As we face another two weeks of lockdown, there are many homes where patience has run out, as conflicts between family members have risen especially among husbands and wives, parents and children, sometimes quite alarming.
And so, this story:
Once upon a time in Siam there lived a young newly married couple who were very much in love with each other. One day the man went out to war and he was away for quite a few months. He came back a very changed person.
He sat for many hours on his doorstep thinking thoughts he would not tell his wife and staying away from her. The poor wife tried all she could to coax and cajole her husband to come back to his former self but she tried in vain. Finally in desperation, she went to an old sadhu in the forest and explained her problem.
“Bring me the whisker of a tiger!” thundered the sage “and I will tell you what to do.” The young lady was crestfallen; she knew how impossible her task was, but she was determined to get back her husband. So the next day she went into the forest with a bowl of soup and found a tiger’s lair. She saw the fearsome beast inside, stood trembling, then put down the bowl and fled.
The day after when she went to the entrance of the tiger’s cave she found the soup had been finished and she filled it with some more of the delicious stuff and again ran away. She did this day after day, till one day she stood and waited. The tiger also waited for her to go away but seeing she wasn’t going to do so, came to the bowl and lapped up the soup.
She stopped running away after that and one day decided not to put the bowl down at all. The tiger having got used to this woman who only wanted to feed him, came up to her and actually drank the soup from her hands.
She trembled as she watched the mighty beast, but slowly as days passed by stopped growing afraid and one day with a quick movement pulled off a whisker from the cheek of the fearsome fellow!
She ran with the whisker in her hand all the way to the sage. “Here wise sage!” she panted, “here is the whisker of the tiger, now tell me what to do with it?” The sadhu smiled as he took the whisker and kept it aside, “Go now to your husband,” he said, “and use the same patience you’ve had to get the whisker of this beast, and you will get his heart back likewise!”
Can you see the old sage turning to us and saying, “Go now to your husband/wife/parent/child and practice the same ‘whisker of a tiger’ technique of patience with them..!”
*****************************************
Would love to hear from you in the COMMENTS section below…and IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE BOB’S BANTER EVERYDAY, PLEASE SEND YOUR NAME AND WHATSAPP PHONE NO TO [email protected]
*****************************************
Read DARE by Robert Clements. Now available ONLINE on Kindle
It will change your life. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
What a beautiful story, so meaningful. Patience and tolerance are the key words for all of us I suppose. Since it’s really a difficult and trying times for all, the only thing we can do is to pray for all concerned, specially for the Lawmakers, for a better tomorrow.
It’s really surprising that animosity is increasing among family members during the lockdowm. We should in fact be happy to spend so much of quality time with our families. Possibly we are unable to do so because we have got used to being in the rat race for far too long. The funny part of being in the rat race is that even if you win the race you are still a rat…
Well said Bobby
A very fine example of prayerful practice of persistence, patience and bravery to face the unknown storm.
Also the above practice disproves “Familiarity breeds Contempt”
Well identified today’s situation in every home front.
Thanks Bro. Bob
Patience and perseverance are the greatest virtues but with time inside due to lockdown and stepping on each others toes better to be a free rat outside rather than a caged tiger inside..
WOW
Very interesting story
We all need is Courage Patience
To move forward this situation ends soon
In saying great Faith is the right word
What a wonderful idea explained so nicely. Well done Bob.
Why is it that we value people after they leave us? One if the failings of human nature?
Nice story. But I don’t mind the lock down since we’ve technology to keep us all connected and company at home.Four walls around me with vacant chairs to stare at was lonesome at lunchtime. I’d rather have a silent husband than risk being a meal for a tiger.So I admire the lady for the risk she took to hear her husband talk. I’d pray for him to be normal if I did want him to talk,smile or laugh, at the most, I think.
This is a new one I’m hearing, a real good one teaching courage, patience, persistence with extreme confidence & elan!!