| 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.
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