for all who are feeling a little discouraged or misunderstood...

Once upon a time in China, there was a poor family. One day, the father decided to sell the one donkey they had because they had run out of money to make ends meet. To sell the donkey for a good price however, the father had to travel to a far-off town. Since his young son had never left the village, the father decided to bring his son along.

It was a hot day, so the father put the son on the donkey, and soon, they came to the first town. As they passed through it, the son overheard some of the townsfolk saying, “What an unfilial son. He rides in comfort while his father suffers under the scorching heat.”

So as they left the town, the ashamed son dismounted and beseeched his father to take the donkey instead. Before long, they reached the second town. This time, the father heard people whispering, “What a cruel father. He rides in comfort while the poor child follows under the boiling sun.”

After they left the second town, the embarrassed father pulled his son up and together they rode the donkey instead. Soon, they entered the third town. This time, both father and son could hear the passers-by muttering, “What a cruel pair. They ride in comfort while the poor donkey has to bear two people’s weight in such hot weather.”

Shocked, father and son quickly dismounted as they left the town and proceeded to walk the donkey into the last town. Before long, they could hear people gossiping behind their backs again. “What stupid folks. They have a donkey and they don’t ride it.”