The Wand Of The Crippled
There is a wand that one day gave a crippled lady a chance to walk and swim again.
At a very young age, a courageous girl learned and loved to swim. She goes to a nearby river four times a week and from where she lives (only about a hundred yards from her house) she passes by an old tree everytime she swims. The girl is very promising in swimming, both in school and national competitions.
One afternoon while swimming with her old friends, her legs cramped. She panicked and cried for help. She was saved, but unfortunately she was not able to stand nor walk again after the incident.
For seven straight years she was going to and from the school being assisted by different persons other than her family members and friends. She is seated on a wheel chair in almost everything she does and wherever she goes. She is frazzled, believing she can never walk or swim again. Before she finished college, she had one wish -- to participate in the World Olympics, but time didn't permit her to be an accomplished swimmer.
One night she had a dream. An old tree is talking to her, reminding her that she buried an old wooden stick that she usually plays with before she swims in the river. The talking tree is profusing with blood because of the hot weather. Wondering why the tree cries and sweats with blood instead of sap, the girl asked the tree, "Why do you look like that?"
The tree answered, "You have forgotten me. You even buried the last thin branch of me on the ground after picking the last fruit that I bore. My leaves have dried and I've been thirsty since you left me. I was hurt and maimed."
The girl while dreaming replied, "I can't water you anymore. Can't you see?... I'm crippled!"
The tree nodded and said, "When you were still young and growing up, many years I was giving you fresh, sweet fruits of me. Only one day that I bore a bitter piece of fruit and you never watered me again. You hated me because of the bad weather that day... Go back to where you buried that short, precious branch of me many years ago! That piece of me will serve as my everlasting gift to you. Swish it like a magical wand, the way you used it before while fronting me. It will help you walk again. And when it happens, please remember me..."
The girl was awakened after her early morning-dream. Few hours later, all alone with her wheel chair she went to the ground very close to the tree where she buried the stick. She recalled the exact spot where she buried the thin, strong part of the tree.
After an hour of digging, she found the thin one foot-branch of the tree. Facing the rising sun and the tree, she made a wish and swished the stick over her legs and feet. She went home afterwards and slept that night.
Every morning, the girl waited for a change. Many days and weeks passed and nothing has changed in her. She can't feel the improvement on her legs and feet. She felt hopeless and silly about her conversation with the talking tree in her dream.
On Christmas Day that same year, after several months of waiting and longing, the girl was able to stand up. Slowly she tried to walk again. She did without any arm or leg support. Then she jumped. That very moment she remembered what the tree asked of her. She went immediately to the said tree and brought a pail of water.
The girl thanked the tree and said, "I will water you as long as I live!"
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