In a peaceful forest, there lived a wise Father with a family of quarreling Sons. The Father had watched his Sons argue and fight among themselves for far too long.
No matter how much he tried to counsel them, their discord continued, and he knew it was time to teach them a valuable lesson about unity.
One day, after a particularly intense quarrel among his Sons, the Father decided it was time for a striking example. He summoned one of his sons and said, “Bring me a bundle of sticks, my child.”
The Son did as he was told and returned with a bundle of sturdy sticks. The Father then asked each of his Sons, one by one, to try and break the bundle of sticks. With all their might, they strained and struggled, but not a single one of them could break the bundle.
The Father, with a patient and knowing smile, untied the bundle and handed a single stick to each of his Sons. This time, they easily snapped the sticks in their hands, one by one.
With a gentle but profound tone, the Father spoke, “My dear Sons, do you see the powerful lesson before you? When you were united as a bundle of sticks, you were unbreakable. But when divided into individual sticks, you became fragile and easily broken.”
The Sons looked at one another, realization dawning upon them. They understood that their constant quarreling and division would only weaken them in the face of challenges and adversity.
The Father continued, “Remember, my beloved children, unity is strength. When you stand together, support one another, and work as a team, you will be formidable and capable of facing any obstacle. However, if you allow discord to divide you, you will be as vulnerable as a single stick.”
The Sons nodded in agreement, finally comprehending the wisdom in their Father’s words. From that day forward, they resolved to put aside their quarrels and live in harmony, knowing that unity was their greatest source of strength.
And so, the lesson of the “Bundle of Sticks” stayed with them throughout their lives, a reminder that together, they were unbreakable, but divided, they were fragile.
Moral of the Story
Unity is strength, and discord weakens even the mightiest of bonds.
The elephant and the ant — The Seasons of Life – The Honest Woodcutter