Guiding You Towards Your Rainbow: Tied Up in Knots
Guiding You Towards Your Rainbow
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Tied Up in Knots
by Carl Sommer
Bobby and Sophia grew up on the farm. Even though they were polite and helpful children, there was one thing they would not do. Bobby and Sophia would not share. Only Bobby could play with Bobby’s toys and only Sophia could play with Sophia’s toys. The same was true for their horses. Bossy was for Bobby and Stiffy was for Sophia.
Mother always reminded them to be kind to one another, whenever she heard Bobby and Sophia yelling and fighting. Mother would tell them, “Remember, sharing brings happiness.” Unfortunately, the siblings were too selfish to listen. They thought sharing would make them miserable.
Bobby and Sophia did not know that Bossy and Stiffy had become just like them – unfriendly and unkind. Once Bobby hopped onto Stiffy for a ride, but she stiffened her neck and would not move! Sophia’s horse was only for Sophia, not for Bobby! When Sophia tried to sneak a ride on Bossy, the obstinate horse dug in his feet and would not move. He was not going to take Sophia anywhere, he was the boss! Bobby’s horse was only for Bobby, not for Sophia!
Mother and Father shook their heads in disappointment. They felt it was time to teach the children a lesson. The next morning, Father tiptoed into the barn, being very careful not to wake the sleeping horses. He picked up the rope that was around Bossy’s neck. Then he got the rope that was around Stiffy’s neck. Quietly, he tied the ends together.
When it was time for breakfast, Bobby and Sophia called for their horses. Bossy and Stiffy stretched and yawned, then headed straight for their food. As the horses neared the hay, they felt a heavy tug at their necks. Suddenly they stopped! The children stared in shock and wondered how the horses got tangled and tied up in knots.
Bossy and Stiffy did not care about the rope or the knots. They were hungry and wanted to eat. They began pulling harder and harder, but the harder they pulled, the knots got tighter and tighter. And they were not getting any closer to the food! Bobby and Sophia started to quarrel and argue about what they should do. They snapped at each other, blaming the other person for the sorry state that the horses were in. Meanwhile, Bossy and Stiffy kept tugging.
Finally the children agreed to get a pair of shears from the barn to cut the rope. As Bobby grabbed the shears, Sophia shouted. “Wait, look!” Bobby and Sophia ran toward the horses. Bossy and Stiffy were still tied up in knots, but both horses were eating! Bossy and Stiffy were happily bent over Stiffy’s trough, gobbling up the hay. When Stiffy’s food was gone, the horses walked over to Bossy’s pile of hay and began munching again. “How simple!” said Bobby, shaking his head. “They learned to share!” Sophia nodded in delight, as she remembered what Mother had said. Sharing does bring happiness!
Though the lesson came from two horses, Bobby and Sophia never forgot what they had learned that day. Being selfish and stubborn makes you sad and miserable, and gets you tied up in knots… Sharing brings joy, happiness and harmony!
