Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never
stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that,
according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law
and obey her every wish.
All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great
distress.
Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship
any longer, and she decided to do something about it. Li-Li went to see her
father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and
asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once
and for all.
Mr. Huang thought for awhile, and finally said, Li-Li, I will help you solve
your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.
Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.”
Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package
of herbs. He told Li-Li, “You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your
mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore,
I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her
body.”
“Every other day prepare some pork or chicken and put a little of these herbs in
her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies,
you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her,
obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”
Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of
murdering her mother-in-law.
Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the
specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had
said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her
mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.
After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had
practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never
got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument in six months with her
mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.
The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li
like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the
best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now
treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very
happy to see what was happening.
One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said,
“Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my
mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own
mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. “Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I
never gave you any poison. All of the herbs I gave you were simply to improve
her health.”
“The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has
been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.”
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
It is easy for us to pray and ask God to change someone who is not acting the
way we wish, but if we take a moment and look at ourselves, I am sure we will
find a way to better the situation by our acts that will make a positive impact
towards that person who was not treating us the way we wished.
I pray that you have been encouraged by today's message to be the initiator in
making a bad situation better. When we treat others the way we ourselves want to
be treated, the impact is sure to be a positive one both for ourselves and for
the recipient. (Matthew 5:5-12) (Romans 12:9-18)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Luke 6:30-33 Jesus declares “Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him
that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should
do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what
thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to
them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the
same.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one
another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which
labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem
them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among
yourselves.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that
none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both
among yourselves, and to all men.”
Dwayne Savaya Godswork100@hotmail.com
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