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LOOSE
FEATHERS
Once there was a child who loved to tell stories about
his friends. Sometimes the stories were true, and sometimes
the stories were not quite true. The neighborhood children
did not like their gossiping friend. One day they decided
to ask the Rabbi's advice.
The Rabbi heard their complaints, and called the child
to his house.
"Why do you make up stories about your friends?"
the Rabbi asked.
"It's only talk," replied the child. "I can
always take it back."
"Perhaps you are right," said the Rabbi, and he began
to talk of other things. As the child was ready to leave,
the Rabbi asked, "I wonder if you would do something for
me."
"Of course," said the child
The Rabbi took a pillow from the couch and handed it to
the child. "Take this pillow to the town square. When
you get there, cut it open, and shake out the feathers.
Then come back."
The child was puzzled, but agreed to do what the Rabbi
said. He carried the pillow to the town square and cut
it open. The breeze scattered the feathers across the
sky.
The child returned to the Rabbi's house and told him what
he had done.
The Rabbi seemed pleased. He handed the boy a basket and
said, "Now please go back to the square, and gather
the feathers up again."
The child gasped,. "But that's impossible."
"You are right," said the Rabbi. "So is it not
possible to take back all the untrue things you said about
others. Be careful with the words you spread. Once spoken
and sent on their way, they cannot be gathered again."
© KAR-BEN
COPIES
Reprinted with permission |
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