That which lasts

This is a story that I came across quite recently.

Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, is about to pass away. His near and dear ones surround his sick-bed.

Weakly he whispers, “Can you see what is in my mouth?”
The old philosopher has lost all his teeth. So they reply, “We only see the tongue.”

After a while, Confucius asks them, “What is in your mouth?”
“We have both our tongue and teeth,” they answer.

The wise old man then tells them, “When man is born, he is born only with a tongue. The teeth come in gradually. They are harder and stronger than the tongue! But as man grows older, his hard, strong teeth drop off gradually. Only the tongue – soft and gentle – lasts till the end.”

The dying philosopher pauses for breath. “This is my last message to you, my dear ones,” he concludes. “That which is gentle, lasts.

Therefore, always be gentle! Speak to everyone kindly, lovingly, gently!”