"INSPIRING STORY"
The Stranger in the Garden
Once upon a time there was a man who had a big garden. He
had planted many fruit trees and cared for them till they bear fruits. Now he
wanted to pick up the fruits and sell them to make money for his family.
One fine day while
picking fruits with his son, the man saw a stranger sitting on the branch of a
tree and picking the fruits. This man become angry and shouted, “Hey you! What
are you doing on my tree? Aren’t you ashamed of stealing fruits in the day
time?”
The stranger on the branch just looked at the gardener but
didn’t reply, and continued picking the fruits. The gardener was very angry and
shouted again, “For a whole year I have taken care of these trees, you have no
right to take the fruits without my permission so come down at once!”
The stranger on the
tree answered, “Why should I come down? This is the garden of God
and I am the servant of God, so I have the right to pick these fruits and you should
not interfere between the work of God and his servant.”
The gardener was very surprised at this answer and thought
of a plan. He called his son and said, “go bring a rope and get this man down
from the tree.”
His son brought the rope and the gardener ordered him to tie
the stranger to the tree. The gardener then took a stick and started to beat
the stranger. The stranger began to scream. “Why are you beating me? You have
no right to do this.”
The gardener paid no attention and continued beating him.
The stranger screamed, “Don’t you fear God, you are beating an innocent man?
The gardener answered, “Why should I fear?
This wood in my hand belongs to God and I am too the servant
of God, so I have nothing to fear, and you shouldn’t interfere with the work of
God and his servant.” The stranger hesitated and then spoke,
“Wait don’t beat me, I am sorry for taking the fruits. This
is your garden and I should seek your permission before taking the fruits. So,
please forgive and set me free.”
The gardener smiled and said, “Since you have now realized
your mistake, I will forgive you but remember that God has given all his
servants brains so every person’s deeds are in his own hands.” Then the
gardener untied him and let him go free.