According to legend, two young men roaming for days throughout the desert stumbled upon a spring of refreshing, crystal-clear water. The water was so satisfying and sweet, each man filled a leather canteen to take back to a tribal elder who was a revered teacher.

The first student greatly admired his mentor, hoping to honour him for his wisdom, generosity and kindness. The second student was a rather self-serving young man who only hoped to elevate his status in the tribe by impressing his teacher with this gift.

After a four-day journey back to the village, each student presented his water to the old man. He drank deeply from the first student’s canteen, smiled warmly and thanked him abundantly for the sweet water. The young
man rejoiced with a happy heart. The teacher’s lips had barely touched the opening of the second young man’s container when he spat out the clear liquid. Horrified, the young man tasted the water from each canteen.
“They are both foul!” he exclaimed, realizing the water had become stale from the old leather vessels. The student challenged his teacher, “Master, why did you pretend to like his water, while you rejected mine?” The teacher replied, “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water he gave me was simply the container for an act of loving kindness and nothing could be sweeter.

When giving money, food or gifts with pure intentions, you are surely bestowing treasures upon your recipient, which work their magic in mysterious ways to make life truly sweeter.