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The color of friendship
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. Th e favorite. Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was c hosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look o ver the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority." Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep se a. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would a ll be nothing." Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world . The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time yo u look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there wou ld be no fun." Orange started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious f or I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Thi nk of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don‘t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you." Red could stand it no longer he shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life‘s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the col or of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy." Purple rose up to his full height: He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and p ower. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey." Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just a s much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly no tice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, f or prayer and inner peace." And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superio rity. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startl ing flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to po ur down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort. In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate th e rest. Don‘t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me." Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a gr eat bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow i s a sign of hope for tomorrow." And so, whenever a good rain washes the worl d, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one anoth er. |
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