|
|
|
Story Time: The best Christmas
Once upon a time there lived two brothers Shallum and Simien, with their father, who was very and owned a lot of firms and industries. They all led a very pompous and affluent life. Shallum was 20 and Simien 18, they were studying in college and were very arrogant. This was one reason why they hardly had friends. Their father had pampered them greatly and always got them what they wanted.
It was Christmas and they were anticipating expensive gifts from their father. On Christmas Eve they decided to throw a sumptuous and extravagant feast and invited all the off springs of the elite and bureaucrat families. It was half past ten and the party was in full swing but Shallum was a little worried about his father who had promised to return from his business trip at around seven to help with the party decorations and food but there was no sign of him. He was standing in the hall away from all the guests, biting his nails. Suddenly the phone rang, he pounced to receive it and someone on the other end of the line with a heavy accent imparted the most astounding news to him: his father had been injured in a fatal accident and his condition was critical.
He took the address of the hospital and promised to come as soon as possible. He then scanned the crowd for Simien and saw him having fun; he grabbed his elbow and dragged him to the side. “What’s the matter bro? You look very pale. Is anything wrong?”
Shallum breathlessly told him about his father’s accident and commanded him to cancel the party. Simien announced to everyone that the party was cancelled due to some serious problem.
Reluctantly the guests rose to leave and by that time it was almost eleven. When they reached the hospital it was too late and their father had expired and left them in tears. Now they were totally hopeless and desolate, this was their worst Christmas.
Time passed and as each day unfolded they were becoming poorer and destitute, as they were prone to wasting money and led a luxurious life. They had no business sense and were unable to look after their father’s business. Taking advantage, their father’s business associates pilfered and robbed them of their wealth.
Two months later Shallum envisioned his father in a dream telling him that that was their best Christmas.
The next day Shallum told Simien about his strange dream and both were baffled that how could it be the best Christmas they have ever had, as their father had died on Christmas Eve!
Then a time came when they had to sell their mansion and take up jobs. Now they were living in a small apartment. Before the death of their father they were famous for their wealth and had a high status. Now was a period of great adversity and hardship as they had to lead a simple life and had become down to earth.
Now they could make out the dream that Shallum had envisioned that that was certainly their best Christmas because it helped them turn over a new leaf and now they had become steadfast, patient and humble. People appreciated them and they had many friends. But the loss of their dear father was still a tragedy for them.
This teaches a very important lesson to those who are very arrogant and obnoxious that man is mortal and pride has a fall. Only the good deeds of a person help him to remain alive in the memories of people for long.
|
|
|
|
