Always Look at The Good Side


                

I heard the story told recently about a king in Africa who had
a close friend that he grew up with.  The friend had a habit of
looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life
(positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"
              
One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition.
The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king.  The
friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the
guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it
and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is
good!".

To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded
to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should
have known to stay clear of.  Cannibals captured him and took them
to their village.  They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up
a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the
king was missing a thumb.  Being superstitious, they never ate
anyone that was less than whole.  So untying the king they sent him
on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his
thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend.  He went
immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.  "You were right"
he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off."  And he
proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened.  "And so I
am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long.  It was bad for
me to do this."

No," his friend replied, "this is good!"
                
What do you mean, 'this is good'!  How could it be good that I sent
my friend to jail for a year."
              
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."