A very, very poor farmer was having a tough day. His tummy rumbled, and his shoes had holes. "Oh," he sighed, looking up at the sky, "I wish I could just see what Heaven is like! It must be wonderful there."

And just like that, with a little shimmer and a gentle whoosh, he found himself standing before a big, shiny gate. A kind old man with a long white beard and sparkly eyes opened it. "Welcome!" he said. "I'm Saint Peter. Come on in!"

The farmer's eyes grew wide. Inside, he saw some important-looking people sitting around a table, eating yummy food. But they were very quiet. "Hmm," thought the farmer. Then he saw angels with fluffy wings playing gentle music. It was nice, but a little sleepy for the farmer.

Suddenly, he saw the Lord God holding a giant watering can, sprinkling rain down onto the earth. "Wow!" thought the farmer. "That looks like fun!"
"Excuse me, Lord God," said the farmer, feeling a bit brave. "Could I please try watering the earth? Just for a little bit?"

The Lord God smiled. "Alright," He said, "but be gentle."
The farmer grabbed the watering can. It was heavier than he thought! Whoosh! He tipped it too much. Water gushed out, not just a sprinkle, but a huge flood down on earth!
"Oh dear!" cried the Lord God. "That's too much! You've made a big mess!" He looked a little bit cross. "I think it's time for you to go back to earth," said the Lord God, a little bit sternly. "But I'll give you something to help you."

He gave the farmer a special stick, called a flail. It looked like a stick with another, smaller stick tied to its end. "This flail," said the Lord God, "will always find what you need and bring it to you. But use it wisely."

Poof! The farmer was back in his field. He was hungry. "I wish I had some bread," he said, and tapped the flail on the ground. Zing! A warm loaf of bread appeared. "Wow!" He wished for a new coat, and tap! A new coat. Soon, he had everything he wanted and became very rich. He had a big house, lots of food, and fine clothes.

But the farmer started to get a bit too proud. He forgot to be thankful. He started to boast to everyone, "My flail is so amazing, I can get anything I want! I bet I could even get the Lord God Himself to come down from heaven if I wanted!"

Just then, a very poor, tired old man knocked on his door. "Please, sir," said the old man, his voice weak, "could I have a little food and a place to rest? I've traveled so far."
"Go away!" said the rich farmer, puffing out his chest. "I'm too busy and important for beggars like you."

The old man knocked again, a little louder. "Please, I'm very hungry and cold."
"I said go away!" shouted the farmer, getting angry. "Don't bother me!"

The old man knocked a third time, very gently. "Just a crust of bread, kind sir?"
"That's it!" roared the farmer, his face red. He grabbed his special flail. "You won't listen, eh? I'll teach you to bother me! Flail, go get him!" He pointed the flail at the old man.

But the flail didn't fly at the old man. Instead, it turned right around and WHACK! It hit the farmer himself, not too hard, but enough to make him yelp and stumble. The old man was gone. In his place, the farmer saw a gentle, shining light, and he suddenly realized who that old man had been.

The farmer felt very, very ashamed. He remembered the Lord God's words: "Use it wisely." From that day on, he was much kinder and always shared what he had. He learned that being rich wasn't just about having things, but about having a good and generous heart. And he never, ever boasted like that again.

2047 Views