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There once was a very wise
doctor. He could make medications — medicine that could cure
any illness imaginable.
The doctor had many
children. One day, he traveled to a distant land. While he was
away, his children mistakenly drank poison. They became very
sick. Some were in pain, some lost their minds. Some were close
to death. Others were only a little bit sick.
When the doctor returned
from his long trip, he saw that his children were very sick.
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All the children, even
though ill with poison, were happy to see their father return.
"Welcome home, father!" they said. "We're so
happy to see that you have returned safely. While you were away
we were very foolish. We all mistakenly drank some poison.
Please save us from this suffering!"
The doctor went to work,
grinding, sifting, and mixing various herbs. He made a powerful
medicine that had a beautiful color, excellent fragrance, and
wonderful taste. This medicine was perfect.
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Bringing the medicine to his
children, he encouraged them to drink it: "My children, here is a
medicine of excellent color, fragrance, and taste. Drink this and your
illness will be gone and you will be well.”
Those children who were only
slightly ill immediately took the medicine and were quickly cured. The
children who had lost their minds refused the medicine. They were
confused by the poison in their bodies. They refused to believe that
their father's medicine would help them.
"My poor children,"
the father said, "because you have consumed poison, your thinking
has become twisted. When you saw me return home, you begged me to cure
you. But when I offered you this medicine, you refused it. If you won't
take this good medicine, how can you be cured?"
Although the children's minds
were confused, their father loved them. He had to think of a way to get
them to take the medicine. Finally, the doctor said:
"My beloved children, hear
me well! I am old and weak, and may die at any time. I will leave this
medicine here for you. Even if I should die, your sickness can still
be cured with this good medicine. Please don't doubt that! I must
leave now on another trip, so please remember what I have told
you."
The doctor then traveled to another
land. He sent a messenger home to tell his children of his death. The
children were stunned. They had never expected him to really die! They
said: "Our father is dead! Now we have no one to rely on!"
Then, the children remembered
the medicine that their father had left for them and his words before
leaving. In tears, they each took some of the medicine and were
immediately cured of their illness.
Then, to their amazement, their
father returned home. For the first time they realized how great his
love and mercy was for them.
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