Granny, the tree of wisdom
published: Sunday | March 30, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM reminded of the wisdom and cunning of old folks by a story recounted by Mr. Jeffrey Thompson, a performer at a recent concert held at the Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Manchester.
Mr. Thompson was always being knocked on the head by other boys and being picked on and made fun of. When he complained to his grandmother, a sage from the hills of Clarendon this is what happened.
She asked him, "Son, have you ever seen people stoning macca tree?" To which he replied "No, Granny". "Have you ever seen people stone a bamboo tree?" "No Ma'am," he impatiently replied, wondering what all this stoning of trees had to do with his problem of being knocked in the head by bullies.
His grandmother continued, "Have you ever seen people stone Mango trees?" "Yes, Ma'am". He said. "Well," said the old lady, "people only trouble you because you have something that they want just like the mango tree."
It is partially due to these gems of wisdom that his grandmother gave him that Mr. Thompson is now a world renowned public inspirational speaker, appearing on radio, television and in other aspects of the media in several countries worldwide.
