A young man,while traveling through a desert,come across a spring of clear water.
water was sweet.He filled his leather container so that he could bring some back to an elder
had been his teacher. After a four-day journey, the young man__
__(present)the water to the old man. His teacher took a deep drink, smiled
(warm), and thanked his student very much for the sweet water.The young man went home
a happy heart.
After the student left, the teacher let student taste the water. He spit it out,
(say) it was awful. Apparently, it was no longer fresh because of the old leather container. He asked his teacher,” Sir, the water was awful. Why did you pretend to like
?”
The teacher replied,” You tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of kindness and love. Nothing could be (sweet).”
We understand this lesson best we receive gifts of love from children. Whether it is a cheap pipe on a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.