196- Poor Horse

Stephan, a horseman, was greatly admired by the citizens, as he was clever in guiding his trained horse. He won a lot of medals in horse races. Stephan loved his horse greatly and treated him like a friend. He decided to let his horse guard his garden from the birds that were eating the fruits from the trees.

The horse was really alert and did not let any bird approach the fruits. It was very fast, running everywhere in the big garden so as to protect the fruits of the trees. When darkness fell, the horseman, the owner of the orchard came back and found out that his horse has damaged all the beautiful flowers and the vegetables during his continuous jumping through the garden to kick out the birds. He started hitting his horse vigorously with whips.

One of the neighbors noticed Stephan and rushed to him saying, "What are you doing?"

"I’m punishing the horse, as it spoiled the beauty of the garden and destroyed all the basins of the roses and vegetables on which I invested a lot."

"Do you think that the horse did this on purpose to hurt you?"

"No, but it didn’t care about the basins of roses and vegetables."

"Who is to be blamed for that? Is it the horse or its owner who didn’t know how to put everything in its right place? It isn’t the job of the horse to guard the gardens from birds."

Stephan realized that he was the one who deserved to be lashed by whips and not his horse, as he was not wise.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: الفرس المسكين.

+ Let me be proud, O Lord, of Your offerings to me

And not to envy any other person for his talents.

Let me not despise others for not having what I have.

Help everyone to be honest with the blessings You have given.

+ Offer me Your Wisdom to realize the job I should do which is suitable for my talents.

+ Endow me with Your Wisdom so I can put everything in its right place.

A Sudden Meeting

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

An Open Tap