The Farmer, His Son, and the Donkey

One beautiful spring morning, a farmer and his son set out for the market with their donkey, hoping to sell it.

The father and son walked side by side while the donkey followed behind them.

They had barely gone a short distance when they met a group of young women walking in the opposite direction.

"Look at them!" one of the girls exclaimed, pointing at the farmer. "How foolish they are! They have a donkey, yet they're walking instead of riding it."

Hearing this, the old farmer quietly told his son to climb onto the donkey's back, and they continued on their way to the market.

Soon they passed a group of men sitting by the roadside. The farmer overheard one of them say,

"Young people have no respect for their parents these days.

That lazy boy should get off the donkey and let his father rest his tired legs!"

The son immediately climbed down, and his father took his place on the donkey.

A little farther along, they met several women walking with their children.

"Look at that cruel man!" they cried. "He's riding comfortably while the poor boy can barely keep up with him!"

The farmer stopped and invited his son to climb onto the donkey behind him.

They continued on their journey and were almost at the market when a merchant stopped them.

"Is that your donkey?" he asked.

"Yes," replied the farmer.

"Well," said the merchant, "I'm shocked by the way you're treating that poor animal. Two people riding on one donkey is far too much!

You'll surely wear him out. You'd be better off carrying the donkey yourselves!"

Moral of the story

No matter what you say or what you do, people will always find something to criticize.

You can't please everyone, so live according to your values, trust your judgment, and do what you know is right.

With love and light,

Nathalie M. Dubé 💛