There was a young man who had a beautiful garden. He loved looking at his flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to him lived a wise old man.

One day, when the young man was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the wise old man watched him with interest from across the wall that separated them.

When he had finished, the young man stood back to admire his work. “Isn’t it beautiful,” he called out to the wise old man. “Yes,” replied the old man, “but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I’ll put it right for you.”

After hesitating, the young man lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the wise old man walked to the tree near the centre of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden. “There,” said the old man, “you can put me back now.”

Normally the young man would not have the garden look so perfect. He was trying to impress his company. The old man was trying to show him to be and act like himself, and not to create a false image.

LESSONS: We should try to see things as they really are, including their imperfections. THAT’S beauty. Trying to be perfect can make a person miserable. If you act a certain way all of the time, don’t be a phony and try to change the way you are just for certain people. Allah gives nature its natural beauty. Things are a certain way for a reason.

A person should not get too preoccupied with the vanities of life, because something unexpected will come along and shatter your ideals. Nature doesn’t need our help to be beautiful – but we need the help of nature.