Putting Out The Fire

A man slaughtered a large cow to celebrate his birthday, lit the grill, and said to his son, "Son", call our loved ones and neighbors to eat with us. let us feast!"

His son took to the street and started shouting: "Please help us put out a fire at our house!"

After a few moments, a small group of people came out, and the rest acted like they didn't hear the cry for help. 

Those who came ate and celebrated.

After the feast, the confused father turned to his son and said to him:

"Who were those people who came to celebrate with us? I hardly knew a single one of them. Where were our friends, relatives, and loved ones?"

The son said, "Those who celebrated were the people who quickly responded to my cry for help. I shouted that there was a fire at our house but said nothing about the celebration. So, those who came to help were also surprised that the fire was your barbeque fire. They deserved to enjoy a great feast and new friendship. 

Moral of the story: Not all your friends and relatives are true friends and relatives. 

It Only Took An Hour

Back in the old country, there was a Pastor who invested his life savings in timber. When a forest fire broke out and his finances literally went up in smoke, the Pastor’s friends worried about how to break the devastating news to him. They hemmed and hawed until the Pastor said, “You’re afraid to tell me about the fire, aren’t you?”

“You know?” they asked surprised.

“I found out about an hour ago.”

“And you’re not upset?” they asked.

“I was,” he answered, “I’m over it now.”

“It was only an hour ago!”

“Tell me,” said the Pastor, “Didn’t you once suffer a loss by fire? Why aren’t you distraught about it?”

“My fire was 10 years ago.”

“OK, so for you, it took 10 years. For me, it took an hour. The point is we both got over it.”

The truth here is that it is not the passage of time itself that heals but it is the right perspective that brings healing.