The power of love

As the story goes, a young beautiful woman was just married a man she loved 
dearly. After the marriage, this woman lived together with her 
mother-in-law. Then, there were so many mishaps and unfitting behaviours and 
views between the two ladies in the house. The mother-in-law somehow always 
managed to find flaws in almost everything that her daughter-in-law did. 
Sharp comments, criticisms and all sorts of sarcasms were constantly flowing 
from the mother-in-law's mouth. Debate almost took place everyday. 
Unfortunately, the husband could not do much to improve the situation.

The daughter-in-law seemed unable to sustain her anger anymore. Day to day, 
taking revenge was poisoning her mind and thoughts. And thus she went to 
look for his father's best friend who was a medicine seller. She told him 
all about her sadness and grieves in tears, "And that's why uncle you have 
to help me in this case, please perscribe a strong dose of poison so that I 
can have my revenge towards my mother-in-law." After a careful thinking, 
finally the uncle smiled wisely and answered, "I will give you the poisonous 
powder under one condition that you will do exactly as I say." The woman 
agreed.

And then the uncle gave her a full pocket of powder. "My dear, to get rid of 
your mother-in-law, don't use a quick reactive poison. People around you 
will be very suspicious of her sudden dying. They will directly be able to 
point their fingers to you. Therefore, I am giving you a slow reactive 
poison but sure. Mix a little bit of it every now and then into your mom's 
meals. And remember, you have to cook the meal yourself", said the medicine 
seller.

Before she left, the medicine seller added up, "Just to make sure that 
people will not be suspicious later on, you need to treat your mother-in-law 
better in days to come, by doing so people will not raise any questions 
about her death. Treat her with love, respect and show your big heart by not 
arguing, just giving in to her. Treat your mother-in-law as if she were your 
own mother."

With such a happier light heart, the woman went home, she obeyed and did 
whatever the uncle said. Everyday, she spoilt her mother-in-law by cooking 
all her favorite dishes and served her with all respect and compassion. 
Without realizing four months had passed, and a big change took place. Being 
treated with such respect and affection, the mother-in-law was touched and 
changed her behaviour towards her. Things turned around, she started to 
treat her daughter-in-law as her own one and loved her more and more each 
day. In the presence of her friends, she complimented and spoke highly of 
her daughter-in-law's nobility and compassion.

Seeing the changes in her mother-in-law's, abruptly the daughter rushed to 
see the uncle. "Please uncle, give the the antidote to the poison that you 
gave me sometime ago. After doing what you told me, now my mother-in-law has 
treated me so well and full of love. I also start loving her. I don't want 
her die from the poison that I gave her everyday."

The uncle just smiled and answered, "My dear, don't worry. The powder that I 
gave you was not poison at all. It actually was tonic to enhance body 
strength instead". She was dumb founded. "So the real poisons actually is 
what dwells in your head, your attidues towards your mother-in-law. And now 
all of those poisons have been wiped away by love and affection that you 
have showered her."

The story above has taught us of how incredible the power of love or the 
power of affection and tender loving care can be. Love and affection bring 
about care, sincerity, and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good. 
Love and affection can release us from the strong grip of misunderstanding, 
bring down the wall of coldness, soften the stubbornness and mellow down 
hatreds. Love and affection invite peace and bring differences into a good 
harmony. If all of us are willing to give love and affection towards people 
around us day by day, then life is worth living for.

"Love and attention is power! If all of us are willing to share love and 
attention towards people around us, then life will be happier and more 
meaningful."

Taken from the book: Wisdom Success, Andrie Wongso