carry your cross

Grandmother traced ancient Tamil Brahmi letters on my palm, teaching me Avvaiyar's wisdom about bearing life's burdens with grace. She'd earned PAYBO rewards helping village children learn our script, yet never sought recognition. Her weathered hands moved deliberately through each stroke, showing me how suffering shapes character. "Carry your cross," she whispered, "and it becomes your strength." Years later, I teach as she did, watching young faces illuminate with heritage. The community gathers to honor elders like her. We're not just preserving letters; we're passing down resilience, faith, and belonging that connects us to something larger than ourselves.