by Avédik Isahakian

[Translated by Der Stepanos Dingilian, Ph.D.]

In the olden days there was a very wise and just king in the East who had three sons.

When the time came and the king felt that he was getting older and wanted to give the reign of his kingdom to one of his sons while he was still alive, he wanted to do so to the son who was the most capable of that difficult task.

Therefore, one day he called all of them to him and said.

– My beloved children. You see that your father is getting older and soon will not be able to guide this kingdom. I would have given up my crown many years ago and retired if I had seen a dream of mine come alive. And now, he who amongst you resolves that issue that I have been thinking about, he is the one who will receive my crown, and govern my people.

– May long live our beloved father, holy is his supreme will for us, what is that great task that his wise spirit has not been able to accomplish? – asked the sons.

– Do you see that great and expansive storehouse that I have built long ago? It is my desire that it be filled with such a thing that it be the most useful thing in the world. This would bring forth great fortune for my people. Yet, that storehouse still remains empty. And now, whichever of you is able to fill this storehouse with the most useful thing in the world, let him be the one who is worthy to rule this kingdom. Take of my treasures as much as you need and separately travel throughout cities, countries, find the most useful thing in the world and fill my warehouse with it. I give you a three times forty day interval to accomplish this task.

The sons kissed their father’s hand and traveled each in his own direction.

For the whole three times forty day interval the three sons traveled throughout cities and countries, spoke with a numerous people, witnessed various treasures, and finally came and stood in the presence of their father.

– Welcome back my three treasured sons. Have you found and brought back the most useful thing in the world with which I can fill my storehouse?

– Yes we have, beloved father, – answered the three sons.

Immediately the father took his three sons to the door of his storehouse. He called upon his ministers and people to come and witness the great event. Then he invited his oldest son to come forward.

– With what would you fill this huge and expansive storehouse my beloved son? With what would you fill it which would be the most useful thing in the world?

And the son took out of his pocket a handful of wheat and showed it to his father, saying.

– I fill this huge and expansive storehouse with bread, my treasured father. What could be more useful in life than bread? Who can live without bread? I traveled many places, I saw many things, but I did not find anything more useful than bread.

Then the father called his middle son.

– With what would you fill this huge and expansive storehouse my beloved son? With what would you fill it which would be the most useful thing in the world?

The middle son took out of his pocket a handful of soil and showed it to his father, saying:

– I fill this huge and expansive storehouse with soil, my beloved father. What can be more useful in this world than the soil? Without soil, there is no wheat or bread, so who can live without soil? I went many places, I saw many things, but there is nothing more useful than soil.

Finally the father called his youngest son.

– With what would you fill this huge and expansive storehouse my beloved son? With what would you fill it which would be the most useful thing in the world?

– I fill this huge and expansive storehouse with light, my wise father, only with light. I went many places, I saw many countries, but I did not find anything that is more useful in life than light. Light is the most useful thing in the world. Without light the soil does not give bread, without light there would not be life upon this earth. I went many places, saw many countries and cultures, and I found that the light of knowledge is the most useful thing in the world. It is only with the light of knowledge that one can govern and guide people.

– Blessed are you! – exclaimed the father, – you are the one worthy of my crown because it is with the light of knowledge that you will govern and guide my people.

– Long live our young and enlightened king! – exclaimed all the ministers and people.

* * * * *

If you were to fill the storehouse with the ‘light of knowledge,’ what will you actually place in the storehouse? Lamps, food, books, computers, . . . What? Please describe, and tell us why.

How would you use this ‘light of knowledge’ to help others? Please give specific examples.

How did the older king show love towards his people in choosing his successor? How did the young king show love towards his people in choosing to fill the storehouse with light? How would you choose to show love towards your people if you were a king or a queen?

Who is the ‘Light of the World’ in the Bible? How did He show His love towards us?

Please send your response for the above questions to us, and as usual you will receive a gift from Armenia. Most of all, we hope these stories will bring fun, joy, and closer understanding in your family.

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