One morning … someone was sweeping the courtyard. After the work was all done, that person threw the broomstick aside. At this the Holy Mother Sarada Devi said, “What is this? You have thrown away the broomstick with such disrespect when the work is done. It takes only the same length of time to put it gently in a corner as it does to throw it aside. One should not trifle with a thing, though it may be very insignificant. If you respect a thing, the thing also respects you. Will you not again need that broomstick? Besides, it is also a part of this family. From that standpoint also, it deserves to be treated with respect. Even a broomstick should be treated with respect. One should perform even an insignificant work with respect.”
References
- Sri Sarada Devi, The Holy Mother: Her Teachings and Conversations by Swami Nikhilananda