The stranger in the garden

Once upon a time there was a man who had a big garden. He had planted many fruit trees and cared for them until they bear fruits. Now the man wanted to pick the fruits and sell them to make money for his family.

One fine day while picking the fruits with his son, the man saw a stranger sitting on the branch of a tree and picking its fruits. This man became very angry and shouted, "Hey you! What are you doing on my tree? Aren't you ashamed of stealing fruits in the daytime?"

The stranger on the branch just looked at the gardener but didn't reply, and continued picking fruits. The gardener shouted again, "For a whole year I have taken care of these trees, you have no right to take the fruits without my permission, so come down at once!"

Finally, the stranger on the tree answered, "Why should I come down? This is the garden of God and I am the servant of God, so I have the right to pick these fruits and you should not interfere between the work of God and his servant."

The gardener was very surprised at this answer and thought of a plan. He told his son, "Go get a rope and take this man down from the tree." His son immediately brought the rope and the gardener ordered him to tie the stranger to the tree. The gardener then took a stick and started beating the stranger. The stranger began to scream. "Why are you beating me? You have no right to do this!"

The gardener paid no attention and continued beating the man. The stranger screamed, "Don't you fear God, you are beating an innocent man?!"

"Why should I fear?" the gardener answered. "This wood in my hand belongs to God and I too am the servant of God. So I have nothing to fear, and you shouldn't interfere with the work of God and his servant."

The stranger hesitated for a while and then spoke, "Wait, don't beat me. I am sorry for taking the fruits. This is your garden and I should have sought your permission before taking the fruits. So, please forgive and set me free."

The gardener smiled and said, "Since you have now realized your mistake, I will forgive you. But remember that God has given all his servants the brains, so every person's deeds are in his own hands." Then the gardener untied him and let him go free.

As he went away, the stranger realized that although God gives him the freedom to do as he wishes, he is also to be held responsible for the consequences of his own actions. He now understood, too, that his rights end where the rights of others begin. (kidsworldfun.com)