161- With A Broken Arm

A Symbolic Story

As Michael was returning home late at night, he fell down and broke his left arm. The ambulance came and carried him to the hospital. On the next morning, he was hardly able to shave after he suffered some minor injuries at his face. At night, he was in pain and unable to sleep. He imagined that he heard the following dialogue:

His right arm told his left arm, "We don’t miss you left arm, all the members of the body are glad that it was you and not me which was broken, since without me. the whole body will not be able to function."

The left arm answered in humility saying, "I know that you’re more important than me."

The right arm answered, "Yes, I’m more important than you. Without me, the body can’t write a letter."

The left arm asked, "But who holds the paper when the letter is being written?"

The right arm said, "I hammer nails."

The left arm commented, "And who holds the nails which you hammer?"

The right arm said, "Who holds the sander when the carpenter needs a smooth piece of wood?"

The left arm responded, "And who holds the piece of wood?"

 The right arm said, "When my owner walks in the road, who holds his hat by which he greets his neighbors?"

The left arm asked, "And who carries his briefcase while you’re holding his hat?"

Finally, the left arm said to the right one, "When I was broken today, didn’t my owner find it difficult to shave, in spite of you holding his shaving items and me not able to hold his skin while shaving it? Without me, he’s unable to do many jobs. He’s in need of you as well as me. Let’s work together even if we have different roles.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: صاحب الذراع المكسور.

Lord let me not despise my brother's work,

Rather, let me toil with him for Your glory.

Let me be proud of him and his gifts.

Without him, I have little value,

Without him, I do not experience my union with You.

Gather all of us in You, Who are the Head of all.

The Kind Word

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Niagara Falls and An Orange Peel