FOODFORTHOUGHT

THE COLOR OF FRIENDSHIP

Author Unknown

October 5, 2012

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, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look
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 the 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 into the
world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every
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 trumpet:
"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, mangoes, and papayas. 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 into
the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the
color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."

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 the sign of
authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and 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 the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own
superiority. 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, God began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate
the rest. Don't you know that 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.

God continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a
great bow of color 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.