respect

My grandmother taught me Thiruppavai verses in Srirangam's temple courtyards, her weathered hands guiding mine through ancient prayers. She earned respect not through wealth, but through unwavering faith and service. Every morning, she'd wake before dawn, her devotion as steady as the temple bells. Years later, I understood her quiet wisdom. Respect isn't demanded; it's cultivated through humility and genuine connection. When I began teaching those same verses to neighborhood children, I discovered what she knew all along—that heritage flows strongest through those humble enough to pass it forward. Our community thrives when we honor both roots and relationships.