CHANGE THE ATTITUDE & SEE THE MIRACLE

Li-Li a girl in China got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law.

She found it difficult to get along with her mother-in-law. Their personalities were very different, and she was angered by many of her mother-in-law’s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li always. Arguing and fighting were common in their house. To make the things worse, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great distress.

Li-Li found it difficult to tolerate this situation and decided to do something about it.  She went to see her father’s good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She narrated him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, “Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”

Li-Li said, “Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.”

Mr. Huang went into the back room and returned in a few minutes with a few packets of herbs. He told her, “You can’t use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause suspicion in the people around.  Therefore, I am giving you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body.  Every day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her.  Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.”

Li-Li was so happy that she thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Every day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She was keen to control her temper and obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother, as advised by Mr. Huang. After a couple of months, the whole household had changed.

Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset.  She hadn’t had an argument in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law’s attitude toward Li-Li changed and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter.  She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find.  Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening.

Li-Li regretted about her plot against her mother-in-law. She didn’t want her mother-in-law to die. So she went to Mr. Huang and requested, “Mr. Huang, please help me to stop the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She has changed into such a nice woman. I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head, “Li-Li, there is nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health.  The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave her.”  

Make a conscious choice to see the good qualities of the person in relationships, act it out, if necessary. Gradually and surely time shall heal broken relationships. Let us start making amends. It shall be rewarding!