A GENEROUS GIRL
A girl stayed with her
parents and elder sister in a cottage near a forest. She used to collect water
in a pot from a neighbouring stream and carry it home every day. One day in a
severe summer, while returning from the stream with a pot filled with water,
she noticed an old tree on the way. It was badly affected by the severe heat
and drought. It was shedding its withered leaves and many of its branches had
already dried up. Its withered roots were exposed above the ground and seemed
to beg for a drop of water. The girl had a very kind, generous and
compassionate nature and she felt pity for the dying tree. She lovingly poured
the water in her pot over the drying roots of the dying tree. To her surprise she
noticed that as the soil moved along the flowing water, a brightly coloured jewel
box became visible under a root. She
eagerly collected the box using a stick and opened it. It had a rich collection
of gold coins, expensive jewels and exquisite ornaments. She carried it home
and her parents were glad to get such a valuable treasure. They told her, it
was a gift of God - a reward for the kindness she showed to the dying tree.
Her
elder sister was envious of her sister's fortune and she wanted to own a
similar treasure. She ran to the tree carrying a stick in her hand. She madly
thrust the stick into every hole under
the tree in search of a treasure.
Suddenly a poisonous snake emerged from
a hole as she poked at it. The snake sprang upon her,
biting her to death. Her jealousy, envy and greed led to her tragic death.
Envy or jealousy is a
serious sin. Some angels became envious of God. They were cast into hell. Satan
was envious of man. He tried to destroy the sanctity of man. That led to the
tragedy of Paradise {Wisdom of Solomon 2: 24}. Cain became jealous of his
younger brother Abel and killed him {Genesis 4: 8}. The brothers of Joseph
became envious of him when he narrated his dreams {Genesis 37: 11}. Hence they
tried to kill him and later, sold him as a slave. The Jewish authorities were
jealous of Jesus. They plotted against Him and crucified Him. {Matthew 27:11,
Mark 15:10}. The Bible teaches, “Don’t be jealous of what sinners achieve. Just
stick to your own work, and trust the Lord” {Sirach 11: 21}.
The road from
Jerusalem to Jericho passes through our front. Let us behave like the Good
Samaritan and be of help to any one in need. “Give to the poor and you will
never be in need” {Proverbs 28:27}. “Be generous and share your food with the
poor. You will be blessed for it” {Proverbs 22: 9}.“Happy are those who are
merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!” {Matthew 5: 7}.
“Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but
jealousy is like a cancer” {Proverbs 14: 30}. “Where there is
jealousy and selfishness, there is also disorder and every kind of evil” {James 3:
16}. “Whoever does not love
does not know God, for GOD IS LOVE”{1 John 4:8}.
“Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or
insulting language. Be like new-born babies, always thirsty for the pure
spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved” {1 Peter 2:1,2}.
-'Rime
Of The Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor
Coleridge (1772-1834)
...............................................................................................
© By:
Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science &
Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof.
Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and
Leo. S. John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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