“Do not grieve that every rose has a thorn, instead rejoice that every thorny bush has roses in it”.
Instead of brooding and crying over the bitter and sad things that befall us, we have to try to seek what is good in them and learn to derive the joy of living out of them.
Once upon a time there was a king who had a minister who always used to say “Whatever happens is for our good”. He used to repeat it so frequently that people would get annoyed with his mannerism, but they put up with him because he was the king’s minister.
One day the king happened to cut his finger accidentally. The minister was quick enough to throw in his remark, “ Whatever happens is for our good”. Blood was oozing from the king’s finger and he was writhing in pain. The minister’s remark angered him so much that he ordered the minister to be thrown into prison. The king’s command was carried out promptly and the minister languished in jail.
In course of time the king got better. As was the regular practice with him, he went into the forest on a hunting expedition. Chasing a wild animal, he moved far away from his retinue. The beast eluded him but he became captive to a group of barbarians. They took him to their leader who ordered that he be offered to their goddess as sacrifice.Amidstconfoundingritesandritualsthekingwasprepared for the sacrifice. As the sword rose in to the air to fall on the king’s neck,thepriestsaid,“Thismanisunfittobeofferedassacrificetoour Just are the ways of God and jusifiable to men
Unless there be who think not God at all. ~ John Milton ~goddess, because he has a wound on one of his fingers.” As per their custom, a man with any deformity was not fit to be a sacrificial offer to the goddess. The king was set free and eventually he returned to his kingdom. He realized the truth of his minister’s words. He relented and set him free. The minister felt elated that his words had proved true and the king was convinced about the veracity of his saying.
But the king had a doubt now. He said, “Well, the wound has saved my life. But what good has your imprisonment done to you?” The minister smiled and said in all humility “Your Majesty, you ordered my imprisonment on account of the wound. If you had spared me, I would certainly have accompanied you, since the barbarians would have found me without any blemishes, I would have been slain. Has not my imprisonment done me good?”
Once in Persia reigned a king Who upon his signet ring Graved a maxim true and wise, Which if held before the eyes, Gave him counsel at a glance Fit for every change and chance, Solemn words, and these are they: “Even this shall pass away.”