The Color of Friendship

The Color
of Friendship

Once upon a time the colors of the
world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best.
The most important.
The most useful.
The favorite.

Green said:
"Clearly I am the most important.
I am the sign of life and of hope.
I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves.
Without me, all animals would die.
Look over the countryside and you will
see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the
sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis
of life and drawn up by the clouds from
the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace
and serenity. Without my peace,
you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety,
and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow,
the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow.
Every time you look at a sunflower,
the whole world starts to smile.
Without me there would be no fun."

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength.
I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve
the needs of human life. I carry the most
important vitamins.
Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes,
and papayas. I don't hang around all the time,
but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset,
my beauty is so striking that no one gives
another thought to any of you."

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood -
life's blood! I am the color of danger
and of bravery.
I am willing to fight for a cause.
I bring fire into the blood.
Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon.
am the color of passion and of love, the red rose,
the poinsettia and the poppy."

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp:
"I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs,
and bishops have always chosen me for
I am the sign of authority and wisdom.
People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than
all the others, but with just as much determination:
"Think of me. I am the color of silence.
You hardly notice me, but without me you all
become superficial. I represent thought
and reflection, twilight and deep water.
You need me for balance
and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced
of his or her own superiority.
Their quarreling became
louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling
flash of bright lightening thunder
rolled and boomed.
Rain started to pour down relentlessly.
The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close
to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:
"You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves,
each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know
that you were each made for a special purpose,
unique and different? Join hands with one another
and come to me."

Doing as they were told,
the colors united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will
stretch across the sky in a great bow of color
as a reminder that you can all live in peace.
The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world,
and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember
to appreciate one another.

Author Unknown