And So It Goes...

Once upon a time a Chinese farmer had a mare that was better than any in the village. She was hard working, reliable, and never got sick. His neighbors used to tell him, "You are so lucky to have such a mare." He only replied, "Well, you never can tell."

One day a stallion came down from the hills and stole his mare. His neighbors came around again and said, "You are so unlucky, to lose such a wonderful mare." He only replied, "Well, you never can tell."

Three weeks later, the mare led the stallion and four other fine horses into the corral. Now the farmer had a whole herd! His friends all came over and said, "You are sooo lucky, to have a whole herd of horses!." He only replied, "Well, you never can tell."

His eldest son went out to break the horses and was thrown and broke his leg, right at harvest time. The neighbors came over and said, "Your son, that you count on, is injured. You are so unfortunate!." He only replied, "Well, you never can tell."

A week later, a general of the army came to the village and said, "The fighting at the border is fierce, I need every able-bodied man to fight in this dangerous war." But of course, his son, with a broken leg couldn't go.

And so it goes.