DADDY’S HORSE

My Grandpa once told me a story that long time ago, a very wealthy man called his son that he would like to send him on an errand to a neighboring kingdom. The kingdom was about three day’s journey from their kingdom. The child agrees to go on the journey the next day. Early in the morning the next day, the son went to the stables and pick one of his father’s horse and set to leave but the father ask one of his to stop him. He asked why and the father answered “return my horse and go on foot”. The boy returned the horse and left on foot.

The boy went for six days and did not return. On seventh day, the boy came back injured, dirty and very tired. The asked him “why are you late, you are suppose to be back since four days ago?. The said “father can’t you see me? Can’t you see how wounded and dirty I am? The father answered “Yes I can see you, why are you late? The boy answered almost in tears “If you have allowed me to take one of your horses, I would have had a smooth and save journey and would be home earlier.” The father then said “If I have allowed you to take somebody else’s horse you would have a smooth journey but will never think of buying your own” but father it’s your horse and not somebody else’s” the boy exclaimed. “Yes, it’s my horse but not yours the” father said calmly. “If I had being on my father’s horses I would not have think of buying mine and you would not have any to take” he concluded.

The boy left the father presence unhappy but with a determination that he would never set on another journey until he was able to buy his own horse and he never did. Listening to the story, I realized that success and achievement in life is not born out of ready-made satisfaction but out of burning desire and great want and achievers are never those that have everything they needed but those that make the best out of the worst.