Moral Lesson

Learn to Let Go and Let Go. Do Not Be Like Monkeys.

This morning in church, Pastor Eddy Lim shared a story “How to Catch a Monkey” with the children. I thought it is interesting and would like to post this story in my blog.

The children were told of the story about how in ancient times the natives used to catch monkeys. They do not catch the monkeys by chasing after them. They hollowed out a coconut by cutting a small hole at one end of the coconut, just big enough for a monkey to put its hand in. They would pull a string attached to the other end of the coconut and tie the string to a tree. They then filled the coconut with peanuts (or bananas).

The monkey smelled the treat, squeezed its hands into the coconut and grabbed the peanuts. Unfortunately the hole was not large enough for the monkey to pull out its fist when clenched.

Monkey and Coconut, 29.06.2014, P02

Surely this monkey is trapped by its unwillingness to let go.

Of course the monkey was never trapped. All the monkey had to do was let go of the peanuts and pulled its hand out but it simply cannot bring itself to do so.

The Moral of the Story…

After hearing the story, the children as well as many adults in the church service this morning were smiling and laughing at the foolishness of the monkey for not letting go and allowing itself to be caught.

But does this not apply to us too?

From this story, we are taught to let go and let go. Are we holding on to things and ideas for too long and remain in the traps of our own making? If so, the best thing to do is let go, to step back, because that is when creativity has a chance to occur.

In conclusion, I leave you with this verse from James 4:7 which reads “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Learn to let and let go, or you may make a “monkey” of yourself.

God is still on the throne!

🙂

贪财是一切罪恶样的根本原因

我打了4年的官司（两起官司），虽然我都赢了，我却失去了一位认识十多年的好友。

我活了50多岁，我一直非常珍惜每一位朋友和我们之间的友谊。我从来没有想到这一位朋友会上法院误告我。他一打就是4年。为了什么呢？长话短说，就是为了要吞下属于我的$25,000.

现在他输了官司，他必须付出$100,000律师费用, 还要还我$25,000加上4年的利息(5.33％)。

因为贪婪，为了$25,000, 这个人选择放弃十多年的友谊！

这确实是一个茶杯里的风波！到头来，他损失更大。

这意想不到的过程的寓意是什么呢？

  1. 贪财是一切罪恶样的根本原因。
  2. 法律是公正的。
  3. 如果你正在经历炼狱，那就继续向前走，不要放弃，因为隧道的尽头会有亮光。
  4. 在困难中，仍然存在着温暖的亲情和珍贵的友情。他们会默默地支持你，与给你力量走下去。

这个过程不会改变我交朋友的方式：就是真诚，诚实和谦卑。

最后，我要谢谢天上的主人，耶和华您是我的亮光，是我的拯救。我还怕谁呢？您是我性命的力量，我还惧谁呢？

Seasons of Life (生命的季节)

  1. Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ( 教养孩童，使他走当行的道，就是到老他也不偏离。) – Proverbs 22:6

  2. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ( 孩子们，我们爱人，不要只在言语和舌头上，总要在行动和真诚上表现出来。) – 1 John 3:18

  3. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteous and honor. ( 追求公义与慈爱的，必得着生命、公义和荣耀。）– Proverbs 21:21

  4. Be strong and courageous. ( 当刚强壮胆！) – Joshua 1:9

  5. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. ( 要快快地听，慢慢地说，慢慢地动怒。) – James 1:19

  6. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ( 爱是凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。) – 1 Corinthians 13:7

  7. A joyful heart is good medicine. ( 喜乐的心乃是良药。) – Proverbs 17:22

  8. Do everything in love. ( 凡你们所做的都要凭爱心，而做。) – 1 Corinthians 16:14

  9. The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. ( 事情的终局强如事情的起头；存心忍耐的，胜过居心骄傲的。) – Ecclesiastes 7:8

  10. Endurance produces character, and character produces hope. ( 忍耐产生毅力，毅力产生盼望。) – Romans 5:4

  11. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ( 不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑，一天的难处一天当就够了。) – Matthew 6:34

  12. Honor your father and your mother. ( 要孝敬父母。) – Exodus 20:12

Aside

The Dash On The Tombstone

If I were to ask you to name the 3 most common things on a tombstone, I am sure you will get them right. Yes, they are:

  • The photo of the deceased
  • The deceased’s name
  • Two dates (date of birth and date of death)

The difference between the two dates determined whether the deceased lived a long or short life on earth.

May I now ask you what is the thing that appears between these two dates on the tombstone?

If your answer is “-“, you are right again.

The length of this “dash” is the same sitting between the two dates, whether the deceased had a long or short life.

What is the moral of this “dash” in the context of the tombstone?

Life on earth is not about how long you lived or that you died young. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well, so that it will have an impact on the lives of the living when you are gone.

I’ve Four Wives. How About You?

Once upon a time there was a rich king who had four wives.

He loved his 4th wife the most. He adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved her 3rd wife very much. He was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever he faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The king’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love his 1st wife. He hardly took notice of her, although she loved him deeply.

One day, the king fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.”

Thus, he asked his 4th wife, “I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No way!”, replied his 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad king then asked his 3rd wife, “I loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!”, replied his 3rd wife, “Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!” His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked his 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied his 2nd wife, “At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.” Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning. The king was devastated.

Then a voice called out, “I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The king looked up, and there was his 1st wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the king said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

The moral of the story:

In truth, we all have these 4 wives in our lives:

Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.

Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Four Wives Moral

We are your 4 wives!

…

Author’s Notes:

I do not claim ownership to this parable. I received it from an email. I am sharing them hoping to bring joy and laughter to you – as “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” – Proverb 17:22.