We Will See

Once upon a time there was a farmer in a central region of China. He didn't have much money, and instead of a tractor he used an old horse to plow his field.

One afternoon, while working in the field, the horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, "Oh, what a horrible thing to happen." 

The farmer said simply, "We'll see."

He was so at peace and so calm that everyone in the village got together, and, admiring his attitude, gave him a new horse as a gift.

 

Everyone's reaction now was, "What a lucky man." 

But the farmer said, "We'll see."

A couple of days later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran away. Everyone in the village shook their heads and said, "What a poor fellow."

The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see."

Eventually, the horse found his way home, and everyone again said, "What a fortunate man."

Again, the farmer said, "We'll see."

Later in the year, the farmer's young boy went out riding on the horse and fell and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, "What a shame for the poor boy."

The farmer said, "We'll see."

Two days later, the army came into the village to draft new recruits. When they saw that the farmer's son had a broken leg, they decided not to take him.

Everyone said, "What a fortunate young man."

The farmer smiled again and said, "We'll see."

There's no use in over reacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. Many times what looks like a setback may actually be a gift in disguise. And when our hearts are in the right place all events and circumstances are gifts that we can learn valuable lessons from.

As Swami tells us: Joy and sorrow are like two pots carried by a man on a pole. They are inseparable. No one can tell what the future has in store for any individual.
And let us also remember that “the most precious ornaments arise from the fiercest of fires."

(Source: Radio Sai)