The Color of Friendship
Once upon a time the colors of the
world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important.
The most useful.
The favorite.
Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important.
I am the sign of life and of hope.
I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves.
Without me, all animals would die.
Look over the countryside and you will
see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and
the sea.
It is the water that is the basis of
life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.
The sky gives space and peace and serenity.
Without my peace, you would all be
nothing."
Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth
into the world.
The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow,
the stars are yellow.
Every time you look at a sunflower,
the whole world starts to smile.
Without me there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength.
I may be scarce, but I am precious
for I serve the needs of human life.
I carry the most important vitamins.
Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges,
mangoes, and papayas.
I don't hang around all the time, but
when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset,
my beauty is so striking that no one
gives another thought to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer he shouted
out:
"I am the ruler of all of you.
I am blood - life's blood! I am the
color of danger and of bravery.
I am willing to fight for a cause.
I bring fire into the blood.
Without me, the earth would be as empty
as the moon.
I am the color of passion and of love,
the red rose,
the poinsettia and the poppy."
Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp:
"I am the color of royalty and
power.
Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always
chosen me
for I am the sign of authority and
wisdom.
People do not question me! They listen
and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly
than all the others,
but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of
silence.
You hardly notice me, but without me
you all become superficial.
I represent thought and reflection,
twilight and deep water.
You need me for balance and contrast,
for prayer and inner peace."
And so the colors went on boasting,
each convinced of his or her own superiority.
Their quarreling became louder and
louder.
Suddenly there was a startling flash
of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed.
Rain started to pour down relentlessly.
The colors crouched down in fear, drawing
close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began
to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting
amongst yourselves,
each trying to dominate the rest.
Don't you know that you were each made
for a special purpose,
unique and different? Join hands with
one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors
united and joined hands.
The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains,
each of you will stretch across the
sky
in a great bow of color as a reminder
that you can all live in peace.
The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.
" And so, whenever a good rain
washes the world,
and a Rainbow appears in the sky,
let us remember to appreciate one another.