The rain gods had been smiling the whole night. The roads were muddy and the
potholes were filled to the brim. It was the day for the market and Raju the farmer
was riding his cart along the country road. He had to reach the market early so
that he can sell his hay. It was very difficult for the horses to drag the load through
the deep mud. On his journey suddenly the wheels of the horse cart sank into the
mire.
The more the horses pulled, the deeper the wheel sank. Raju climbed down from
his seat and stood beside his cart. He searched all around but could not find
anyone around to help him. Cursing his bad luck, he looked dejected and
defeated. He didn’t make the slightest effort to get down on the wheel and lift it up
by himself. Instead, he started cursing his luck for what happened. Looking up at
the sky, he started shouting at God, “I am so unlucky! Why has this happened to
me? Oh God, come down to help me.”
After a long wait, God finally appeared before Raju. He asked Raju, “Do you think
you can move the chariot by simply looking at it and whining about it? Nobody will
help you unless you make some effort to help yourself. Did you try to get the
wheel out of the pothole by yourself? Get up and put your shoulder to wheel and
you will soon find the way out.”
Raju was ashamed of himself. He bent down and put his shoulder to the wheel
and urged on the horses. In no time the wheel was out of the mire. Raju learned
his lesson. He thanked God and carried on his journey happily.
Moral: God helps those who help themselves.
