Ali was sitting on the dining table again today. Warm dal and soft chapati were placed in front of him, but his heart was only stuck in chips and biscuits.
Mom! "I'm not hungry," he said, scrunching his nose.
Amy smiled slightly.
"Good?" Just now they were saying that there are rats running in the stomach!
Ali looked away. The truth was that he could not afford a simple home-cooked meal. Sometimes he would find fault in the dal, sometimes he would call the vegetable tasteless and often leave half the plate and get up.
The same day in the evening when Abu came from the office, mother said slowly:
"Your son has a particular aversion to food."
Abu called Ali over:
Come son! Listen to one thing.
Ali immediately sat near him. As soon as the name of listening to the story came, his interest would wake up.
Abu said:
There was a farmer. He would work all year round, then go somewhere and grow some grain. Sometimes it would rain heavily, sometimes it would not rain at all, but he would still thank Allah for providing him with sustenance.
Ali listened silently.
Abu said gently:
"And we are one, who get everything without toil, yet we sneer." Is that right?
Ali slowly bowed his head.
"No, Abu!"
Ami took over and smiled and said:
"Come on, today we play a new game, spoon trick!"
Ali was shocked and said:
"What game is this?"
Ami took the spoon in her hand and said in a confidential tone:
This spoon is very clever. The child who befriends him, it also gives him strength and understanding, but the condition is that every morsel should be eaten whole.
Ali's eyes sparkled.
"Good!" So I will also be his friend!
Amy created the first novel:
"This is a powerful novel, you will be able to run faster with it!"
Ali immediately opened his mouth.
The second verse came:
"This is a wise book, with it you will give the best answer in every congregation!"
Ali laughed and started eating eagerly.
In no time the plate was completely cleaned.
Amy wondered:
Oh wow! Today the spoon really did a great job!
Ali proudly said:
"Because I have become his friend!"
The next day, Ali himself sat down at the table on time. He picked up the spoon and smiled and said:
Mom! Even today we see the cleverness of the spoon!
Ammi looked at him lovingly, but this time Ali started eating on his own without any excuse.
Within a few days his habit changed. Now he would not make mistakes in the food, nor would he leave the plate incomplete. Even if Nawala fell, he would immediately pick it up and clean it.
One day he himself said:
Mom! Wasting sustenance is not a good thing, is it?
Ami's eyes flashed with happiness.
Absolutely son! This is the blessing of Allah Ta'ala, it should be appreciated.
Ali smiled and looked at the spoon, as if thanking him in his heart.
"Spoon trick" was no longer just a game, but a good habit. A habit that taught Ali that real cleverness lies in gratitude.