Value: Truth, devotion
Sub-Value: Faith, Patience
The audio of the story is available on the podcast Sai Prem at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498462/episodes/10490872
A young soldier was battling for his country at a time when his army was being defeated by enemies. The soldier and his friends started running away from the enemies who were chasing them. Soon, he found himself separated from his friends.
Full of fear and desperation, he chanced upon a cave, and he decided to hide there. He crawled into the cave, fervently praying to God to save him. He vowed to God that he would serve Him for the rest of his life if He saved him.
As he was praying, he saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance of the cave. The fine threads from the spider’s mouth started to make a web soon. He prayed, “God I’m asking you to save me and you are showing me this insignificant spider? How is he going to help me?”
The young soldier lost all his hopes thinking that the enemy would find him soon.
Soon he could hear the footsteps of the enemies near the entrance of the cave. His heart was in his mouth. He was waiting for the moment to be caught.
As the enemy came near the entrance, he saw the spider’s web which was by now complete. The young soldier heard the enemy telling his comrades, “There’s a spider’s web here. If anyone has gone inside they would have had to break this web. Hence there can’t be anyone here. Let’s move on.”
The young soldier thanked God profusely for sending the spider to save him.
And yes, as he promised God, he became a preacher to serve Him the rest of his life.
Learning
We must have firm faith that God listens to our sincere prayers and must have patience and not come to conclusions hastily. Faith and patience are virtues that one should consciously inculcate in order to face any situation in an optimistic manner.
(Source: SSSIE – Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare)
Sai Balsanskaar 