Who Can Say…

There once was very poor man living in a village who had a very fine horse. So fine, that the lord of the castle wanted to but it. But the old man always refused.

“To me this horse is not merely an animal. He’s a friend. How could I sell you my friend?”

One morning he went to the stable and found his horse gone.

All the villagers said: “We told you! You should have sold your horse. Now he’s been stolen instead. What terrible luck.”

“Bad luck or good luck,” the old man said. “Who can say?”

Everyone laughed at him. But 15 days later the horse returned, followed by a whole herd of wild horse. He had escaped from the stable, courted a young mare, and returned with the rest of herd following behind!

“What luck!” the villagers cried.

The old man and his son began training the wild horses. But a week later the man’s son broke his leg trying to train one of the horses.

“Bad luck,” said his friend. “What are you going to do now without your son to help you? You who are already so poor.”

“Bad luck, who can say?” the old man replied.

A few days later an army belonging to the lord of the land passed through the village and forced all the young men to become soldiers. All… except the old man’s son, because of his broken leg.

“How lucky you area,” the villagers cried. “All our children are gone to war, but you’ve been able to keep your son. Our sons will probably be killed…”

The old man replied, “Bad luck, good luck… who can say?”

The future comes to us in bits and pieces. We never know what lies in store for us. But if you always maintain a positive attitude the doors of change remains open, and you will e a happier person.