The Miser

The Miser, does that ring a bell for anyone? Hint: Think back to childhood. It's one of Aesop's famous collection of fables which you may have heard of back in the day.

Fables are so fun to read and best of all, they are not just for children. They provide a wonderful teaching tool for all ages. There's a magic about them that brings to light valuable life lessons that are hidden in each one. Their message is a simple one, yet so profound. I absolutely love these short, truth-telling, attention grabbing stories that have stood the test of time. In fact, I love them so much, I plan to share different ones with you every now and again.

Here's one for your journey. As you read, think of how the message resonates with you. Remember, fables point out character flaws which we ALL have. If this happens to be one of yours, then see it as an opportunity for learning and a first step towards change.

The Story: A Miser had buried his gold in a secret place in his garden. Every day he went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it piece by piece to make sure it was all there. He made so many trips that a Thief, who had been observing him, guessed what it was the Miser had hidden, and one night quietly dug up the treasure and made off with it.
When the Miser discovered his loss, he was overcome with grief and despair. He groaned and cried and tore his hair.
A passerby heard his cries and asked what had happened.
"My gold! O my gold!" cried the Miser, wildly, "someone has robbed me!"
"Your gold! There in that hole? Why did you put it there? Why did you not keep it in the house where you could easily get it when you had to buy things?"
"Buy!" screamed the Miser angrily. "Why, I never touched the gold. I couldn't think of spending any of it."
The stranger picked up a large stone and threw it into the hole.
"If that is the case," he said, "cover up that stone. It is worth just as much to you as the treasure you lost!"

                   "A possession is worth no more than the use we make of it."

The Lesson: What if, we replace the word "possession" for skills, talents, natural gifts, love or anything else we value. Take a moment if you will to reflect and see what comes up for you. Have you ever hidden something that was special to you? Are you holding out on someone or something that is precious to you? If so, how does that make you feel? As I see it, anything that we value, if neglected becomes meaningless. I understand we sometimes lose sight of what we have and how to make the best use of it. It happens. Just know, you can always make a change. I've learned that life is to be lived and the best way to do this is by bringing out and sharing our hidden treasures for the greater good. Remember, it's about what we do with what we have that matters most. Hope you can take something from this lesson.

                               What do you possess? How are you using it?


Stay tuned for more: Fable of the Day!

Enjoy!

Partially adapted from http://www.read.gov/aesop/112.html