A young man, while traveling through a desert, came 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 of love 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 or a diamond necklace, the proper response is appreciation. We love the idea within the gift rather than the thing.