One quiet evening, an old donkey stood tied to a tree, lazily flicking its tail at flies. Along came a shadowy figure—a demon, slinking through the dusk with a sly grin. Without a word, he untied the rope and set the donkey free.
The donkey, delighted by its sudden liberty, trotted straight into a nearby farmer’s field and began feasting on ripe crops. The farmer’s wife, looking out her window, gasped. “That beast will ruin everything!” In a panic, she grabbed her rifle and shot the donkey dead.
When the donkey’s owner found his animal slain, rage boiled in his chest. “How dare they?” He stormed to the farmhouse, rifle in hand, and fired at the woman, killing her.
The farmer returned home to find his wife lifeless in the yard. Grief turned to fury—he hunted down the donkey’s owner and shot him in turn.
The dead man’s sons, upon discovering their father’s body, swore vengeance. That night, they set the farmer’s fields ablaze. The farmer, now consumed by wrath, ambushed the brothers and killed them too.
The village trembled at the bloodshed. When they finally confronted the demon, demanding to know why he had caused such chaos, he merely shrugged.
“I did nothing,” the demon said. “I only released the donkey.”
The Lesson in the Ashes
The devil’s greatest trick is not forcing evil upon us—it’s nudging us to choose it ourselves. He didn’t wield the rifles or strike the matches. He simply loosened a rope, and human hearts did the rest.
Revenge is a fire that spreads faster than it can be quenched. The demon knew: all he had to do was unleash the donkey, and mankind’s own anger would do his work for him.
But imagine if, at any point, someone had stopped the chain:
- The wife could’ve shooed the donkey away.
- The donkey’s owner could’ve demanded compensation, not blood.
- The farmer could’ve sought justice instead of vengeance.
- The sons could’ve mourned without burning the world down.
Yet no one did. Because when rage takes hold, reason flees.
Tying Back the Donkey
The devil’s power lies in our choices. His whispers are weak—unless we amplify them with our own hate.
So next time you feel wronged, ask yourself:
- Am I holding a rifle, or a rope?
- Will I feed the fire, or put it out?
- Is this really my enemy—or just a stray donkey?
Disarm evil with love. Tie back the donkey. Break the cycle.
Thoughts to Ponder:
- When has your anger ever solved more than it destroyed?
- What “donkey” is the devil tempting you to unleash today?
- How different would this story be if one person had chosen mercy?
Drop your wisdom below—let’s discuss how to “tie back the donkeys” in our own lives. 🙏🔥
