"A candle loses nothing if it's used to light another one"

I came across this meaningful story in my mailbox today and decided to share it here... really a good one, must read ~

In China, a girl named Li Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother in-law. Li Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and she was angered by many of her mother in-law's habits. In addition, her mother in-law criticized Li Li constantly.

Days passed, and weeks passed. They never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worst, according to ancient chinese tradition, Li Li had to bow to her mother in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li Li's poor husband get distress.

Finally, she couldn't stand her mother in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer and she decided to do something about it. Li Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr Huang who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all..

Mr Huang thought for a while, and finally said, 'Li Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.'

Li Li said, 'Yes, Mr Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do.' Mr Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li Li, 'You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother in-law, because that will cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body.

Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of there herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspect you when she dies, you must be very careful to be actively friendly towards her. 'Don't argue with her, obey her every wish and treat her like a queen.' Li Li was so happy. She thanked Mr Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li Li served the specially treated food to her mother in-law.. She remembered what Mr Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

Six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li Li had practised controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law' s attitude toward her had changed, and she began to love Li Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li Li was the best daughter in-law one could ever find. Li Li and her mother in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

Li Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, 'Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.'

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head.. 'Li Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.'

'The person who loves others will also be loved in return.' God might be trying to work in another person's life through you.

And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary - Paul The Apostle