Christ Likeness
Mr. Y.Paul Reddy Pulivendla
This is my brief testimony about my spiritual father Sri Y.S.C.Konda Reddy, whom I greatly respect in Christ. There is no comparison between us in any way as if between an ant and an elephant. It was surprisingly a joy for me when Y.S.Prakash Reddy and Rev.Theophilus asked me to write this narration. I cannot forget my spiritual relationship and affinity with father Konda Reddy from 1980 onwards until his death. The spiritual relationship between us started like a mustard seed and gradually grew and strengthened so much that we both felt satisfied. Inspite of our age difference, class difference, Sri.YS.Konda Reddy garu was so objective and generous to appreciate the spiritual growth in me. He is a pious man born with qualities of Jesus Christ such as love, kindness, sympathy, compassion, humility, affection and so on. Sri Konda Reddy is a great man who humbly followed the word of God in his life with all his sincerity and commitment. He was a man of efficiency in work, clean ways of earning, indefatigable hard work, friend of the poor, satisfying the needy and helping the distressed even until his old age. He was a foreseer who took good and bad, gain or loss and joy and sorrow with equal integrity. He was a man of principles without insidious plans or strategies. He always depended upon the truth and reality. Indeed a rich man he was!
Chinna Konda Reddy was really young in spirit. Whenever children came to him he loved them so much as if he has entered into the kingdom of heaven believing Jesus’ words “unless you change like one of these children you cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Konda Reddy was a tall man with all his spiritual values, human traits, ideals and piousness in which he grew almost to the heights of heaven. Chinna Konda Reddy grew higher and higher that no one can reach. The white dress always he wore denoted his purity and piousness. He eats less and serves much to others. He was satisfied when people around him were satisfied. Late Sri Y.S.Chinna Konda Reddy is a man of high integrity who respected the people and their values and grew to the heights of humanity. His piousness and faith patterns were simply practical and exemplary. Without looking for applauds of people, without craving for worldly wisdom he obtained the spiritual power and reached the boundaries of heaven. He was such a gentleman who lived a simple life without being crazy for luxuries. He was such a spiritual man who with pure heart and clean consciousness shared his love to all around him gaining the love and good will of everybody at home and outside. He deserves all our appreciations. Work is worship; worship is work were the principles which he followed. He became an example by attending the church regularly. He was such an optimist who received poverty and riches, difficulties and comforts, problems and crisis and so on with balanced mind. He respected labour and loved the labourers. He used to count every bit of their labour when he pays the wages. Konda Reddy was abundantly blessed by God with a big family. His beloved children filled with love and compassion are a clear proof of the family bliss. 40
I cannot explain here and express all life experiences that I had with him. Without any reservation we also used to discuss our personal matters as well. He was a prayer warrior, struggled for the spiritual lives of all his family members. He not only struggled all through his life for his family but also he was mindful of his responsibility for the Lord. Humanity is service to God was the principle on which he went far ahead to meet the needs of the poor and inclined to give the best to the needy – what a blessed life he led ! He was a fervent evangelist who for the sake of kingdom values went out to reach the un reached in nooks and corners sparing his own physical strength accompanied by his friends in his own car only in order to fulfill the commandment of our Lord Jesus. He offered first fruits for the cause of spreading the gospel with enormous generosity. He was disappointed for not being able to influence many expected people to join him to serve the orphans and make a bright life for them. So many times he encouraged me to consider this aspect of service but I could not prepare myself to take up the task. No doubt his inspiration is the source of strength for us that we are able to run an Old Age Home now. He introduced me to his family as family member even though I was not able to explain how I was related to them. That was his greatness, his piousness, spiritual maturity and above all his Christ likeness which is ever a model for anyone. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8