The Potatoes

A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week.

Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?"

The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go. Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. 

 

The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?"

Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime and to the end of 'sansara'. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take! Love others even if you don't like them........ and if you want to see a better world. 

The True Measure of Greatness
A young student once asked his old teacher, "Teacher, what is the true measure of greatness?" The teacher looked far away into the mountains and gave the following reply:

"Some measure greatness in height and weight, but great people are never so tall as when they stoop to talk to a child or bend their knees to help a hurting friend. 

Some measure greatness in physical strength, but great people are never so strong as when they shoulder the burden of the downtrodden stranger.

Some measure greatness in terms of financial gain, but those who show generosity to their family and friends, they are the ones who are truly rich. 

Some measure greatness in applause and accolades, but those who seek opportunity to serve in the quiet places of the world, theirs is the higher reward. 

Some measure greatness in commitment to achieving in material ways, but those who spur others on to reach their goals is great indeed. Great people have vision and do not keep the truth to themselves.

Great people have passion for life and are not ashamed to show it.
Great people expect the best from others and give the best of themselves.
Great people know how to work and how to play, how to laugh and how to cry, how to give and how to receive, how to love and how to be loved. 

"There are many people who are by the world called great, but those who bear honor in their hearts, who can, in the evening hours, lie upon their beds and peacefully close their eyes, knowing that they haved one all that is within their power to live their lives fully and fruitfully, those are truly great people."
 

Credit to:  Randall S. Weeks

Read Carefully
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.