There is a story about a man who, long centuries ago, had a habit of coming before the King everyday with much gossip about what was wrong in the Kingdom – with this person and that person. One day the King determined to cure the man of his habits and gave him a cup of brew, filled right up to the brim of the cup. The King gave the man the cup early one morning, telling him to bring it back that night, having carried it all the day through, without spilling one drop. If any of the precious brew were spilled, the man would forfeit his life.
The man did as directed and joyfully returned to the King that night, his cup and contents intact. He did not spill a single drop. Said the King to the man, “What was wrong in the Kingdom today? You have not reported a single distress.”
“Sire, I was so occupied with watching my own cup and making sure none of its precious content was spilled, that I really didn’t see anything wrong anywhere, the whole day through.” the man said.
Taking the time to be responsible for our own thoughts and feelings, trying to bring more *perfection* into our lives, leaves little time left for observing *imperfections* of others.
Just maybe all those *imperfections* we see are there for a purpose: for the purpose of providing us with opportunties to create substance of Tolerance, Acceptance and Understanding within our characters? To extend Love to that which has been denied it?
Sue Ann Edwards
CordieB
Mark
February 22nd, 2008 - 1:58 pm
OH, divine serendipity
Love you, Sis!
February 22nd, 2008 - 4:42 pm
Ah Sue.
I have pages and journals dedicated to the subject of gossip and judgment.
Thank you for this!
February 22nd, 2008 - 8:16 pm
I’m not sure if the comparison is relevant, but I’ll use the story to describe how I view my relationship between my former mother-in-law and myself. I’ll give her at least some of the credit for helping me to be the kind of a mother-in-law she could have been and wasn’t. I was so busy trying to overcome her frigid hate of me, that when it came time for me to be a mother-in-law, I put into practice all the qualities she lacked.
February 23rd, 2008 - 6:40 am
to feel empathy too sometimes I think.
February 24th, 2008 - 10:52 am
{{Grace}} I’m so happy to see you!!!! I feel so Blessed and Honored that you left a comment here because I know how active and full your home life is right now. Thank You Sis.
{{SE}} You are most welcome! I truly sense that the majority of all our problems would disappear if we simply admitted to ‘gossiping’ and looked at the consequences of it. Nothing beneficial ever comes from it.
{{Mary}} Ohhhh, welcome…{{{hugs}}} You are right on it! If your Mother-in-law had claimed her own demons, instead of projecting them onto you, then her life would have been much more fulfilling, since she would have been blessed with more of you in it. As it was, she was an excellent teacher…of what not to do. Smiling.
{{tumel}} I had to think on it for a minute to understand what you shared. It went over my head. Zoom. Empathy for me, relates to Compassion “been there/done that” and is for giving in person. Gossip is when we talk about someone and they are not there.
November 2nd, 2009 - 12:29 pm
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