A long time ago in China, 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-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 a while, 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 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 towards 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, and 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 is changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my
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 is nothing to worry about, I
never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her
health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude towards her, but that
has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her".
MORAL: have you ever realized that how you treat others is exactly how they will
treat you? In China it is said: the person who loves others will also be loved.
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them." Matthew 7:12 (KJV)
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.
Thanks to Sherry's Inspirational List
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