LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
Once upon a time, there lived an old father and his teenage son. They were in a journey to the west side of the country. They brought a donkey with them. It’s for carrying all the things they had, such as food, drink, clothes, etc.
In their way, the son felt so tired. He looked like can’t move anymore. He asked for break to his father. They had their drink and also a little meal. But, the son still can’t continue stepping. Then the father decided to lift him up to the back of the donkey. Then, they continued their journey. As the son rode the donkey, he felt much better.
After a few moments, they met an old woman. She said to the father, “How poor you are, old man. I can see in your face that you’re extremely tired. Your son doesn’t even care about your suffering.” And she also shouted to the son, ”Don’t you feel so sorry to be up there boy? Look at your father! Just get down and let your father up there.” Then, the boy went down and they obeyed all of what the woman said, without any protest.
The father was up then. He substituted his son’s position as the donkey rider. And once again they stepped. They passed some villages and they stopped the journey when there was a beggar asking for some food. They were very sorry looking the poor man. The father, who was closer to the travel bag, looked for someone to share. Soon as he got a loaf of bread, he threw it to his son. “Give it to him, son”, he said. “Yes sir”, his son answered. But, unpredictably, the beggar refused the bread. “So you are the father of this boy? I thought your son was your servant. What kind of father are you? Let your son walk while you are sitting relaxing up there, huh? It made me sick of your bread. I had lost my appetite. You don’t need to pretend like a good man if you can’t be a good father.” The father was so shocked. He couldn’t be angry with the beggar. He just said nothing. He watched the beggar’s word and he had got an idea. The father invited his son to come up the donkey. Both of them now rode the donkey smiling to the next city while the beggar enjoyed his meal from the father and his son.
A few minutes later, they arrived in a cowboy city. Just soon as they came, they heard someone shouting to them angrily. “How mean all of you! How can you ride an old donkey like it? Look at your stuffs. Aren’t they very heavy? Don’t make this poor animal become your slave! Release it!”
Then what happened next? Not only released the old donkey, they also lifted it up along the following journey. The next question is, “Which one is the real donkey?”
Others’ words should be our consideration when we want to do something. But when it is not necessary to do, why don’t we regret them and let them be suggestions only?
Gregorius Adhi Kurniawan
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