katerina Bizirtsaki(@katerina-bizirtsaki)
    2 years ago

    Congratulations, Daniel! You should be very proud of this piece of art you have created. This was such a loving, warm story.

    Dipayan Chakrabarti
    Dipayan Chakrabarti(@dipayan-chakrabarti)
    2 years ago

    Hi Daniel, Your story is an exquisite piece of work from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned about life.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    Hi, Daniel. Congratulations on the win. Your story is something to treasure. Continue writing and continue inspiring us.

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Daniel Onchoka
    2 years ago

    You’re most welcome, Daniel.

    Cynthia Wambui
    Cynthia Wambui(@cynthia-wambui)
    1 year ago

    Wow, wow, wow “when you hold something in your hands, its story becomes your story”. That’s deep, a statement to ponder. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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