September 22, 2007

Once, during a famine, a kind, rich baker called 20 of the poorest children in the town to his shop and putting a basket in front of them said, “In this basket there is a loaf for each of you. Take it, and come back to me every day at this hour till God sends us better times.”

The hungry children gathered eagerly around the basket, and started quarrelling over the bread, because everyone wanted to have the largest loaf. At last they went away without thanking the good gentleman.

But Gretchen, a poorly dressed little girl, did not quarrel or struggle with the rest, but remained standing quietly to the side. When the ill-behaved children had left, she took the smallest loaf, which alone was left in the basket, kissed the gentleman’s hand, and went home.

The next day the children were as ill-behaved as before, and poor, timid Gretchen received a loaf scarcely half the size of the one she got the first day. When she went home, her mother cut the loaf, and many shinning pieces of silver fell out of it.

Her mother was very much alarmed, and said, “Take the money back to the good gentleman at once, for it must have gotten into the dough by accident. Be quick, Gretchen! Be quick!”

But when the little girl gave the rich man her mother’s message, he said, “No, no, my child, it was not any mistake. I had put the silver pieces into the smallest loaf to reward you. Always be as content, kind, and thankful as you are now. Go home and tell your mother that the money is yours.”

Always put other people’s feelings and emotions before your own. It sometimes feels like we’re losing out. But we are not really. God sees such unselfishness, and rewards us.