It's no accident that Aesop's Fables have been popular for millennia. Great truths revealed in brief, memorable stories are powerful. I have some modern-day favorites of my own.
The Million-Dollar Child
For a number of years, we attended the same church as Pat and Patsy Morley. I wish I had known Patsy better, because this story from her husband, as told in his book, The Man in the Mirror, shows her wisdom and strength.
When our two children were toddlers, I was uptight about new scratches showing up on our coffee table. This was a real point of contention with my wife, who could not care less about such matters. Finally, she said, “You leave my children alone! I’ll not have you ruin a million-dollar child over a $300 table!” Wow! It finally connected. I was more interested in a $300 table than the emotional welfare of my kids. I asked Patsy to forgive me...
The Daffodil Principle
A friend introduced me to the daffodil story, told by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards, which is too long to reproduce here. Here's an excerpt that gives the gist of this remarkable, true testimony to the power of small actions done repeatedly over time.
Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns—great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers. ... We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking" was the headline.
The first answer was a simple one."50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and very little brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
The Ruby Ring
The story of the ruby ring came to me from a friend just the other day. It is her story, or rather her grandparents', and true both in fact and in its powerful message.
My grandmother rarely asked for anything for herself, but for whatever reason she wanted a ruby ring. My grandfather talked about it for years but kept putting off buying it.
When he finally was ready to give her one, she said, "Sorry, too late. My hands are old looking and I don't want it anymore."
Now, when you hear me referring to a "ruby ring" situation, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
Do you have any modern Aesop-wisdom to add to this collection?
