"The Broken Crayons"

 

 

THE BROKEN CRAYONS

 

A little boy from a wealthy family had so many old and broken crayons. At some point, he realized he didn't need them any longer. So, he told his mother.

"Mum, I want all my broken crayons discarded. They are useless and make my bedroom look very messy"

The rich mother would do everything for her kid, so she packed all the broken crayons into a box and threw them out.

The following day, she saw her son in a sulky mood. She asked him.

"What's wrong with you, son?"

The little boy responded.

"I no longer like the smell of the air fresheners and fragrance oil in my room. Can we throw them all out? They make me want to puke"

The mother didn't seem to have a problem with that. She gathered all the bottles of the fragrances and disposed of them. Later on, she bought new scents for her son.

One evening, the mother was driving her son home from the grocery store. As they drove along the road, the boy looked through the car window and saw something very astounding. He saw a poor boy selling some very colourful candles which he called 'the heavenly candles'. One of the candles was burning very brightly and emitting pleasant scents that filled the air. A lot of people gathered to admire and price the expensive and unique candles sold by a poor boy.

At that moment, the rich kid stopped his mother.

"Mum, look! The candles are very nice and lovely. They would make my bedroom look and smell very exceptional. Please buy for me"

The mother wanted to make her son happy. But as they alighted from the car and approached the candle boy, he said.

"I'm sorry ma'am, there are no more left"

All the candles had been sold out already. The rich boy's face fell in disappointed. When his mother noticed his sad expression, she asked the candle boy.

"Where did you buy those special candles? I would like to buy for my son?"

The candle boy replied humbly.

"I didn't buy them. I made them all by myself"

She was very surprised and she inquired.

"But how were you able to make such wonderful candles all by yourself? What materials did you use?"

The boy paused for a moment and said.

"I once saw a woman throw away a box of broken crayons. I was happy and I took them all. Then the next day, I found some bottles of fragrances in the same waste bin the woman discarded the crayons. I took them home as well. I melted all the broken crayons and mixed the wax with some fragrances. It was with the mixture that I created those heavenly candles".

 

Don't be upset when people reject or look down on you like the broken crayons. In actual fact, they just can't see your hidden potential. Stay focused and positive, and allow time change everything about you. Just like the abandoned broken crayons which later on, turned out to become very amazing candles admired by everyone including the one who rejected them. However, he didn't get another chance to own them. Always have hope for a better tomorrow.

Author:    Chima Dickson