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THE STENCH OF HATRED $ k+ E2 r( @2 Y0 d( t
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A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game. ) p n2 h6 \; N+ N
: L/ N5 t- Z% g5 l; |7 ~9 IThe teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic * ^# s* `& t7 s y
$ E% ^7 W2 O' nbag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name & E) H8 Z5 C8 J1 G$ E
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of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that
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$ b1 P1 m. |& u) f% ia child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number * R& f& I9 ^7 d" X6 g4 q
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of people he/she hates. / r! j; |* Z# U9 b+ F X
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So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with , X U" M5 N6 B; P( Q# R) [
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the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some
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3 while some up to 5 potatoes.
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9 o* }) N7 t" D7 x2 ]! vThe teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes
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: G8 E0 V8 Q* y. s3 o6 }2 win the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week. + v0 N7 n, R" Z. G0 F3 U
$ f& ^0 ^8 \) \. EDays after days passed by, and the children started to complain
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due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides,
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5 Q0 _ M7 c! lthose having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 4 K, P! g( U7 p; E2 d0 ?! k) @0 M
/ W2 `8 P+ Z; ]week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.
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The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes }% Y. [0 V a( C, k* _
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with you for 1 week?" The children let out their frustrations and ( h0 j; l/ W7 N4 @6 X: p% k
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started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through U' ?) o5 T8 L8 T
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having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go. 3 y E" b% l6 v ?4 z
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Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game.
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The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry
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your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred
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will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever
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! E4 x) x+ e9 K* ]you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just # A5 }8 `1 u5 W/ X/ t
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1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred : N$ S, y1 c% A0 C* v3 M
; D) P/ H N9 O/ J7 s1 ^in your heart for your lifetime???" ' p" z; f' T) q4 U& }
# A) s. [: ?4 Y& k& Y" ]+ g. L"Forgiveness is not something you do for someone else; 5 G9 Y# b/ F0 @
- p3 [- n) i. G/ {it is something you do for yourself.
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& r3 W' h8 X S S, b- kGive yourself the gift of forgiveness" |
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