So it's late here in the U.K. and I am tired and about to hit the hay, but then, for some crazy unknown reason, the thought crosses my mind that I should tell everyone here at SG.com a bedtime story. It's one that I told readers of my website before but I think it might be new to you, even though it is, I believe, an old chinese legend. So grab yer blankets, heads on pillows and listen up.
Once upon a time in central china there was a small village, just outside the small village was an old farm, in the farm house lived an old farmer and his son.
Ploughing season was here and all the farmer had to plough his field was a very old horse and an even older horse drawn plough. So this early sunny morning the old farmer, harnesses up his old horse to the old plough and together they begin ploughing the first of the fields, but they hadn't even got through a third of the field when for no reason except for old age finally catching up, the old horse just died.
The villagers heard about this and they gathered around the farmer and said how unlucky this was, the beginning of the season and his horse dies, this was such a dreadful blow, to which the old farmer just smiled around at the villagers and said "We'll see."
Well of course the villagers were very impressed with in which the way the farmer was taking everything in his stride that some of them clubbed together and the very next day presented the farmer with a fine, new, young, strong stallion.
The rest of the villagers who where also there for the presentation of the gift, clapped the farmer on the back saying how lucky he was to receive such a gift, and not at all meaning to be rude or ungrateful the farmer smiled and said "we'll see." The villagers watched, smiling as the farmer hooked up his new horse to the plough and together they finished ploughing the first field.
After ploughing that first field the farmer decided to call it a day and he unhooked the plough and put the horse in it's paddock, however the next day when the farmer got up early and went to harness the horse ready for another day of ploughing, he discovered the paddock was empty, sometime in the night , the young stallion had jumped the fence to the paddock and ran away.
The villagers heard about this and gathered around the farmer saying what bad luck this was but the farmer just smiled around at them and said , can you guess?, yup he said "We'll see." and instead decided he would tend is flower garden.
A few days passed and the farmer tended his flower garden, but one day in the warmth of the sun the farmer straightened up and mopped his brow, but as he did so he caught something in the corner of his eye, he looked and he noticed two shadowy figures coming down the lane, as he continued to watch the figures cam clearer and low and behold it was the runaway stallion, and with him he had brought a friend, a beautiful mare.
Well of course the villagers heard the news of the two horses and came to congratulate the farmer on his luck, I mean to lose an horse only for it to come back and bring a friend at no extra cost, that was indeed lucky, but the farmer just said "We'll see." as he always did with a smile on his old face.
Later that year, sometime after ploughing season, the farmers son decided to take the new mare out for a ride through the country, however, as they were out, tragedy struck. Somewhere in the distance there was a large explosion, the explosion spooked the mare and she threw the farmers son off her back and he landed in such a way he was paralysed from the waist down.
The villagers heard of this and came to show their support, and they said what rotten luck and what a tragedy this was, to which the farmer replied, smiling, "We'll see."
The very next day the emperors men cam to the village to collect all the men and boys able to bear arms, which was almost all of them, so they could fight in their war as was their duty to their country. on the way out of the village the company stopped outside the farm as two of the emperors men went to the door, the farmer opened the door and the emperors men looked him and his son up and down and said, "Neither of you would be any use to us in this war, we relieve you of your obligation to fight."
And do you know not a single man or boy from the village returned from that war alive.
The End
Now ok not much of a bedtime story, but there is a message in it for us and the message is this; In this life there has to be a balance, the whole Yin and Yang thing, the good and the bad, the good days and things give us something to look forward to in life and the bad days and things, remind us not to take the good for granted, for if all was good we would surely take it for granted and if all was bad...well I think we'd all become lemmings or something.
Just like the English garden, too much sun and it will dry and die, to much rain and the flowers will drown, but just the right amount of both and that garden will bloom and grown in such a beautiful way. the sunshine and showers help us bloom and grow, the good and the bad, the yin and the yang.
Have a good night, sleep tight and sweet dreams, yours with hugs and bright blessings,
Rin
Once upon a time in central china there was a small village, just outside the small village was an old farm, in the farm house lived an old farmer and his son.
Ploughing season was here and all the farmer had to plough his field was a very old horse and an even older horse drawn plough. So this early sunny morning the old farmer, harnesses up his old horse to the old plough and together they begin ploughing the first of the fields, but they hadn't even got through a third of the field when for no reason except for old age finally catching up, the old horse just died.
The villagers heard about this and they gathered around the farmer and said how unlucky this was, the beginning of the season and his horse dies, this was such a dreadful blow, to which the old farmer just smiled around at the villagers and said "We'll see."
Well of course the villagers were very impressed with in which the way the farmer was taking everything in his stride that some of them clubbed together and the very next day presented the farmer with a fine, new, young, strong stallion.
The rest of the villagers who where also there for the presentation of the gift, clapped the farmer on the back saying how lucky he was to receive such a gift, and not at all meaning to be rude or ungrateful the farmer smiled and said "we'll see." The villagers watched, smiling as the farmer hooked up his new horse to the plough and together they finished ploughing the first field.
After ploughing that first field the farmer decided to call it a day and he unhooked the plough and put the horse in it's paddock, however the next day when the farmer got up early and went to harness the horse ready for another day of ploughing, he discovered the paddock was empty, sometime in the night , the young stallion had jumped the fence to the paddock and ran away.
The villagers heard about this and gathered around the farmer saying what bad luck this was but the farmer just smiled around at them and said , can you guess?, yup he said "We'll see." and instead decided he would tend is flower garden.
A few days passed and the farmer tended his flower garden, but one day in the warmth of the sun the farmer straightened up and mopped his brow, but as he did so he caught something in the corner of his eye, he looked and he noticed two shadowy figures coming down the lane, as he continued to watch the figures cam clearer and low and behold it was the runaway stallion, and with him he had brought a friend, a beautiful mare.
Well of course the villagers heard the news of the two horses and came to congratulate the farmer on his luck, I mean to lose an horse only for it to come back and bring a friend at no extra cost, that was indeed lucky, but the farmer just said "We'll see." as he always did with a smile on his old face.
Later that year, sometime after ploughing season, the farmers son decided to take the new mare out for a ride through the country, however, as they were out, tragedy struck. Somewhere in the distance there was a large explosion, the explosion spooked the mare and she threw the farmers son off her back and he landed in such a way he was paralysed from the waist down.
The villagers heard of this and came to show their support, and they said what rotten luck and what a tragedy this was, to which the farmer replied, smiling, "We'll see."
The very next day the emperors men cam to the village to collect all the men and boys able to bear arms, which was almost all of them, so they could fight in their war as was their duty to their country. on the way out of the village the company stopped outside the farm as two of the emperors men went to the door, the farmer opened the door and the emperors men looked him and his son up and down and said, "Neither of you would be any use to us in this war, we relieve you of your obligation to fight."
And do you know not a single man or boy from the village returned from that war alive.
The End
Now ok not much of a bedtime story, but there is a message in it for us and the message is this; In this life there has to be a balance, the whole Yin and Yang thing, the good and the bad, the good days and things give us something to look forward to in life and the bad days and things, remind us not to take the good for granted, for if all was good we would surely take it for granted and if all was bad...well I think we'd all become lemmings or something.
Just like the English garden, too much sun and it will dry and die, to much rain and the flowers will drown, but just the right amount of both and that garden will bloom and grown in such a beautiful way. the sunshine and showers help us bloom and grow, the good and the bad, the yin and the yang.
Have a good night, sleep tight and sweet dreams, yours with hugs and bright blessings,
Rin