In a small remote village nestled in the mountainside, there lived a wonderful King who ruled over his noble kingdom. He was a kind and generous man who cared more for his people than he did for any earthly possessions. You see, this King understood the true value of love.
There was no hunger among the people of his village, for he taught everyone to impart of their substance, one to another. There was no fear in his kingdom, for the King knew that fear could not exist where there was love and compassion. He taught his people the good moral values that his forefathers had passed down, from generation to generation, and he was indeed a shining example to follow.
Many wonderful years passed by and the King became very old and weary. He knew that his life was near it's end, yet he focused not on himself, but on the welfare of his people. The villagers gathered around the castle singing praises to their beloved King and mourned the very thoughts of losing their dear friend. In his dying breath he counseled, "Love one another with an abiding love". For many months the people of the village grieved the death of their King and a palace that once radiated light and joy was now overcome with despair.
The King's younger brother became ruler over the land and the lives of the people in the little village would never again be the same. His brother had coveted the King's position of hierarchy with a rage of jealously and the bitterness had sealed his heart of stone. He was a pompous and arrogant ruler; with eyes that were transfixed on his own power and greed. He failed to recognized that all of his possessions came through the hard work and sacrifices of others, and within a short period of time everyone in the village was living in poverty.
One day a very brave man from the village stood before the King and he demanded bread to feed the starving people in the village. The King was outraged with his request and had him thrown into the streets. This noble man of love and compassion could no longer suffer the hungry cries of the little children and that night he crept back into the market place in search of food. He pried open the door of the King's storehouse and gathered all the unleavened bread, to distribute among the starving families.
When the King realized his storehouse had been robbed, he was enraged with anger and sent his guards to find the man who had challenged his authority. This man was shackled and dragged before the King.
One of the guards inquired, "What shall we do with him?"
The King's angry voice echoed through the castle, "String him up, it'll teach him a lesson!"
The guards gasped in horror and feared the King's command. On that fateful day the man was hanged in the courtyard for a few loafs of bread. Everyone in the land mourned the death of their noble friend and as life went on, the King's oppression became impossible to endure.
Many miserable years passed by and now the King was at the end of his dominion. He knew that his hours were numbered and soon he would be facing death. There were no songs of praise singing outside his chambers and not one soul came forward to mourn his death. The land around the castle was lifeless and barren, a mirrored reflection of the King himself! When the king closed the last chapter of his mortal existence, there was a sigh of relief that echoed throughout the village.
The King passed through the halls of death and found himself standing before his Master at the heavenly gates. His countenance was dark and gray against the brilliant light coming from The Great One. He grieved with the shocking reality, that he had never really been a king at all, rather a thief of souls! Out of fear, he fell to his knees and peered up at the blinding light resting upon his withered soul. There was not a throne for him to sit upon, nowhere to hide his ugly deeds, or guards to protect him from the Judgement Day.
He lifted his fallen face and began pleading for mercy. Then he noticed standing on the right hand of God was the brave and noble man he had hanged in the courtyard.
"What shall we do with him?" The noble man asked of God.
In infinite wisdom God replied, "Forgive him, it will teach him the greatest lesson of all."
Placing his face upon the sacred ground before God, the unrighteous man pleaded for forgiveness. His heart of stone shattered into a thousand pieces and the layers of bitterness, envy, hatred and greed began to disappear. Then a gentle hand reached out to the trembling man. It was a hand of compassion; the loving hand of the man from the village who was hanged for a few loafs of bread.
The noble hand lifted this man to his feet and pointing to the Savior he testified, "In Him there is no hunger for He is The Bread of Life."
Copyright by, Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day.
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