437- A Donkey Mimicking Another Donkey

 

St-Takla.org Image: Young donkey or young ass - You never see people riding donkeys! - Bahir Dar and Blue Nile Falls - From St-Takla.org's Ethiopia visit - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, April-June 2008. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: حمار صغير، جحش - !لن ترى أي شخص يمتطي حمارا، أبداً - صور مدينة بحردار وشلالات النهر الأزرق، الحبشة - من صور رحلة موقع الأنبا تكلا لإثيوبيا - تصوير مايكل غالي لـ: موقع الأنبا تكلا هيمانوت، إبريل-يونيو 2008

A donkey, carrying a sack full of salt, was walking by a river. Next to him was another donkey carrying a load of sponges. The first donkey could hardly walk for the sack of salt was very heavy. Even though the second donkey carried a big and seemingly heavy load of sponges, it was a light load.

The sponge carrier mocked the salt carrier for the latter was tired. The sponge carrier did not realize the weight of the salt and thought that the donkey was weak and sensitive. While he was busy thinking all that, the donkey carrying the salt fell in the river. The salt melted and the donkey came out strong and had nothing on his back.

The donkey with the sponges on his back was mad that his fellow donkey with the salt sack had nothing to carry. He pretended that he was coming near the edge of the river. He did fall in it and the sponges were filled with water and became heavy. He tried to remove the heavy load from his back and could not so he drowned.

Sadly the other donkey stood there crying for his friend who wanted to mimic him unthinkably and drowned.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: حمار يقلد حمارًا.

Lord, give me wisdom not to mimic somebody just as he looks like.

With wisdom I learn what is good from everybody.

First let me learn from You for, You are the Only One to renew my nature.

You give me success and carry me to Your heaven.

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

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