As we age, we start to care more about the simple things in life. Sure, everyone needs a roof over their heads and food in their tummies. But we also need love and support. To feel wanted and appreciated.
One man learned this lesson over the years, and he hopes his parting gift to his children will be that they learn it too.
A Lonely Farmer
You may have never heard of a man named Om Narayan Verma, but his story went viral in India a couple of years ago when he controversially decided to leave his wealth to his pet instead of his kids.
According to the Heraldo, Verma felt that his dog Jacky took better care of him than any of his six children did. So he axed them from his will and recognized his pet’s loyalty instead — by giving him half of his material possessions, which include 21 total acres of land.
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“My wife and my dog take care of me. After my death, I want my second wife, Champa, and the dog Jacky, to inherit all the property that I have,” he told the publication. It’s his way of ensuring that whoever takes care of Jacky when he’s gone will inherit the property and take responsibility for the dog’s wellbeing.
When Jacky dies, whoever took care of the dog will then inherit his share of Verma’s possessions.
According to the 50-year-old, Jacky is like the “son I always wanted.” He follows him around everywhere and shows him unconditional love, something he wished he had with his own kids.
A Decision Made in Anger
Verma had three daughters and a son with his first wife, Dhanvanti Verma. Following their divorce, none of his children stayed in his life. However, through Verma’s marriage to Champa, they had two more daughters, who are apparently very much in their father’s life. That’s why the man decided to leave half of his property to Champa.
According to New Indian Express, Verma admits that the will was made in anger, but his issues are resolved now.
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Whether that means he and his kids are on good terms is unclear, but it seems as though his message is being heard around the world: there is more to life than material possessions.
“The strange will of making the dog his legal heir and inheritor of the property has been done by Verma just to teach a lesson to his family,” a local representative named Rishi Vaishnav told the publication. “He is the ex-sarpanch of the village and a wise and respectable man.”
A Powerful Message
However Verma’s story turns out (he is only in his fifties, after all), here’s hoping that it’s a positive ending for everyone involved.
In the meantime, his message has resonated with so many because it can apply to everyone: appreciate what really matters in life.
Not everyone will have the best relationship (if any) with their parents and family members. But at the end of the day, what really matters is spending time with the people you do love and the family you have made. It’s also important to show them how much they mean to you.
So pick up the phone and call that person you haven’t touched base with in a while. Arrange a time to hang out with your best friend, and stop blaming busy schedules on your lack of get-togethers. And remember that while money and material things are nice and essential for our general comfort, they are not the only things in life that truly matter.
