The Lamp and the Darkness

This is a tale from olden times. In a small hut at the edge of a village lived a father and his son. Both were trapped in the grinding cycle of poverty. With no stable means of livelihood, they had taken to stealing. The father was old and weary, while the son had just stepped into youth. The father, having faced the hardships of life, taught his son that sometimes, to survive in this world, one had to bend the rules.

They would sneak out at night, break into homes, steal valuable items, and sell them to get by for a few days. This continued for a long time. One night, after returning from a theft, both sat down, exhausted and silent. Breaking the silence, the father said:

“Son, do you see that house across from us? I’ve stolen from that house a hundred times. Valuable items, food, utensils—even once, I stole a lamp from there.”

The son remained quiet for a moment, then said:

“Father, I look at that house every day too. You’ve stolen from it a hundred times, yet the lamp in that house still burns. And in our home, it’s always dark. That means stealing doesn’t bring light.”

The father was taken aback. This was the first time his son had spoken against stealing. He asked,

“So, you think we should stop stealing?”

The son replied earnestly:

“Yes, Father. Stealing brings no peace. There's always fear, the risk of being caught, the burden on our conscience… this isn't a life. We should look for honest work. Even if it pays less, at least it will be ours.”

The father took a deep breath. Regret clouded his eyes.

“Son, I’ve lived my whole life in darkness. But perhaps you are the light in my darkness. If you’re with me, we can find a new path.”

The next day, they made a decision to give up stealing. The son started working with a carpenter outside the village—cutting wood, repairing roofs, carrying supplies. The father fixed up an old bicycle and began selling vegetables in the market. It was difficult at first. The earnings were meager, but their hearts were at peace.

Slowly, their hard work began to pay off. The carpenter increased the son's wages after noticing his honesty. The father was now greeted with respect at the market. People in the neighborhood began to see them in a new light.

One evening, the son was sitting in the courtyard, and the father was putting away his empty baskets. The son said:

“Father, today I bought a new lamp from the market. I thought it’s time we had some light in our home too.”

The father looked at the glowing lamp, and tears welled up in his eyes.

“Son, this lamp isn’t just burning with oil—it burns with your intention, your hard work, and your truth.”

From that day onward, their little hut was not only lit with a lamp but also filled with peace and joy. Their story became one that parents told their children—about how hard work and honesty bring true light into life, not stealing.

Moral:

This story teaches us that wealth gained through dishonest means might provide temporary comfort, but true light in life comes from hard work, truth, and integrity. If we want to banish the darkness, we must first light the lamp within ourselves.

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