The Parable of the Five Sons
A mother had five sons. The first was strong and worked the fields. He grew into a tall, fine man and was everything a mother could ask for in a son. The second son was a tanner of leather and worked wonders with his craft. He was short and stout and brought great pride to his mother. The third son mined stone from a quarry to provide bread for his family, and was a man of few words. His mother loved him fiercely, even more so after a large piece of limestone fell and crushed his leg. The doctors amputated his leg to spare his life. The fourth son was born with an elegance and grace that suited him perfectly for the ballet, where he dazzled and entertained the hearts of many, his mother's most of all. Finally, her fifth son was born with disabilities and required a wheelchair, but went on to make many notable discoveries in science. The mother was protective of him, her baby, and showered him in her affections. The mother boasted to all she met about her five sons, all of whom, she said, she loved equally. As she neared the end of her days, she desired to give one last parting gift to her sons before rejoining her ancestors in the sky. Being a practical-minded woman, she wanted to give them something they could use daily and benefit from. Something to remember her by after her departure from this world. She sought out the most respected tailor in the kingdom to craft the perfect suit of clothing for her sons. She wanted the tailor to make them the finest suits of clothing as ever were. Said the tailor, 'Is the garment for work? For a fine ball? For church?' What sort of clothes did she desire? 'What is best?' asked the mother. 'Best?' said the tailor. 'It depends.' The mother pondered, and instructed the tailor to make each son a suit of fine clothes. The tailor spent many months at his loom and sewing table, making five beautiful sets of clothing for the woman's sons. When the mother returned for the clothes, and inspected them, she nearly fainted. 'Why,' she said, 'they are all the same size! My boys are not identical. What pattern did you use?' The tailor replied, his pride hurt, 'You gave me no measurements, Ma'am, so I fashioned them all to fit the ideal man at the pinnacle of his prime.' The tailor refused to alter the clothing, and the mother took the clothes home. She passed away before having the chance to alter the clothes for each of her sons. After her funeral, her sons found the clothes wrapped in colorful paper upon her bureau, next to her bed, with their names written on tags. The first son opened his, and tried on the pants and shirt. They fit him to a tee, and he beamed with gratitude. The second son eagerly opened his gift, but when he attempted to button the pants, he could not, for they were too tight. And the sleeves were overlong. 'Did not Mother know me at all?' he lamented, crestfallen. The third son. who had but one leg, pulled on his pants and wept, mistaking it for an insult. He wetted his pillow that night. The fourth son found the clothes fit nicely, but he had no use for such a suit, being accustomed to the silks of the stage. He donated his clothes to a poor beggar he passed on his way home. Finally, the last son opened his gift and donned the clothes, which made him, with his small frame, look ridiculous. The coat drowned him. But he refused to be parted with the clothes, and wore them everywhere as a token of his mother's memory, even though others ridiculed him for it. And the mother met the Great Mother in the sky, and boasted of her sons she loved so well, and of the gifts. The Great Mother said, 'Look, daughter, at what your gifts have wrought.' And the mother saw, and cried out, 'This was not my desire. I only wished to show them my love.' The Great Mother nodded. 'Yet, for all your love, you neglected to take their measurements. Love,' the Great Mother said, 'must be adapted to the beloved, else it become a bane.' |