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The parable of the weight in rice |
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Written by The Storyteller
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Monday, 15 June 2009 |
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THE farmer had achieved practically all his goals in life. For his age, these were quiet remarkable.
He had collected over 24 hectares of land through the profits of his diversified agri-business enterprises. For, intuitively, he had the knack for going into activities that made a lot of money.
Over the years, the barrio people bestowed upon him the chairmanship of the Comite de Festejos (Fiesta Committee) and for several terms elected him Barangay Captain.
He married the prettiest barrio school teacher who bore him six children. But that was part of his only frustration. All their offspring were daughters. He loved all of them but deep inside he longed for a son. In barrio terms, to have a boy to carry on his name.
So the farmer was understandably ecstatic when the seventh child turned out to be the much-awaited son. He was so greatly thrilled that a story circulated around the barrio. The account went that he was asked whether the baby looked like the father or mother. His reply was, "I don’t know. I have not looked at his face yet." For he was busy double-checking whether the baby was indeed a boy.
But as fate would have it, the son turned out to be sickly. Not only that, the baby seemed not to increase in weight.
In desperation, the farmer visited the town church. Tearfully he prayed, "God, I truly thank you for giving me my dear baby boy. But, God, the baby is sickly and has not increased weight after a year. If it is your wish to take him back, I will accept your will. However, if the baby is really ours, please increase his weight. I promise to donate every month, the baby’s weight in rice to the poor of this town."
Miraculously, the baby began to improve in health. Not only that, the weight gradually increased. In keeping with his promise (panata), the farmer dutifully donated to the church the exact equivalent to the new weight in terms of rice.
When the boy turned five years old, his weight kept growing. He was evidently overweight and still increasing. The amount of rice to be donated became a drain on their resources. But the appetite of the boy also increased with time.
So the farmer went back to the town church and prayed. "Thank you God for making my son healthy. But God, if you do not mind, please stop increasing his weight." In an embarrassed tone, the farmer added, "Otherwise, I would have no more rice to feed the boy."
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Last Updated ( Monday, 15 June 2009 )
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