There was once a good and wise woman who was loved by all. She was not rich, nor did she possess extraordinary physical beauty or refinement. What she did exude was aura of constant happiness and it seemed to envelope all who came in contact with her. One day while she was travelling along a mountain path not far from her village, her eyes caught sight of a shimmering gleam just beneath the surface of the moving water. She reached down and picked up a large precious stone that was the source of beautiful glow. Thinking nothing more of it than its beauty, she placed it in her carrying bag.
The next day she came across a weary traveler who she noted appeared hungry. Because of her good and generous nature, she immediately opened her bag to share what food she had with him. While her bag was open, the hungry traveler saw the precious stone protruding from her bag. It was so large it could not help but be seen. The traveler commented on how beautiful it was and, on a lark, asked if she might be willing to give it to him. Without hesitation, the woman reached into her bag, took out the stone, and handed it to the stranger. The traveler snatched the stone and quickly left her rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to provide him with riches that would last throughout his lifetime. However, a few days later, he arrived at the village where the woman lived seeking her out. Once he found her, he explained that he had been searching for her in earnest and that he wished to return the stone that she had given to him.
“Why?” she inquired, “does the stone’s beauty not please you?”
“Very much so,” he answered, “but your great generosity to me, a complete stranger, has completely dominated my thoughts. I know how valuable this stone is, but I’m giving it back in the hope that you will give me something even more precious.
I want you to give me what it is that dwells within you that empowered you in the first place to unselfishly and graciously give this stone to me.”
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:25-34″
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué