1. Sand and Stone
A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some
point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other
one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying
anything, wrote in the sand:
"TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE."
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a
bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started
drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near
drowning, he wrote on a stone: "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY
LIFE."
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt
you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"
The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in
sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does
something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever
erase it."
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND, AND TO CARVE
YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
Reflection
* When one learns not to retaliate or react to a perceived 'wrong' done by
another towards oneself, then one is growing spiritually.
* Retaliatory force, aggression, anger, ill will, revenge and hatred would
not solve a problem. Anger or hatred is not overcome by anger or
hatred ... it is through patience, tolerance, understanding, love and
compassion that anger, ill will or hatred is overcome.
* Reacting to a happening with anger, aggression, ill will or hatred will
cause one to suffer in body and mind.
* Learning to let go or forgive another for his 'wrong' towards us will
keep the mind calm, peaceful and free. It lightens the mind ... and one is
on the path to peace and freedom.
* When someone does us a good turn, it is good spiritual quality to show
appreciation and gratitude.
* The practice of gratefulness helps to establish care, harmony and love in
the hearts of people. And it brings spiritual growth.
* FORGIVE and LET GO! BE GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR
THE MANY BLESSINGS WE HAVE.
Story To
Reflect
Upon 69

2. TWO FROGS
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them
fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit
was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The
two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit
with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop,
that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took
heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down
and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again,
the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He
jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the
other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to
them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the
entire time.
Lessons From The Story
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging
word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it
through the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes
to kill them.
Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your
path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand
that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak
words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in
difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time
to encourage another.
Author Unknown
Story To
Reflect Upon 70