The Wise Woman's Stone

[Brigid]

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met a fellow traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."

-- Indian parable

[libodem]

1. Awww

That is touching and so meaningful. Thank you.

[dawg]

2. Cool.

I was hoping he was going to starve to death because he didn't take the food and the woman was going to come across his corpse and take the stone back.

Your way is better.

[loudsue]

3. You're ok, dawg:

I guess that's why we need parables!

[Brigid]

6. What are we going to do with you, dawg!

[hootinholler]

4. Nice!

I thought it might be a variation on stone soup, but this is much better.

[Aerows]

5. That's where I thought it was going, too

Much better

[Cerridwen]

7. Nice. Thank you.

I hadn't heard or read this before.

[Quantess]

8. I disagree that she was "wise"

Giving the stone away to the first schmuck who asked for it does not sound very wise to me.

[Brigid]

9. I dunno . . .

I have a feeling she knew he would be back.