A Stone at the Right Time

Navid was a modest shepherd in hills surrounding Shiraz. One night, when the sun had gone below the horizon, he happened to see a band of thieves creeping quietly towards a merchant caravan camped nearby.

Without hesitation, Navid grabbed a rock and threw it at the front thief, warning the caravan guards in time. A fight ensued, and while the merchants were rescued, Navid was not so fortunate the thieves struck him back harshly, injuring him and knocking him out.

The next morning, Navid woke up in a small hospital. The thankful merchant visited him and put a purse of gold coins on the hospital bed.

Navid gazed at the gold, then at his bandages, and smiling softly, he said,

“A stone thrown at the right time is better than gold given at the wrong time.”

The trader comprehended. Gold would never equal the worth of an unselfish deed performed when the time was most crucial.