There is the story of a king, who, one day while sitting with his most devoted servant, Ayaz, ventured to share a cucumber with him. Ayaz thanked him and happily ate the piece given to him by the king. When he had finished, the king then took a bite of his own half, “Yuk!” he cried, as he made a disgusted face, and spit out the cucumber. “This is so bitter! How could you have eaten your piece if it tasted like bitter poision?” Ayaz replied: “My dear king, I have enjoyed so many favours and blessings from you all these years. Whatever you give me tastes sweet!”
A true lover of God lives in gratitude and so is able to consider the good, the sweet and the bitter as a gift from the Beloved. Ayaz had received so much from the king that he did not think it his place to complain if one of these gifts was bitter. He accepted all that the king gave him with love and gratitude.
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October 2009 |
