The Lions Whisker: An Ethiopian Folktale

ASSALAMUALAIKUM AND A VERY GOOD MORNING TO THE

HONOURABLE JUDGES, TEACHERS AND FELLOW FRIENDS. THIS
MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOU TO A FOLKTALE, BUT, IT IS
NOT A LOCAL FOLKTALE THAT WE USE TO LISTEN TO. I WILL YOU
BRING TO ETHIOPIA WHERE THE STORY IS TOLD.
Haile was a happy little boy living with his mother and father in their
home in Ethiopia. But, one day his mother died and Haile was so hurt, and so
confused, and so angry. A year passed and his father decided to remarry. But,
Haile remained so hurt, and so confused, and so angry. So when Zeynab met
him and hugged him he pulled away from her. When she fixed him his favorite
foods for dinner he didnt eat. When she made him a play suit out of fine cloth
he ran through the woods and played so roughly he tore the clothes up.
Whenever she spoke to him he ignored her.
One day when her husband was gone hunting, Zeynab went to Hailes
bedroom to talk to him.
"Haile, I love you so much and I really need you to love. . ."
Before she could finish Haile jumped up and said, "I hate you, you arent my
mother. Im running away."
Haile ran past Zayneb and out of the house. Zayneb sat down and cried
and cried. When her husband returned she told him what had happened. He told
her to go on and cook dinner and not to worry that he would find Haile. Haile
was at the river in his favorite spot. The two walked home and ate dinner
without a word.

That night, as the other two slept, Zayneb got out and walked deep into
the forest to the home of the witch doctor. The witch doctor was a very wise
woman who knew the ways of peoples minds and hearts.
"I need you to make me a love potion so my step-son will love me," said
Zayneb.
"Well," the old woman said slowly, "Before I can give you a love potion, you
must bring me the whisker from a ferocious lion."
Zeynabs eyes grew large as she said, "How am I supposed to do that?"
"Use your imagination," said the witch doctor.
Zeynab went home and slept just a few more hours. She got up before the
sun rose and put several large pieces of raw meat in a bag and headed toward
the hills. She walked until she found a cave which had large paw prints around
it. Zeynab took a piece of meat out and placed it in front of the entrance to the
cave. Then she hid in the bushes about 50 feet from the entrance and waited.
After a few minutes a large, very ferocious looking lion stepped out of the
cave, looked around, smelled the meat, and ate it all up.
Zayneb waited for a couple of hours then she walked up to the entrance of
the cave and placed a second piece of meat in front of it. Then she moved back
only 25 feet and didnt hide in the bushes. After a few minutes the lion came
out. He looked around, stared at Zayneb, smelled the meat, picked it up, and ate
it all up.
Zayneb waited for a couple of hours then she walked up to the entrance of
the cave and placed a third piece of meat in front of it. She moved back only 5
feet and didnt hide in the bushes. After a few minutes the lion came out. He

looked around, stared at Zayneb, smelled the meat, picked it up, and ate it all
up.
Zayneb waited for a couple of more hours then she walked up to the
entrance of the cave and placed a third piece of meat in front of it. She moved
back only two steps. After a few minutes the lion came out. He looked around,
stared at Zayneb. She stared back at the lion. Although she was shaking inside,
she didnt move her body. She just stared right back at the lions large brown
eyes. The lion smelled the meat, picked it up and began eating.
Very slowly Zayneb extended her hand, grabbed a whisker and quickly
pulled it out. The lion kept eating as slowly, very slowly, as if walking on a tight
rope, Zayneb backed away toward the bushes. When she got into the forest she
ran back to the witch doctors home.
Breathing heavily, she rushed into the witch doctors house and held up
the whisker. "See, here, I brought you a lions whisker. Now, give me a love
potion."
The witch doctor looked at the whisker. "Ah, this does look like a ferocious
lions whisker. But, I dont have any love potions."
"What, what do you mean?" screamed Zayneb.
"Now, tell me, how did you get that lions whisker?" the old lady calmly asked.
"Well, I had to be very, very careful and patient. I was very gentle and very
quiet, and persistent."
"Yes, and you were very courageous. See, you have all of the skills you
will need to get your stepson to love you without a magic potion."

Then Zayneb understood. She returned home and treated Haile nicely as
before. But, she did not make any special efforts to win his affection. She was
just her sweet, giving self. When Haile was rude to her or ignored her, she
continued on as if he had said nothing. In three weeks Haile began to smile and
speak to Zayneb. In six weeks he offered to help her with chores. In nine weeks
he invited her to walk with him to his favorite place at the river. One night about
12 weeks later, just before he fell asleep Haile looked up in Zaynebs eyes and
said, "Zayneb, I love you."
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STORY? FOR ME THE STORY ITSELF
DELIVERS ONE SIMPLE MESSAGE. PERSISTENCE! IT IS THE KEY
THAT WILL OPEN UP ANY DOOR THAT HAS BEEN CLOSED BY
RESISTANCE AND IT CAN APPLY TO ANY SITUATION IN OUR LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR LENDING ME YOUR EARS.