MORAL STORIES

END OF ENVY

Two beautiful fishes lived in a river. They used to boast about their beauty and were envious of each other. Often they quarrelled with each other, each one claiming to be more beautiful than the other.

One day while quarrelling as usual, they found a crocodile close to them and silently watching them. They did not know that it was patiently awaiting its prey. Assuming that it was appreciating their beauty, they sought its mediation to resolve their long-time dispute.

“Which one of us is more beautiful, uncle?” they asked the crocodile. The crooked crocodile stared at the pair and said, “Both of you are beautiful. I will test it in detail and judge.” So saying, it made a sudden movement and snatched them with its powerful jaws. While swallowing them gladly, it finalised the judgment: “You are equally pretty and equally tasty too!”

“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}.

This is story No. 128 in this site. Please click ‘older posts’ at bottom of page to read previous stories in this site.

By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.