With all of the turmoil, division, prejudice, hatred and self-interest that seems to have permeated our society this week, I looked for a story that would illustrate the power and impact that being committed to helping others produces. As our fable tells us, such a commitment reaps precious rewards for both those who are given to as well as to those that give, for no one can know their own beauty or perceive a sense of their own worth until it has been reflected back to them in the mirror of another loving, caring human being. So, as divided and different as we may be, one thing that we should all be able to agree on is that we need much less acrimony in our world and more understanding, benevolence, and love. The route to that end is so simple yet, still, for far too many, it remains so elusive – sincerely wanting to understand and help others.
There was once a very special little witch. She was special because she was good hearted, but she had no idea how to put that into practice. From the time when she very young, she had been told off many times by the witches. They told her she had to be wicked like all the rest of them. The little witch suffered greatly; she didn’t want to be wicked. All her spells were a disaster, and she couldn’t find anyone to teach her how to put her goodness into action. So the little witch was sad most of the time.
One day she heard that the old witches were planning to cast a spell on a big mountain and turn it into a volcano, which would destroy a nearby small town. The good little witch thought about how she could prevent this, but she didn’t really know how to. When she went to speak to the townsfolk to warn them, they threw her out and pelted her with stones, shouting “Get away from here, witch!“
The little witch ran off, and sat crying at the side of the road. Soon a few children came by and, seeing her crying, tried to console her. She told them that she was a good witch, but she didn’t know how to put her goodness into practice, and that everyone treated her badly. The children told her that being good was very easy. All you had to do was help others, do good deeds for them.
“And what can I do for you guys?”, asked the witch.
“You could give us some sweets!”, they answered, happily.
The witch was very embarrassed; she had no sweets on her, and she knew no spell for making them. But the children didn’t mind, and skipped off toward the meadow where they usually went to play.
Feeling somewhat encouraged by this, the little witch set off for her cave committed to help everyone, but still uncertain exactly how to do so. On her way, she came across the old witches who were gathered together chanting the words that would cast an evil spell on the mountain. The mountain had already turned into a volcano and was beginning to spit fire. The little witch wanted so much to prevent this from happening, but she didn’t know how. Suddenly, a whole load of magic words came into her head. She said them and, before she knew it, the fire on the mountain had turned into an erupting stream of candy sweets. Thousands of sweets were launched into the air and then fell upon the town below covering the streets and yards of its inhabitants. All of the village children were dancing about with their mouths open and shouting gleefully between swallows of the treats that gently pelted them. Their parents were also smiling and laughing in obvious enjoyment of their children’s delight.
And that’s how the little witch learned how to do good; by sincerely wanting to help others.
The children and parents of the village realized that all this wonder replacing a potentially devastating volcanic eruption had occurred thanks to the heretofore , and they let everyone know. From that day forward, no one in the town would think of her, or treat her, like a wicked witch. She became friends with everyone there, and continued to do what she could to help them.
And in memory of her spell, since then they always referred to her as Our Sweet Witch. – Story attributed to Pedro Pablo Sacristan
Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you. ? Shannon L. Alder
Have an AWE-Full Weekend!
William J. “Bill” Bacqué