There were three brothers living together in a small cabin near the forest. The first was named Samuel, the second Timothy, and the third Zander. The three were hardworking and honest. They worked every day in the forest cutting wood, then went to the market to sell it at a suitable price.
To spend on themselves and be able to live, their lives continued this way, but after a period of time they became dissatisfied with their lives, for each one of them wanted to live differently.
One day, while the three were returning to their homes from the forest carrying tree trunks, they saw an old woman walking with difficulty, with a bag on her back that was about to fall. Because they were kind and compassionate, they approached the old woman and offered to carry the bag.
Indeed, they took turns carrying it all the way to her home. She smiled at them, expressed her gratitude, and told them that the bag was filled with apples she had collected from the forest. She gave them some to eat, but they were tired after a hard day of work, so they sat with her to rest.
That woman was not an ordinary person, for she had extraordinary magical powers. She said to them: I want to reward you for what you did for me. Ask whatever you wish and I will fulfill it for you. They told her they were no longer happy and this caused them anxiety.
The woman asked them what could make them happy. Samuel answered that what would make him happy was a wonderful palace with many servants and attendants who carry out his orders and never make him do any hard work. He said this was what would make him extremely happy.
As for Timothy, he said: I want a large farm with lots of harvest that will make me rich. This is what will make me extremely happy, and I will never worry. Zander said: As for me, I want a very beautiful wife. Every day when I return home and look at her beautiful face, I will forget all my worries. The old woman said: You have everything you wished for. When you return to your homes, you will find everything you wished for.
The three brothers never imagined this would ever happen. But indeed, upon returning to their homes, beside their small cabin was a huge palace with many servants waiting for Samuel. At a short distance from the palace, yellow agricultural lands appeared full of wheat and goodness belonging to Timothy.
Meanwhile, a very beautiful girl approached Zander and said to him: Welcome, my husband. The three brothers were extremely happy and adapted to the new lifestyle. But after a while, Samuel became lazy in his large palace, neglected the servants and the palace, and became in a state of anxiety and boredom.
Timothy also no longer cared for the fields, the crop became small, and anxiety became his companion too. Zander’s condition didn’t differ much from his brothers, for he was no longer happy with his wife, and problems increased between them. They were all dissatisfied with their lives.
One day, the three decided to go again to the old woman to tell them about the secret of happiness and how to achieve it. They went and told her what had happened to them. She said to them: The secret of happiness lies in being content with what we possess and what the Lord has granted us.
The three were convinced by what the old woman said. They returned to their homes, each person content with what they had. Samuel returned to caring for his palace and servants, Timothy cared for his land and farmed it well, and Zander also cared for his relationship with his wife. Their lives transformed into overwhelming happiness. They learned that they must thank the blessing and be content with what God has allotted for them, so that the secret of true happiness is realized in their hearts.