A Girl Named Li-Li
A long time ago, a girl named Li-Li got married and went
to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short
time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her
mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very
different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her
mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li
constantly.
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