Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on the older brother’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s tool box.
“I’m looking for a few days’ work.” – he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with?”
“Yes.” – said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor; in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better.”
“See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence –an 8-foot fence — so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.”
The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge — a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all — and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his arms outstretched — “You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.”
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand.
They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.
“No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother.
“I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but I have many more bridges to build.”
Author Unknown
This is an awesome read. Thanks for sharing
It’s a great story. We may have ex-teacher, ex-husband, ex-wife but we may not have ex-brother. We cannot say, “He’s my ex-brother.” Remember, blood is thicker than water.
It is a meaningful and inspiring story for all of us. We invoke God’s blessings upon us that each one of us may think and act in our own little way to build bridges of love, peace, joy and justice.
Excellent Story. Thank you so much. This will help me in my training Program.
Regards
Brian
That’s GREAT !!
Thanks it is very good and heart touching story.
Amazing
I am so touched by this story.
Thanks & Rgards,
Manju
Everyone should read this. Many people need a bridge too. And this story will be the carpenter:)
Wonderful! 🙂
That’s power of Forgiveness and Love, a sense of Reconciliation, a sign of Victory over enmity! Thumb up!
Very thoughtful writer, may we all continue to be positive bridge builders!!!
Very nice story, it has so many meanings to think… thanks for publishing this….
Wonderful story….love it ….I promise I will never allow the need of the bridge in my relationships…..never.
Thanks Stephen. If we construct bridges we will to reach our enemies and mend broken relationships, but if we build walls around ourselves we will never solve problems.
We all have the “tools” to be a “carpenter” of peace and love.
Thanks, good story.
“I have many more bridges to build”. A wonderful lesson for all of us. Take the first step.
Very touching, what a carpenter!
Wonderful. Principle of forgiveness. Stretch out and be one in love not enemies.
I really love reading the story here, it’s very inspirational. Touch me very much, it teaches us the principle of forgiveness ….Don’t wait for others to make bridge for us.
Nice one.
Really a great story:) Thanks:) I will also try my best to be a peace bridge builder for the world:)
I love the story very much:) May there be more & more peace bridge builders in our world which is now full of conflicts & wars!
Aahh 🙂
It was a nice story. I love it..so touching..thank you for this wonderful story!!:)
God Bless you!!
Very touching..
What a story! Very inspirational… As a human., or specially as a christian, we should be the way or bridge for the others who became separated because of the conflicts…. Nice. God bless….