The Hands That Held Us, The Voices That Shaped Us

Pause for a moment and think—who are the people who have stood by you, no matter what? The ones who scold you at times, guide you at others, and yet never stop caring? Yes—your parents, teachers, and elders.

So often, when they say, “Do this, it’s good for you,” or “Don’t do that, it’s not safe,” we feel they don’t understand us. We may even think they’re being too strict. But if you look closely at your own life, you’ll see that every word they speak comes from love, and every advice they give is to keep you safe, happy, and successful.

Think back. When you were too small to walk, who held your hand and helped you take those first steps? When you were scared of the dark, who wrapped you in their arms and made you feel safe? When you didn’t understand a lesson, who explained it again and again until you finally smiled and said, “Oh, I get it now!” And when you felt low, who told you stories that lifted your heart? Parents, teachers, grandparents—their love is woven into every stage of our journey.

They have lived more years than us. They’ve seen victories and failures, struggles and joys. They’ve made mistakes, learned lessons, and grown wiser. When they guide us, it isn’t to control us—it’s because they want us to avoid the pain they once felt, and reach the happiness they wish for us.

I still remember a lesson from my own life. Back in 10th grade, my father would call me every morning during exams to say, “Good luck, keep your hall ticket safe, and be responsible.” Like many children, I brushed it aside. Until one day, just before my Physics exam, I realized my hall ticket was missing. My heart raced as I searched everywhere. I rushed out to my mother in panic. Without a second thought, she and my in-charge teacher began searching all over the place. Finally, they found it in my school bus—just in time. I was allowed to write the exam.

When I came out, I saw my mother sitting quietly, her eyes heavy with worry. The moment she saw me, she hugged me tight and cried. That hug taught me more than any exam ever could. It showed me how deeply our parents and teachers care. They don’t just guide with words—they carry our fears, share our burdens, and stand strong beside us, even in our careless moments.

Now tell me, who else does that for us? In today’s busy world, everyone is caught up in their own lives. But our parents and teachers—they pause for us. They celebrate our victories as if they were their own. They cry for our mistakes as if it hurt them more than us. And they think about our future, every single day, without expecting anything in return.

So the next time your parent says, “Finish your homework,” or your teacher says, “Speak kindly,” don’t feel annoyed. Ask yourself—are they trying to trouble you, or trying to guide you? The answer is clear in your heart.

Let’s learn to listen with love, to speak with respect, and to be grateful every day. Because parents, teachers, and elders are like trees—they give us shade, fruit, and shelter, and ask for nothing but love in return.

But here’s the truth: if we don’t listen, even their love cannot shield us from the results of our choices. Their words are like a lamp on our path—they cannot walk for us, but they can keep us from stumbling in the dark.