THE HEALING POISON
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. The herbs I gave you were vitamins 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."
MORAL:
Friends,
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.
