This book made big enough of an impact upon me, though I read a library copy, I knew I could never pass up the chance to own a copy for myself. It holds one story after the next, short and to the point, most no more than a few pages, that teach the wisdom of the ages.
For example, the title story that begins this collection, "Solomon and the Ant", tells of the wisest king who ever lived, Solomon, surveying his kingdom one day. An ant calls out to him that he, the ant, is greater than the 'great king'. Solomon engages the ant in debate, arguing his own status as the obvious greater of the two. What does the ant have to compare; what can an ant do that is greater than a king.
The ant - and this is a trait found in most all of the stories here - responds with a plain, simple truth Solomon cannot refute. He tells the king that he, the ant, is greater than the king because he, the ant, captured an audience with the great king, caused him to cease in the survey of his grand kingdom, made Solomon come down from his mountain to listen to a lowly ant.
Personally, I love stories like this: short, to the point, poignant with a powerful impact that will linger long after the story is read. Not all of these tales carry the same weight, but most do.
There is another amazing story of the Apostle Paul entering into a bit of discourse with a blind beggar girl. He is testing her, and she passes with the proverbial flying colors.
There can be no doubt that once you begin these stories, you will see them as a welcome collection of folklore that not only thrills with the advent of common sense wisdom, but also refreshes the old soul who vaguely recalls those of days of childhood when all was new and the simple was vastly profound. Use these stories to entertain the youth of today with the character-building traits of ages ago and rejoin them in the journey. No one is too ancient to learn. It is a collection one can read to one's children and grandchildren, for now and generations beyond.
For example, the title story that begins this collection, "Solomon and the Ant", tells of the wisest king who ever lived, Solomon, surveying his kingdom one day. An ant calls out to him that he, the ant, is greater than the 'great king'. Solomon engages the ant in debate, arguing his own status as the obvious greater of the two. What does the ant have to compare; what can an ant do that is greater than a king.
The ant - and this is a trait found in most all of the stories here - responds with a plain, simple truth Solomon cannot refute. He tells the king that he, the ant, is greater than the king because he, the ant, captured an audience with the great king, caused him to cease in the survey of his grand kingdom, made Solomon come down from his mountain to listen to a lowly ant.
Personally, I love stories like this: short, to the point, poignant with a powerful impact that will linger long after the story is read. Not all of these tales carry the same weight, but most do.
There is another amazing story of the Apostle Paul entering into a bit of discourse with a blind beggar girl. He is testing her, and she passes with the proverbial flying colors.
There can be no doubt that once you begin these stories, you will see them as a welcome collection of folklore that not only thrills with the advent of common sense wisdom, but also refreshes the old soul who vaguely recalls those of days of childhood when all was new and the simple was vastly profound. Use these stories to entertain the youth of today with the character-building traits of ages ago and rejoin them in the journey. No one is too ancient to learn. It is a collection one can read to one's children and grandchildren, for now and generations beyond.
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