A TALE OF TWO MONKEYS
A wild fire broke out in a
dense forest. Heaps of dry leaves easily caught fire and the strong winds quickly
spread the fire. The frightened animals
and birds fled for their lives. Two monkeys were left behind in the burning
forest. One was blind and the other was lame. They cried for help but their
friends and relatives deserted them.
They heard each other. The
lame monkey saw the helpless blind monkey and came near him as fast as he
could. He told the blind one, “Friend, there is only one way to escape from
this raging fire. You can move fast and I can see well. Let us move together.”
The blind monkey readily agreed and stooped down. The lame monkey climbed on
the back of the blind monkey, who moved, following the directions of the lame
monkey. They could move fast through a narrow area where the blazing fire had
not yet reached. They reached a safe spot at a great distance from the roaring
fire. They embraced and thanked each other. They promised to stay together as
real friends for the rest of their lives. Their friends were sorry for
abandoning them during the dangerous moments and begged their pardon. They
became friends again.
“A friend in need is a
friend indeed.”
Jesus taught, “My commandment
is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can
have for his friends is to give his life for them” {John 15:12, 13}.
St. John reminds us, “My
children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which
shows itself in action” {1 John 3:18}.
Ruth,
a Moabite woman, was married to an Israelite. When he died, his mother, Naomi, lovingly
advised Ruth to return to her own home. But the loving Ruth refused to desert
her lonely mother-in-law who was poor and helpless. Ruth told Naomi, “Don’t ask
me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you
live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the Lord’s
worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you”
{Ruth 1: 16, 17}. God blessed Ruth
for her love, devotion and loyalty to Naomi and God. By the grace of God, Ruth
began a new life and became the great-grandmother of King David.
The Holy Bible teaches us, “Friends
always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share trouble?
{Proverbs 17: 17}.
…………………………………………………………………………..
© By: Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India
( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts
Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu,
Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo.
S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil
John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally,
Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.
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