1. A Unique Way To Punish Your Children
A family with one grown-up son aged 21 was living in
a farmhouse, cultivating hundred acres of land. They lived 20 kilo metres away from
the city with no neighbor's to interact with the family. One day, the father
asked his son to drive him to the city as he had some business meetings
throughout the day.
The car was to be given at a particular garage for some minor repairs and servicing. The boy got excited with the opportunity to drive his dad to the city. Since he was going to the city, his mom gave him a list of household items to be purchased. The boy dropped his father at a particular place. At that time, the father asked his son to be at the same place at 4.30 pm so that both could return home together.
The boy left the car at the garage and also finished
shopping as quickly as possible. Then, he went straight for a movie which was running
successfully for several weeks. As he was totally immersed in watching the
movie, he forgot to notice the time. When he came out of the theatre, it was
already 5 pm. Then he went to the garage, picked up the car and reached the
place where his father was waiting for him. By then it was 5.30 pm. His father asked
him why he was late.
The boy was a little scared to inform him that he had
gone for a movie. So he told his father that he got delayed at the garage, as
the car was not ready for delivery. The boy did not know that his father had
already called the garage over the phone and ascertained that the car was ready
for delivery by 4 itself. The father got upset that his son had told him a lie.
He wanted to punish his son for telling a lie.
QUESTIONS
1. How did the father punish his son?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. The father told his son that there was something
wrong with the way he had brought him up. In order to teach him a lesson, he
decided to walk back to his farmhouse in the night, with no light on the road.
The son felt ashamed. As his father was walking, he
did not leave him alone and drove the car behind him slowly. They reached the
farmhouse after six hours.
2. Instead of punishing the boy in some way, the
father decided to punish himself. This act of nonviolence touched the boy’s
heart and he resolved never to lie again in his lifetime. It is a unique way of
teaching a lesson which can be emulated by other parents.
2. Confess Your Sins And Be Purified
A Catholic priest was once
questioned about the significance of making confessions. The priest told a
story to explain its importance. He went on to say, People who regularly scoff
at confession make me think of the story of Jonathan Swift’s servant.
After spending the night at an inn,
Swift asked for his boots in the morning and saw them brought in covered in
dust. Why didn’t you clean them? he
asked his servant. I thought there was no point, said the servant. After a few miles on the road they’ll
be covered in dust again, no matter what I do.
Quite right, now go and get the horses ready,
we are leaving. Soon afterwards, the horses came out of the stable and Swift
was ready for the journey. But, we can’t leave without breakfast! cried the servant. There’s no point,” replied
Swift, after a few miles on the road you’ll be hungry once again!
QUESTIONS
1. What did the priest try to
convey through this story?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. People generally think that it
is a futile attempt to confess our sins to a priest as we may fall prey to sin again.
This story conveys the message that frequent confession would purify the soul.
2. Confession not only takes away
the dust of sin but also gives us a special strength to avoid it, and makes
firmer our friendship with God.
3. Everyone Is A Potential Genius
Once upon a time, a man found an abandoned eagle’s egg and with the fear that it might break, placed it under a brooding hen. The eaglet hatched with the chickens and grew among other chickens. The eaglet-chicken clucked and cocked, scratched the earth for worms, and flapped its wings to fly a few feet in the air like other chicken.
Years passed and it spent its whole life being a chicken. One day, it spotted a magnificent bird glide above its head in graceful majesty with scarcely a movement of its golden wings. That’s the king of the birds, the eagle, said the mother hen. “He belongs to the sky, and we belong to the earth.”
QUESTIONS
1. What was
the response of the eaglet chicken?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. The eaglet-chicken said, How I wish that I could fly! But it never made an attempt to fly in the air, though it was capable of doing it.
2. Everyone has
the potential to achieve something great and outstanding. But our beliefs about
ourselves fix the limitation of our achievements.
Every
individual estimates himself and that basic estimate goes far towards determining
what he can become. You can do no more than what you believe you can.
4. Choose The Right Career
Once, two beggars sat with their backs to an old mango tree. Before them was a rippling stream. The day was delightful and yet, one of them looked disconsolate. You know, Raju, mused one, this business of begging is quite torturous.
Think it over, nights on park benches or on the cold pavement; travelling on the goods train and always dodging the police; being kicked from one town to another and wondering where your next meal is coming from; wandering unwanted everywhere, sneered at by your fellow men..
His voice trailed off as he sighed heavily Well, said the second beggar, If that’s the way you feel, why don’t you go and find yourself some job?” The first one sat up with a jerk and said sternly…
QUESTIONS
1. What did
the first beggar say to his companion?
2. What is the implication of this story?
ANSWERS
1. “What! And admit to the world that I am a failure?” the first beggar said.
2. For the same reason, many who have chosen a wrong career do not like to change it, feeling that others would brand them as failures.
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