A parable on relationship dynamics for your children and perhaps for you
By Patrick | July 26, 2010
A parable on relationship dynamics for your children and perhaps for you
So I am reflecting back on a parable I once told to my daughter.
This was after she had done some goofy “relationship dance” with another teen aged boy. I had read this parable in a Jungian Psychology book many years ago and never thought about it too much until I had a weird, goofy on again off again relationship with a lady whom I was very fond of. I was always coming back to her and she would always embrace “us” again only to walk away after about six months or so.
Then we would rinse and repeat.
One day the memory of this little story hit me like a ton of bricks while enjoying a rain soaked jog at Memorial Park.
“Once upon a time in a kingdom far-far away there lived a beautiful princess. She had been courted by many a fine and eligible bachelor but she seemed to enjoy being “wooed” entirely too much as she would grow tired of the suitors after a week or two.
One day, a young man appeared in the town and professed his intentions to marry the fair princess.
Her response was that he would need to prove his love for her and could do so by sitting under her bedroom window for 100 days. At the end of the 100 days, she would know that he was committed to her and worthy of her hand.
The young man proclaimed his love for her and told her, and anyone else who would listen, “I love her so dearly and I am so intent on proving my love that I will sit under your bedroom window all day and all night for 100 days and nights. This should prove that I am willing to do anything for my beloved.”
So he did.
He arrived the next day with a blanket and proceeded to spend the next 99 days and nights under her window. Passersby offered him food and a pillow but he politely refused. He was a committed young man.
He was intent on proving his love for his young lady.
On the 99th day he arose at day break to dust himself off, roll up his blanket and walk away.
The townspeople were astonished. He only had one more day and they were very quick to point that out to the young man. He heard them, each and every one and responded with a smile and a nod and a pleasant, “I am aware of that.”
Everyone wanted to know WHY?!
Why after so many days was he just walking away.
He quietly and resolutely responded to the questions, “Well. I am aware that I only had one more day. But the fair princess was also aware that I only had one more day. She was ok with me sitting out in the horrible heat and with all of the torrential rains and the attacks by hungry mosquitoes for 99 days. Every day, she knew I was there and I was committed and if 99 days does not prove my love and commitment then one more day will not do so.”
And off he walked…
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