Life's Lessons: How long can you keep hatred in your heart?

The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato would be given a name of a person that the child hated. So the number of potatoes that a child would put in his/her plastic bag would depend on the number of people he/she hated.

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes, some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry the potatoes in the plastic bag with them wherever they went for one week. Days passed and the children started to complain of the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After one week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The teacher asked: “How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for one week?” The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they went.

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. She said, “This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for one week, can you imagine what it is like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?”

Moral: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry the burden. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take. Negativity about someone will destroy your peace of mind. Remember the good things about him/her, and let go of the hatred