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

174- The Shield of Baron Veritas

 

St-Takla.org Image: A man riding a horse. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: رجل يمتطي حصان.

The baron built a shield; he fixed it on the way to his castle. He used to watch, from a window, travelers coming from the north and the south stopping and admiring the beauty of the shield. A traveler from the south was admiring the shield and saying, “The Baron is really rich he made his shield of gold.”

“No it is made of silver,” said the traveler coming from the north.

While they were arguing the baron came along and asked why they were arguing. The baron showed them the two sides of the shield; the one facing south was made of gold while the side facing the north was made of silver.

“Each one of you saw the shield from his side. I wish instead of fighting, we stop and look at the subject from all its sides.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: درع البارون فريتاس.

My soul, why do you quarrel with others?

Why do you insist on your own opinion

As if no body else has command of matters but you?

Lord let me be like You drawn by Your Power to heaven.

Let me have the proper understanding,

Since You have the power to see all angles of a situation.

In love, I shall be able to see the others’ point of view.

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