An Inscription On The Sand

Two boys were on the beach. They were running, joking, and playing cheerfully. Suddenly, there was an intense argument between them. Then the bigger boy hit the other boy so hard that his face was badly bruised. Being hit, the smaller one was completely shocked. With tears in his eyes, he tried hard to hold his anger and sobs. Then, without saying a word he took a stick and made an inscription on the sand: “Today my friend hit me.”

His friend felt a little bit uneasy. He was embarrassed but did not say anything. Silence fell between them for a while. However, as what children always do, soon they reconciled and played together again. When they were chasing each other, out of carelessness, the little boy fell into a hole made to trap animals. “Help … Please help me!” he shouted in fear.

His friend looked into the hole. “Are you alright, my friend? Don’t be afraid. Wait a minute. I will find a rope and help you out.” Immediately the boy ran, trying to find a rope to help him. When he came back, he tied the rope to a tree while shouting to calm him down. “My friend, I am here. I have tied one end of the rope to a tree, and now I will throw the other end to you. Catch it and tie it tightly around your waist. I will pull you out.”

Finally, he managed to pull his little friend out of the hole safely. The little boy, with tears in his eyes, said, “Thank you very much, my friend.” Then immediately he ran to find a big rock and make an inscription there. “Today, my friend saved me.”

His friend who had followed him was puzzled. “Why did you write on the sand after I hit you? And why did you write on a rock after I saved you?” Patiently, the small boy answered, “After you hit me, I wrote on the sand because I wanted to get rid of my anger and hatred as soon as possible. Just like the inscription on the sand, it will soon be washed away by the waves and wind. However, after you saved me, I made an inscription on the rock because I want to remember your good deed forever. I have carved it in my heart. Once again, thank you, my friend.”

Hearing the explanation, the bigger boy felt very sorry. Hugging his friend, he said, “I must thank you too, my friend. You are younger, but you are wiser than me.” Soon they continued playing. Their friendship was stronger with time.

Dear Wise Readers,

Living with burdens of hatred, anger, and grudge is certainly not mentally healthy. Particularly, if the person we hate did not mean to make us angry and he did not know that he had hurt us. Our energy is wasted. This negative thought is going to torment us so much that we cannot sleep soundly and we will lose our appetite. In brief, it will destroy us physically and mentally.

Giving pardon never harms us. Instead, it will free us from hatred and grudge. A sincere apology will cool down any heated heart and emotion.

When somebody hurts us, writing his or her fault on the sand or in the air is worth practicing. Soon, it will be blown by the wind. We will not waste our energy grudging and we will not lose our chance to be happy.

On the other hand, when somebody is good to us, no matter how small and simple his or her kindness is, we must remember it as if we made an inscription on a rock. Remembering others’ good deeds will make our life full of good spirit and gratitude. 

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