The Rainbow Story
Author Unknown
Once upon a time the colors of the
world started to quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the
most important, the most useful, the favorite.
Green said: "Clearly I am the most important.
I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, leaves,
trees--without me, all animals would die. Look out over the countryside
and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted: "You only think about the
Earth, but consider the sky and sea. It is the water that is the basis
of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives
space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled. "You are all so serious.
I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth to the world. The sun is yellow,
the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Ever time you look at a sunflower,
the whole world starts to smile. Without me, there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her temper. "I
am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce but I am precious
for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins.
Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangos, and pawpaws. I don't hang
around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset,
my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of
you."
Red could stand it no longer. He shouted out: "I
am the ruler of all of you. I am blood! Life's blood. I am the color
of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring
fire to the blood! I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose,
the poppy and the poinsettia. Without me, the earth would be as empty
as the moon!"
Purple rose up to his full height. He was very
tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and
power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am a
sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me. They obey."
Finally, Indigo spoke, much more quietly than
all the others but with just as much determination: "think of
me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me,
you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight
and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and
inner peace."
And so all the colors went on boasting and quarreling, each convinced
of their own superiority. Soon, their quarreling became louder and
louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening!
Thunder rolled and boomed! Rain started to pour down relentlessly.
The colors crouched down in fear drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, Rain began to speak: "You foolish
colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest.
Don't you know you were each made for a special purpose, unique and
different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain
continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch
across the sky in a great bow of colors as a reminder that you can
all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a rainbow appears
in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
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