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THE STENCH OF HATRED . D, X' R. n4 m5 ]5 e! N1 G+ Q
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. U; ]3 G% J& p* [$ b* J9 o/ c+ dA kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game. % Q- n0 F8 {, J8 Q( `$ X; y
# R0 c7 Q+ ?9 a- x% v5 i8 HThe teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic % N, V0 u- C* q, I8 y, y! l/ X
+ U/ O+ R2 t+ P9 b; sbag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name
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7 P2 H, l( E. d" x x: m: Bof a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that ; B2 u5 R- E- G
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a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number 7 h0 P9 V1 ~% A& L0 Y
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of people he/she hates.
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, W( \! X0 l; z( D i1 z. ]3 fSo when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with
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the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some
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# m6 S, U& X$ N4 J8 Z3 while some up to 5 potatoes.
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6 N, s( P G- P1 Y. D0 G) V+ |The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes / E2 u; {( [9 J* n; O5 F
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in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week. 9 S" V5 ]# _6 V8 N! N' V }
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Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain
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due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, & C* {- S" @9 K8 l
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those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1
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7 G* G3 _) x: d* b$ `' R9 Zweek, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.
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The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes # h8 ^; { y8 \: s0 S
7 H( O0 h/ H9 i8 G- q! c) v" pwith you for 1 week?" The children let out their frustrations and * F S( V- [. U5 O! N, w; S6 n
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started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through 6 D. o* o7 q, O; K5 l6 ^$ d
6 H' Y6 [* Z" b; z6 r0 ]6 O- vhaving to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go. & [3 U7 \/ x% E9 |3 R
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Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game.
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The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry 9 i( b1 p% E! Y$ N n
8 D+ B6 ~; ?. byour hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred
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# u% N; X+ h- j Uwill contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever
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you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just # E) O8 T9 [2 ^5 P6 A
1 Q5 O* a* }5 K* K& \. p' `: X1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred
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in your heart for your lifetime???"
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( J7 ~$ G% a# K; Z: i"Forgiveness is not something you do for someone else; " q, A! Y' p; \! z
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it is something you do for yourself. 0 Q' i$ E! e1 A4 g6 k" h" R; b7 N
7 W5 Z$ G* Q8 iGive yourself the gift of forgiveness" |
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