by Sarah Earlene Shere, ©2024
(Feb. 24, 2024) — A long time ago, a young man sat huddled, crying, in the corner of a busy marketplace. He knew he deserved his plight. Still, the gnawing of hunger and the bitter cold of the desert city was too much to bear.
The beggar watched the people going about their business. These were the kinds of people he used to mock and treat scornfully, people far below his status as the king’s son. But all that had been stripped away from him by his father. He saw, now, that it was his own arrogance and pride that had brought this punishment upon himself.
The pauper prince considered now the one thing, according to the terms of his exile, that would allow him to return home: he who rejected his studies must learn to count five.
The lad’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the princess who had spoken to him so kindly on her passing the night before. He had told her his situation, without giving away his title of prince. This time, she wasn’t alone; she was accompanied by a rabbi.
The kind princess smiled. “This sage of the Jews is a wise man and will teach you how to count five.”
“It is such a simple lesson,” said the rabbi, “that proud people overlook it. Tell me, my son, have you experienced hunger?”
“I have,” replied the prince.
“Then you can count One. Do you know what it is to feel cold?”
“I do.”
“You can count Two. Tell me, do you know what kindness of heart is?”
“That have I received from the poorest and, also, from the gracious princess.”
“Then you can count Three. Have you felt gratitude?”
“Indeed I have!”
“Four is now the total of your count. Tell me, have you learned the greatest lesson of all? Do you feel humble in spirit?”
With tears in his eyes, the prince answered, “I do, most sincerely.”
“Then you have truly learned to Count Five. Return to your father. He must be a wise and just man to impose on you this lesson. He will surely forgive you. Go, with my blessing,” and the rabbi raised his hands above the young man’s head and uttered a benediction.