Age Old Philosophy

[Guest guest]

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, and weeks passed. Li-Li

and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the

situation even worse was 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 Li-Li's 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, however, 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 delicious meal 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 with her mother-in-law in six months because she 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, however, that has

been all washed away by the love which you gave to her. "

Have you realized that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat you?

There is a wise Chinese saying:

" The person who loves others will also be loved in return. "

~ " We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a

little of each other everywhere. " ~

~ " If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the

entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand. "