Write in Sand, Etch in Stone: A Lesson on Friendship and Forgiveness

 

The desert sun blazed overhead as two close friends journeyed together across the endless stretch of golden dunes. They walked in silence, the dry wind sweeping grains of sand around their feet, when a heated argument broke the calm. Words turned sharp, and in a moment of frustration, one friend slapped the other.

The sting wasn’t just physical—it cut deeper, into the heart.

The one who was slapped didn’t react with anger. He simply bent down and wrote on the warm desert sand with his finger:

"Today, my best friend slapped me in the face."

They said nothing more. They just kept walking.

Later that afternoon, the two stumbled upon a shimmering oasis—clear water, a rare gift in the harsh desert. Laughing, they ran toward it to cool off. But as fate would have it, the friend who was slapped stepped too far into the mire and got stuck. Panic set in as he began to sink.

Without hesitation, the other friend rushed in, pulled him to safety, and held him until he could breathe again.

After resting, the saved friend stood up, found a stone nearby, and carefully carved:

"Today, my best friend saved my life."

The friend who had both hurt and saved him watched quietly and asked, “Why did you write the first thing in the sand… but this in stone?”

The other smiled, eyes soft with understanding.

“Because when someone hurts us, we should write it in the sand—so the winds of forgiveness can gently erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we should engrave it in stone—so it’s remembered forever.”

Reflection:

In friendships, in family, in love—mistakes happen. We all stumble, we all say things we regret. But the beauty of a strong relationship lies in choosing grace over grudges.

When someone wounds you, let it go like sand slipping through your fingers.

When someone lifts you up, hold it close like an engraving on your heart.

That’s how bonds are not just kept—but deepened.

Choose to forgive quickly. And cherish deeply.

______

Out Of The Box July 18, 2025