interesting stories

[pramanisa]

Let it Shine!

A great note for all to read it will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him   alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved - loved for ourselves, or rather,
loved in spite of ourselves.

[adwaita]

Excellent prajna ji, no words to say......

[pramanisa]

Once a warrior asked a monk: "What is the difference between heaven and hell?" The monk replied: "You ignorant brute, you are nothing but a savage. Why would I waste my time on you?"

Filled with anger and hatred, the warrior started beating the monk. After a few minutes, the warrior realised what a heinous act he was committing and stopped.

The monk smiled and said: "That fit of anger is hell". The warrior was so ashamed of his violent act that he begged the monk to forgive him.

The monk again smiled and said: "Your asking for forgiveness is heaven".

First of all feelings of anger, hatred and vengeance cause damage to the physical body. Secondly, there is a karmic price one must pay when one is filled with anger and hatred.

If we know this, we may think twice before sending out the boomerang of anger.

Thirdly, when we act out of anger, we may set in motion a chain of violence from which we find it hard to escape, resulting in an even worse situation than the original injury.

The password to God's abode is love. God is love and only love can reside in God's domain. Thus, for us to be fit to re-enter our eternal home, we must become all love. Anger and hatred are alien to the land of God.

Forgiveness is the remedy for anger and this will help us re-enter the domain of the Lord. There are many spiritual benefits to practising forgiveness.

First, we experience improvement in our meditation. We know how difficult it is to still the mind, we can maintain a calm mind by forgiving others as it brings spiritual benefits.

Forgiveness decreases our karmic load. Because anger and hatred increase our karmic load; each day that we control our negative qualities is a day that we are lessening that load.

Forgiveness is a good detergent to purify ourselves of karmic debts. Finally, one of the greatest benefits of forgiveness is that we become examples for others.

Love and forgiveness inspire others to love and make the world a peaceful place. If we learn the art of forgiveness, we can transform our life and achieve our goal of self-knowledge and God-realisation.
We should all try and practice this.

[pramanisa]

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rupee 500 note.
In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rupee 500 note?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you
but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air. Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and
started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all
crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?"
Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not
decrease in value. It was still worth Rupee 500/-.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt
by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as
though we are worthless.
But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose
your value.

You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.

"VALUE HAS A VALUE ONLY IF ITS VALUE IS VALUED"

[pramanisa]

SEARCH NO MORE

Ali Hafed was a farmer from Africa, who was happy and contented. One
day a priest came to visit him and told him about the glory of
diamonds and the power that goes along with having them. The priest
said, "If you have a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have
your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could
own the whole country." After the priest left, the farmer could not
sleep that night. He became unhappy and discontented with what he
had, and the whole night he thought to himself how rich and powerful
he would become if he could possess some diamonds.
The next morning, he sold off his farm, left his family with his
neighbor, and set off to search for diamonds. He traveled all over
Africa, but could not find any. He looked all over Europe and
couldn't find any. Finally, he became emotionally, physically and
financially broke and decided to take his own life by throwing
himself into the river.
Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering the camels
at a stream that ran through the farm. He suddenly saw a curious
flash of light from the white sands of the shallow stream. Reaching
into the water, he pulled out a rough stone that sparkled like the
colors of the rainbow. Finding the stone interesting, he took it back
to his house and placed it as a decoration piece in his living room.
One day the priest came to visit, and saw the sparkling stone. He
exclaimed, "Here is a diamond! Is Hafed back?" The man replied, "No,
no, Hafed has not returned, and that is not a diamond. It is only a
stone I found right here in the garden." When the priest heard this,
he declared, "I know a diamond when I see one."
Together they rushed out to the garden stream and began searching. To
their amazement, there came up other more beautiful and valuable
stones than the first. Thus, was discovered the largest diamond mine
in the world.


SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

The above story, Acres of Diamonds was lectured by Russell H. Conwell
more than 6,000 times during his lifetime. With the funds from the
above lectures he founded Temple University.
We are forever looking for opportunities elsewhere rather than within
us. "Acres of Diamonds" taught us that the riches and opportunities
that we are searching are within us. As the saying goes, "the grass
on the other side always appears to be greener." Diamonds in its
rough form do not look like diamonds. The raw diamonds need to be
skillfully worked on and polished before they are of value. Likewise
most of us are like the raw diamonds, and need to be worked on and
polished before we realize our full potential.

[pramanisa]

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.


His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.



As he manoeuvred his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.


"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.


"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room, just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. "It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away just for this time in my life.


Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing!

[pramanisa]

Not long ago I was in Nashville, Tennessee and I went into a convenience store to get a newspaper and a pack a gum.

The young women at the check-out counter said, "That 'll be five dollars please," and as

I reached into my wallet, the thought occurred to me that a newspaper and gum didn't
quite make it to five dollars.

When I looked up to get a "re-quote", she had a big smile on her face and said, "Gotcha!
I got to get my tip in there somehow!"

I laughed when I knew I'd been had. She then glanced down at the paper I was buying
and said, "I'm sick and tired of all this negative stuff on the front pages. I want to read
some good news for a change."
She then said, "In fact, I think someone should just publish a Good News newspaper -
a paper with wonderful, inspiring stories about people overcoming adversity and doing
good things for others. I'd buy one everyday!"

She then thanked me for coming in and said, "Maybe we'll get lucky tomorrow; maybe
we'll get some good news," and she laughed. She made my day.

The following day, after my business appointments, I dropped by the same store again
to pick up a bottled water, but a different young lady was behind the counter.

As I checked out I said, "Good afternoon," and handed her my money for the water. She
said nothing - not a word, not a smile...nothing. She just handed me my change and in
a negative tone ordered...."Next!"

It hit me right between the eyes: Two people, same age; one made me feel great, and
the other, well, made me feel that I had inconvenienced her by showing up.

By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day .
in positive or negative ways...our family, our peers, our friends, and even strangers we've
never met before and will never meet again.

So when you brush your teeth every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself..."Are
there things I'd like to change?" How will you choose to live your life...as "the grouch"
or as "the good news girl?"

Your answer will go a long way toward determining the joy and happiness that you will
experience in your life.

[pramanisa]

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.


As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.


As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"


The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean." "I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?" "The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I don't throw them in they'll die." "But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach, and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"


The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."


There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference, and if we can become aware of that gift, we gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.



We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our stars wisely and well, the world will be blessed.

[pramanisa]

Some years ago, three brothers left the farm to work in the city. They were all hired by the same company at the same pay. Three years later, Jim was being paid $500 a month, Frank was receiving $1,000, but George was now making $1,500.


Their father decided to visit the employer. He listened to the confused father and said, "I will let the boys explain for themselves."


Jim was summoned to the supervisor's office and was told, "Jim, I understand the Far East Importers has just brought in a large transport plane loaded with Japanese import goods. Will you please go over to the airport and get a cargo inventory?"


Three minutes later, Jim returned to the office. "The cargo was one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," Jim reported. "I got the information over the telephone from a member of the crew."


When Jim left, Frank, the $1,000 a month brother, was called. "Frank," said the supervisor, "I wish you'd go out to the airport and get an inventory of the cargo plane which was just brought in by Far East Importers."


An hour later, Frank was back in the office with a list showing that the plane carried 1,000 bolts of Japanese silk, 500 transistor radios, and 1,000 hand painted bamboo trays. George, the $1,500 a month brother, was given identical instructions. Working hours were over when he finally returned.


"The transport plane carried one thousand bolts of Japanese silk," he began. "It was on sale at sixty dollars a bolt, so I took a two-day option on the whole lot.

I have wired a designer in New York offering the silk at seventy-five dollars a bolt. I expect to have the order tomorrow. I also found five hundred transistor radios, which I sold over the telephone at a profit of $2.30 each.

There were a thousand bamboo trays, but they were of poor quality, so I didn't try to do anything with them."



When George left the office, the employer smiled. "You probably noticed," he said, "that Jim doesn't do what he's told, Frank does only what he'd told, but George does without being told."


*********

The future is full of promise for one who shows initiative.

[pramanisa]

A weary traveller sat down to rest in the shade of a tree,
not knowing that the tree he chose was magic:
" The Wish-Granting Tree."

Seated on the hard ground, he thought how pleasant it would
be find himself in a soft bed. Instantly, a bed appeared before
him. Astonished, the man climbed onto the bed, thinking that
the height of happiness would be to find a young beautiful girl
by his side, massaging his sore legs. Instantly a young girl
appeared and began massaging him.

"I'm so hungry," the man said to himself. "Having something
to eat now would be a great pleasure." Instantly a table appeared
laden with a delicious feast.

The man rejoiced and began eating and drinking to his heart's
content. His head spun a little and his eyelids grew heavy as
the wine took effect. He stretched out on the bed, thinking about
the wonderful events that had taken place on that extraordinary
day.

"I'll sleep for an hour or two," he thought. "The worst that
could happen would be if a tiger wandered by while I'm asleep."
Instantly a tiger appeared and devoured the poor man.

You have a magic tree inside you, waiting to grant your wishes.
But be careful! The same tree can also make your negative thoughts
and fears come true. At the very least it will be influenced by
your negative thoughts, so that the good things you wish for do
not happen.

That's what worrying can do.

I wish with all my heart that you lead a life free of worry,
negative thoughts and fear, in the shade and comfort of your
personal Wish-Granting Tree.

[pramanisa]

"I got three A's," said the little boy,
His voice was filled with glee.
His father said, "If you studied more,"
"You might have gotten four."

"Mom, I've got the dishes done,"
The girl called from the door.
Her mother answered sharply,
"Well I hope you swept the floor!"

"I mowed the grass," the tall boy said,
"And edged the sidewalks too."
"I hope you improved," his father said,
"On the job you usually do."

The children in the house next door,
Seemed happy and content.
The same thing happened over there,
But this is how that went:

"I've got three A's," the small boy said.
His voice was filled with glee.
His beaming father said, "That's great!"
"I'm so proud you belong to me!"

"Mom, I've got the dishes done."
The girl called from the door.
Her mother smiled and softly said,
"Each day I love you more."

"I've mowed the grass," the tall boy said,
"And edged the sidewalks too."
His father answered "Thank you!"
"For all the helpful things you do!"

Give a hug, or thanks or praise,
For the tasks your children do,
If they're to lead a happy life,
So much depends on you.

[pramanisa]

THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT!
It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30
a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived
to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated
that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at
9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a
seat, knowing it would be over an hour before
someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking
at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with
another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to
one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to
remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of his wound, we began to
engage in conversation. I asked him if he had
another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was
in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he
needed to go to the ! nursing home to eat breakfast
with his wife.

I then inquired as to her health. He told me
that she had been there for a while and that she was
a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I
asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He
replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she
had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still
go every morning, even though she doesn't know who
you are?"

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She
doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had
goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the
kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been,
will be, and will not be.

With all the jokes and fun that are in
e-mails, sometimes there are some that come along
that have an important message! , and this is one of
those kind. Just had to share it with you all.

Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and
knowing who to thank.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the
best of everything; they just make the best of
everything they have. (Amen to that!)

Please share this with someone you care about
-

I JUST DID

[pramanisa]

May be an old one, but this is always happy reading!!


Lessons on Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge
things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look
at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in
summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe
what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son
said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so
sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping
with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they
had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season,
and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come
from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring,
the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.


Moral:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches
and better times are sure to come some time or later
" Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams"

[pramanisa]

Uneaten Donuts

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending Seminary in Utah. In this Seminary classes are held during school hours. Bro. Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Bro. Christianson's Seminary class.

Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.

One day, Bro. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, "You think you're pretty tough, don't you?"

Steve's answer was, "Yeah, I do."

Then Bro. Christianson asked, "How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Bro. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time."

"Do you think you could?" Again asked Bro. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," Bro. Christianson said.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it."

Bro. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Bro. Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited. It was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.

Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want a donut?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

Steve said, "Sure," and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Bro. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?" Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.

Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He as very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When Bro. Christianson asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own pushups?"

Bro. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

Steve started to do ten pushups. Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Bro. Christianson said, "Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Jenny said, "No."

Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?" Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.

By now, the students were beginning to say "No" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely. Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row.

During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Bro. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your pushups. You can do them any way that you want." And Bro. Christianson went on. A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Bro. Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him."

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in."

Bro. Christianson said, "Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?"

"Yes."

"Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?" Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Bro. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, "Bro. Christianson, can I help him?"

Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor. Bro. Christianson turned to the room and said. "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit." With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.

Author Unknown
 

[pramanisa]

There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the
lowlands and the other high in the mountains. The mountain people
invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of
the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families
and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.

The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't
know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't
know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the
steep terrain.

Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the
mountain and bring the baby home.

The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They
tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort,
however, they had climbed only several hundred feet.

Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the
cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below.

As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby's
mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down
the mountain that they hadn't figured out how to climb.

And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How
could that be?

One man greeted her and said, "We couldn't climb this mountain. How
did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the
village, couldn't do it?"

She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It wasn't your baby."