Once there was a man who lived in a small town.
He had a small house, a beautiful and happy family and a good work that
gave him enough for his needs.
One night a thief entered his house and wanted to rob him.
The man ran to downstairs to meet the thief.
He saw all his belongings that the thief had taken. There were many
things that were necessary for him and his family.
How are you going to carry all this, he said to the thief, isn't this
going to be very cumbersome for you?
The thief looked at him.
He had thought the man would threaten him or point him with a gun, or
tell him that he had already called the police.
Wouldn't it be easier for you if I gave you all our valuables, the man
asked, we don't have much.
But they are easier to carry than these.
Of course, it all depends on you.
And the thief looked with his mouth open how the man's wife brought the
little money and jewelry that they had for him.
Is this enough, she asked, or would you like something else?
I know these aren't easy to carry and they must not be that easy to sell
or very valuable either.
The thief hid the money and the jewelry to his pockets and with an
expert eye chose the most valuable and easiest to sell items to take with him.
Then he was ready to leave.
At the front door he turned back and said, I have to ask.
Why are you doing this?
Who will let the thief go and give everything that is valuable in his
house without a fight?
The man smiled.
I do not own anything, he said, what I once had was taken from me and
now everything I own belongs to my Lord.
It is not mine to give but His and I would do very badly to try to keep
it for myself.
This all I gave you with a humble heart, now it yours to do the same.
The thief laughed, and then he laughed again.
Are you so stupid, he answered, or so naive, to think that I will do
something good with all this.
Just because you gave them to me?
That is between you and your Lord, the man told him, I did what my Lord
asks me to do.
I obeyed Him because I love Him like He loves me.
I have forgiven you what you did against me, like I was forgiven.
What you do now on is on your conscience, not on mine.
But if you were to ask my opinion, I would say that couple of things and
some money aren't worth losing your soul for.
The thief left more puzzled than before the man answered him.
