How To Influence Others

Influence others to work with instead of against you and solve your problems peacefully.

Long ago in China, a farmer and a hunter were neighbors.  Unfortunately, the hunter caused the farmer problems.  He owned several ferocious and poorly trained hunting dogs, and they jumped over the fence daily and chased the farmer’s timid and fearful lambs. Many times the farmer politely asked his neighbor to keep his dogs in check, but this request fell on deaf ears.

One day the dogs again jumped the fence and severely injured several of the lambs. Finally, the frustrated and angry farmer had had enough. He went to town to consult a judge who listened carefully to the story.

This judge was wise!

The judge replied, “I could punish the hunter and force him to lock up his dogs.  But, if I were to do that, you would lose a friend and gain an enemy. Which would you rather have, a friend or a foe for a neighbor?”

Naturally, the farmer said he would prefer to have a friend instead of an enemy for a neighbor.

The judge replied, “Alright, I will offer you a solution that will keep your lambs safe, and also ensure that you remain a friend of your neighbor’s.”

The farmer went home and immediately tried the wise judge’s suggestion.  He took three of his best lambs and gave them to his neighbor’s three young sons.  The three young boys were beside themselves with joy and began to play with them.

To protect his son’s new pets, the hunter built a strong kennel for his dogs and never left them loose. Therefore, his dogs never again bothered the farmer’s lambs.  Thankful for the farmer’s generosity towards his sons, the hunter often shared the game he had hunted with the farmer. The farmer reciprocated by sending the hunter the cheese he had made.

Within a short time, two neighbors who had been at war became good friends.

Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if we all solved

our problems by influencing others with kindness?

Kindness enables people to live in peace with each other.

Let the encouraging words in these near a river posts help you

soar like an eagle above life’s storms.

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on near a river!