Seek the Giver Than the Gift

There was a king. He did many wars and conquered many territories. He had four good ministers, who did all the wars for him. The king pleased with his for ministers. One day the King decided to celebrate his victory. He arranged a grand feast and invited all the noble people for the fest. On the day of the feast in front of his guests, King decided to honor his Ministers.

King summoned his for Ministers who fought the war for him and told them that "four of you are very instrumental in winning the wars. I would like to grant you your wishes, you can ask your desire of your heart. You can ask anything. I will give it to you." In front of the guests, King announced. One by one the ministers come forward and expressed the desire of their heart.

The first one told to the King "I am from a poor family, my parents are very poor. In my childhood, I slept without having food many nights. I need money. Give me money, a lot of money. Hearing this King ordered his Servant who is in charge of his treasury to give him a lot of money which will make him rich.

The second one told to the King: I do not have a house. I want a big house just like the palace. Hearing this King ordered his servants to Make a palace for him.

The third one said to the King: I have a good house, I have money, but I do not have a good road to go to my home. If you are kind enough please build a royal path to my house in the village. King ordered to make a royal path to his Village.

Then the chance came for the fourth one. King asked what do you want. He didn't say anything. Tears welled up in his eyes. He began to sob. Seeing this Kind told him, whatever it is, you can ask. Even if it is half of my kingdom, I will give it to you. When the king insisted, the servant said while crying, "I do not want money, I do not want a big house or a royal path. I just want you, If you are kind enough, please come and stay with me and my family for a few days. King said that it is not a difficult task. I am happy to live with you and your family for a few days.

While making a plan to visit the house of his servant, the kind come to know that the servant is a poor man does not have a good house or money. To go to his house is a very difficult task as there was not a good road to his village. King ordered to build a Big house just like a palace for King's stay. Also, King ordered to send a lot of money for his stay. Kings servants made a royal path to his village for King's travel. He got everything his fellow servants got.

Moral of the story is that don't just look for the gift but seek the giver. It is better to seek God than his gifts. When Gog come to your house, everything else will follow automatically.

When you get right, the world will be ok.

Professor Jack has a three-year-old son. He is very smart and has many doubts about many things. He used to ask different wired questions. When his mother gets tired of answering the questions, she tells him to ask Papa. One fine Sunday morning as Professor Jack was preparing the lecture for the coming week, his three-year-old son came with different questions. To keep him quiet, Professor Jack was thinking ways to engage his son, so that he will keep quiet for some time.

While looking for books or magazines, professor jack found an old map of the world. An idea comes to his mind. He tore that world map into many pieces. Mix that pieces and give it to his son and asked him to rebuild the world map and return. Professor Jack was sure that his son will not disturb him for a couple of hours and continued his preparation of lecture for the next week.

To Professor's surprise, his son came within 5 minutes and asked him to look at the world map. Believing his son could not set it right, without looking at the world map, the professor said "Son, go to your room and fix it correctly and come back, I am not going to help you" But his son insisted that he fix it correctly and show it to him.

Professor Jack looked the map and found it fixed correctly. Professor asked, "who helped you to fix it. I am sure you cannot do that without someone's help.

His son replied " Papa, no one helped me. When I carefully looked at both the sides of the paper, I found on one side, body parts of a man. When I fixed the man, the world map got right by itself."

Professor looked at the back side of the map and found there is a picture of a man. When his son fixed the man, the world got corrected automatically.

The moral of the story is, when the man gets right, the world will automatically get right. Individuals are responsible for all the troubles in this world.

Story of Old Clock And The New Clock

 
Once stood an ancient church, its age surpassing a century. Due to the old priest's ailing health, the Church Committee made the decision to appoint a new clergyman. Taking charge of the church, the young priest explored the building and contemplated renovating it to enhance its allure.

With the assistance of the church committee, they embarked on numerous endeavors. They acquired new carpets, painted the walls, and replaced the ceiling, among other things. As part of the renovation, the priest considered replacing the old key-powered clock, known for its noisy mechanism, with a sleek electronic timepiece. However, out of respect for the sentimental attachment of the elderly congregation, the new clock was positioned alongside the old one, for the time being.

The new clock exuded joy and grace, each second marked by a cheerful "tick," as it leapt forward. There was vitality and enthusiasm in its movements. Simultaneously, the old clock, with great effort and the creaking of its wheels, endeavored to keep pace with the new clock. Initially, the new clock carried an air of pride and hesitated to engage with its predecessor. However, as time wore on and monotony set in, the new clock resolved to initiate a conversation.

During their exchange, the new clock inquired, "How long have you been here?" The old clock responded, its voice echoing the passing of more than a century.

Upon hearing this, the new clock fell into contemplation, attempting to calculate the number of jumps it would need to make to reach the milestone of a hundred years. One minute entailed sixty jumps, one hour required three thousand six hundred jumps, one day necessitated eighty-six thousand four hundred jumps, one month encompassed two million five hundred ninety-two thousand jumps, and one year encompassed thirty-one million five hundred thirty-six thousand jumps. Calculating the jumps for a hundred years yielded a staggering figure of three billion one hundred fifty-three million six hundred thousand jumps. Shortly after this revelation, the new clock ceased its rhythmic leaps.

Observing the silence, the old clock inquired about the reason behind it. The new clock replied, "I was calculating the number of jumps you have accomplished over the last hundred years. You have made millions of jumps. I doubt I would be able to match that magnitude. The thought of all those jumps overwhelms me, causing stress and immobilizing me. Helplessly, I find myself unable to mark even a single second. In fact, I've experienced a metaphorical 'heart attack' contemplating this."

Understanding the predicament, the old clock posed a question, "I comprehend your situation, but can you jump for just one second?" The new clock confidently responded, "That's quite simple—I can effortlessly leap for one second. It's an exceedingly easy task."

The old clock encouraged, "Then do it."

Inspired, the new clock resumed its rhythmic jumping, focusing solely on one second at a time.

The moral of this tale is to avoid dwelling on the entirety of a lifetime's tasks. Refrain from feeling overwhelmed or helpless when considering the future. Instead, concentrate on the present moment and take it one day at a time. This approach will enable us to continue our journey. At the onset of a school year, students may feel despondent while glancing at the thickness of their textbooks. By following the advice of the old clock—by focusing on one sentence or page at a time—they can complete the book within a year. Never succumb to depression or discouragement. Progressing one step at a time will lead you to your destination. Do not surrender! Refuse to be a quitter!

Do not worry about the abundance of tasks to be accomplished in a year. Simply focus on one task at a time.

Many individuals often contemplate and question how to lead a life free from sin when they dedicate themselves to Jesus. However, you will discover that it is effortless to live in the present moment without sin. By focusing on the here and now, we can strive to live a life untainted by wrongdoing.

The wife and the window

A young couple relocated to a new place due to their transfer. The next morning, while they are enjoying their morning tea, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash to dry.

That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better washing powder.

Her husband looked on, but he remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, one fine morning while these young couple enjoying their morning tea, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look! She has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said: "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!"

And so it is with life:

"What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge. "

Taxi - this is worth the read!

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.

'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life. I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people.. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on.

Thank you, my friend... Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

The Good Teacher

The great Zen teacher, Benzei had many pupils in his school. One day, one of the students was caught stealing his fellow-students money and they reported it to Benzei. But Benzei took no action against the thief.

A few days later the same boy was again caught stealing. And again Benzei did nothing. This angered the other students who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief. They threatened to leave the school if the boy was allowed to stay.

The teacher called a meeting of the students. When they had assembled he said to them: “You are good boys who know what is right and what is wrong. If you leave you will have no trouble in joining some other school. But what about your brother who does not even know the difference between right and wrong? Who will teach him if I don’t? No, I cannot ask him to go even if it means losing all of you.”

Tears coursed down the cheeks of the boy who had stolen. He never stole again and in later life became renowned for his integrity.

When your hut is on fire

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. 

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. 

He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' 

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man to his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.