A Fable: The Gardener and the Potter

A Fable: The Gardener and the Potter

Samuel, a slightly stooped, aging gentleman of humble means in a humble village, visited with his eldest daughter. “Is all well with you and your new husband?”

“All is wonderfully well. He treats me like a precious flower. Seeing to my every want and need. Gordon is such a hard worker. He works from sun-up to sun-down in our fields growing the best crops any gardener would be proud of.” Marigold marveled.

“Is there anything you need from me, My Dear?”

“Well, the only thing I could request is that you pray for rain to bless our gardens. Without adequate rain our plants will wither and die then we would perish as well.”

“Very well, Dear Daughter, it is such a blessing to know you are happy.”

The next day, Samuel visited his second, youngest daughter on the opposite side of the village. “Is all well with you and your new husband?”

“All is wonderfully well. He treats me like a precious gem. Seeing to my every want and need. Paul is such a hard worker. He works from sun-up to sun-down molding the clay to shape our pottery and tiles. I am proud of my potter husband.” Pearl proclaimed.

“Is there anything you need from me, My Dear?”

“Well, the only thing I could request is that you pray for fair, sunshiny weather that will bake our wares in order to provide all we need so we will not perish.”

“Very well, Dear Daughter, it is a blessing to know you are happy.”

Samuel returned to his humble dwelling in the middle of the humble village. It occurred to him he was in a very difficult situation, indeed. He had two beautiful, healthy and happy daughters that had asked for his prayers to help maintain their success. Trouble was, as he surmised, if he prayed for rain to help the eldest daughter, it would hurt the younger one. However, if he prayed for plenty of sunshine to help the younger daughter, it would hurt the eldest one. He loved his daughters equally. How could he choose one over the other?

The Good Lord in His wisdom provides all adequately in due season. Usually. But there are times when too much or too little of good things cause detrimental outcomes. Could too much sunshine for too long destroy the crops? Could too much rain too often never let the roof tiles dry out? What should a good father pray for to help his loving daughters equally? He was torn between two conflicting needs.

“Dear, Lord. Today I pray for rain to water the plants to benefit Marigold and Gordon.”

“Dear, Lord. Today I pray for sunshine to bake the pottery for Paul and Pearl.”

And so Samuel wavered back and forth often confusing himself as to which day it was to pray for which daughter. He was convinced it also must be confusing the Almighty.

Once again he caned his way to one end of the village and then to the other end to visit each pair of newlyweds.

“How are you faring, My Dear, Marigold. How does your garden grow?”

“It rains a bit but not quite enough to give the plants a good drink.”

“How are you faring, My Dear, Pearl? Pottery fired up?”

“It gets almost dry then the rain comes the next day and drying out has to start all over.”

Oh, Dear! Just as he feared. By trying to help both he was helping neither. There must be a better solution.

Samuel pondered and pondered and prayed for wisdom. Surely, in this humble village there should be a humble action he could follow to remedy the problem. He was torn between the businesses. Divided between his daughters.

If only he could bottle the sunshine or the rain to be used as needed. Now wait! That may not be a bad idea. What if they could somehow capture the rain to be saved for when there wasn't enough then get it to the plants as needed? What if they could make heat to bake the tiles? Hmm. He wondered. Then he planned.

He invited both couples to his humble abode in the middle of the village and prepared a humble dinner for them. Once all were satiated sensible Samuel laid out his solution to their problems.

“I have an idea that by working together you can maintain both of your livelihoods, Gordon the Gardener and Paul the Potter. How about fashioning a water collection system using tiles Paul makes along the eaves of Gordon's roof tops. The water from the rains flow into barrels and stays there until needed. Then it can be irrigated out to the fields once again along tiles when there is not enough rain.

“Gordon, you have piles of large stones you have pulled from your fields while plowing, correct? Haven't they been a nuisance to you. Let's use them to build a large oven over at Paul's place that can be fired up to bake the pottery when there is not enough sunshine to dry the tiles out.”

“Oh, Father, what a perfect way to help both of us.” Marigold glowed.

“Yes, Father, that is a splendid idea.” Pearl praised.

Soon work was started to make the dream a reality. Once finished the plan worked as expected so all could benefit. The gardens grew plentiful bounties. Enough was grown to feed all three families and sell some for profit. The pottery business also profited providing not only useful and beautiful pieces for the homesteads but also essential building materials to grow the community.

Unassuming Samuel became acclaimed throughout the land as a wise consultant capable of settling the most difficult impasses. Many sought his expertise services and paid handsomely for them.

“Dear Marigold, is all well with you?”

“Yes, Father Dear. Gordon and I are very happy. Our garden produces much.”

“Dear Pearl, is all well with you?”

“Of course, Dear Father. Paul and I happily keep our potter fires burning.”

“Then let us give thanks, Dear Daughters.”