Wisdom Dispels the Darkness of Desire for things Seen
JOHN AND HIS YVOLUTION Y GLIDER AIR SCOOTER
Alice and John lived with their parents in a large bungalow. Their dad was a doctor and their mom a lawyer.
Alice and John had the best of toys, clothes, shoes, food, etcetera. Their parents would always buy them lots of things. They were also given a nice allowance every week which they generally saved to buy something new and trending in the stores. John was saving to buy the new Yvolution Y Glider Air Scooter!
One day while shopping with their parents Alice noticed a little girl crying for a small doll. Her mom was scolding her and telling her she could not have the doll. Alice asked her mom, “Why doesn’t her mom buy her the doll? It is small and not too expensive.”
“Darling maybe her mom only has enough money to pay for food, rent and bills. She most likely does not have extra money to buy other things which are not necessary,” her mom explained to Alice and John.
“Oh dear, I didn’t know little children did not always get things they wanted.” said Alice thoughtfully.
When they got home, Alice spoke to John, “John we have so much stuff that we don’t use, why don’t we bag some of it and give it to less fortunate persons.”
“I like my stuff, you go ahead and give away your things if you want to.” replied John.
Alice sighed at John’s lack of concern for others. She started packing the clothes and toys that were in good condition into separate bags. She thought to ask her mom and dad to take them to a shelter so other kids could have them.
John went skate boarding in the park, thinking of his new Y Glider which he would be able to buy very soon! His thoughts were not on the road and he did not see a speed bump ahead. He crashed into the pavement, luckily for him he was wearing his Sonic Maniac Sport Helmet his dad had bought him.
John got a few scratches but he would live. A young boy stopped and helped him up. “Here take my bandana and wrap your knee, it will help stop the bleeding.”
"Thanks.” said John, still a little dazed from the fall.
“Sit a while, I will go and get you a bottle of water and you will be fine.”
The young boy went across to the nearby shop and bought a bottle of water and took it to John.
John drank the water and felt much better. He again thanked the stranger and offered to pay him for his help. “No need, always good to lend a helping hand! Reach home safely and you can attend to the bruises.”
John looked at the stranger as he left. He had not even asked his name. He limped home with skateboard in one arm. On his way home, he noticed a homeless person trying to fix an old worn out shoe. He thought to himself, “the shoe is too old it needs to be thrown away!”
John finally reached home. When his parents saw that he was hurt, they fussed over him. His dad attended to the bruises and his mom fixed him a nice hot cup of chocolate mix.
Later Alice spoke to her mom and dad showing them all the stuff she had packed. “Can we take it to a shelter and leave it for some less fortunate kids?” she asked.
Her parents were proud of her, “Of course dear, we can go tomorrow and deliver it to the Salvation Army.”
John was now thinking, “Alice is helping by giving her stuff away, that guy in the park helped me without any reason, saying it is always good to lend a helping hand. Why is everyone being so nice?”
Soon his thoughts had moved on, "I have just enough money now to get the new Yvolution Y Glider Air Scooter.” The last thought made him very happy.
The next day Alice and her parents went to the Salvation Army. John asked them to drop him off at the mall to buy his dream Yvolution Y Glider Air Scooter!
On the way to the mall they passed the park. John saw the homeless guy again sitting eating something that looked as if it was out of a bin. He was wearing the same old shoes which he had somehow managed to repair.
“We shall we go to the Salvation Army first, then we can all go to the mall.” said John’s dad.
When they arrived at the Salvation Army, they took the bags out of the car and gave it to the person in charge.
The lady who was working in the Salvation Army said smilingly. “Alice, thank you for the things you have donated. Your parents say the clothes and toys in the bags all belonged to you. Many grown-ups and kids come here so I am sure they will have a good treat with the stuff you brought.”
Alice and John looked around at the things in the Salvation Army. There were a lot of stuff but mainly old, worn out and even only single sided shoes. Alice laughed, “John who would want one side of a shoe? Why do people give things that are not useful?”
“People bring what they can afford. Sometimes it is not too good but out of kindness and thoughtfulness they bring it.” answered the lady.
“Thank you, we will be going now.” said John’s dad as their mother directed the kids out of the Salvation Army store.
Alice and her parents went to get some ice cream, while John hurried over to the toy store to get the Yvolution Y Glider Air Scooter he had been looking at every time they came to the mall and he had been saving his allowance for a few months to buy!
When John saw the Yvolution Y Glider Air Scooter this time it was not as attractive to him. He did not feel that he needed it as much as before. He walked through the toy store but found he was not as interested any more in the many attractive toys.
John left the toy store and was heading back to the food court to meet his family. He passed a shoe store on the way and looked at the window. He went into the store and picked out a nice pair of shoes.
After returning home, John made some sandwiches and took the pair of shoes and headed to the park. The homeless person was not around. John wondered, “What shall I do with the new pair of shoes.” He sat on the bench for a while, looking at the many faces passing by that he had never noticed before. Finally, he saw the homeless fellow heading his way, but as John had occupied the bench he passed by.
“Sir,” John called out and hurried to the homeless fellow, “please take this, it is for you.”
The homeless fellow took the bag with the shoes and sat on the bench. He opened the box and smiled one big smile. He removed the old shoes and put on the new ones. “Thank you.”
He then saw some sandwiches in the bag. “Would you like to have a sandwich?” he asked John.
That day John shared a sandwich with the homeless fellow. On returning home he felt so happy. He looked around at all the things that his parents had bought and thought to himself, “None of these things have given me as much happiness as giving up something I wanted and giving something to someone in need!”
Moral :
With Wisdom, I can Understand the Difference between My Wants and My Needs.
I should not get carried away by the desire for things that I see in this world.
True Happiness comes from Giving, NOT Receiving.
