MORAL STORIES

HARD TIMES

A student complained to his learned teacher about the difficulties he has to endure in his life. He came from a very poor family and had to look after his home and support his aged and sick parents and his younger siblings by working hard every day after the classes in school while his wealthy class-mates could play and rest without any stress or strain. He was almost exhausted and had even thought about committing suicide.

The wise teacher gave him a carrot and an egg to examine. He was asked to comment on their hardness. He said that the carrot was sufficiently hard that it cannot be crushed by hands. The egg could be easily cracked and the liquid contents would leak out with ease.

Then the teacher put the carrot and egg together in a pan, added some water to cover the articles and then boiled the water over the flame. After some time, the teacher took out the articles from the pan and asked for the comments of the student. The boy observed that the carrot, which was hard earlier, had become very soft after boiling. The egg, on the other hand, became very hard during the boiling. Its contents had solidified and now would not flow out even when the shell is shattered.

The teacher told the boy, “Earlier, you were like the carrot. Your courage and strength of mind were lost when you were exposed to the hard realities of life. You became weak and could be smashed easily.”

Next, he displayed the egg and told, “Be like the egg. You are soft and tender by nature, but the adversities of life should make you bolder and stronger. Then you can gain the courage to face any harsh moments with confidence.” He then narrated the biography of successful persons who could overcome the hard times of early life with confidence and earnest efforts.

The teacher could arrange some financial support for the boy. The boy was earnest, honest and hard working. By the constant support and guidance of his loving and dedicated teacher, he could mould a successful career in life.

The round, smooth beautiful pebbles found in rivers are the results of years of grinding in the flowing river, enduring water falls and floods. A flute is made by harsh treatments of natural bamboos. The steps involve cutting, shaping, drying and perforation. It is said that adversity is the best university to perfect our personality.

We must accept the sufferings and pain of life with the spirit of sacrifice which Jesus displayed in his life and death. Jesus declared, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self, take up his cross every day, and follow me” {Luke 9: 23}. “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” {Luke 14: 27}.

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: a grain of wheat remains no more than a single grain unless it is dropped into the ground and dies. If it does die, then it produces many grains” {John 12: 24}.

Jesus proclaimed, “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest” {Matthew 11: 28}.

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

This is Story No. 174 in this site. Please click ‘Older Posts’ at the bottom of a page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Posts' at the bottom of a page to read newer stories in this site. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.