Ilitsa was a compassionate and kind girl. She always helped others. As a token of their appreciation, many tried to give her money. But Ilitsa always declined, saying "I don't take money, as money makes a person evil."



One day, the grandmother gave two seeds to Ilitsa, and told her to plant and water them.



Ilitsa obediently planted the seeds, and watered them every day. In a few weeks, one seed bloomed in to small plant full of pretty little flowers with a pleasant fragrance, while the other grew into a thorny shrub.



Grandmother came visiting again one day, and looked at the second plant. "Ilitsa, what has water done to that plant? It has become all thorny!"



Ilitsa looked at her grandmother curiously. "The water didn't make the plant thorny. The seed was of a thorny plant, so it bloomed into thorny plant. Look, here is a plant from the other seed you gave me. It has such beautiful flowers.”



Grandmother chuckled. "So, now you understand. Money doesn't make a person good or evil. Instead, it amplifies what is already there. Money in an evil hand will increase its power to do more evil. But in a helping hand, it will increase the power to help others."



Ilitsa nodded, and lovingly hugged her grandmother.

© 2016 Sheetal Mehata

Money doesn't make a person good or evil. Instead, it amplifies what is already there.