This is one of my best stories I remember from Romania. It is called ‘Sarea in bucate’ by Petre Ispirescu. The impact it had upon my soul beyond words. I did not know God, but thru children’ stories like these I became hungry for truth and love, for a life greater than my communist teachers described it to me.  God used stories to draw me closer to Him, long before I knew that He even exists. This is how I discovered that pursuing just material wealth or social status is not good enough. Nothing can compare with a life of purpose, destiny and sacrificial love…Much later I met the Lord Jesus and all my dreams and stories are now fulfilled in Him!

This is the story:

There was once a king. His wife died so he lavished all his love on his three daughters. He gave them gifts and all what they desired. Soon, the girls became young women. One day their father wanted to test his daughters’ love for him. He called the oldest and asked her:

‘How much do you love me, my daughter?’

She quickly answered him: ‘I love you like honey in the honeycomb…’

‘Well done my daughter! I am pleased with you…’ – he said.

Then the king asked the middle daughter:

‘How much do you love me, my daughter?’

Immediately she answered him:

‘Daddy, I love you as sugar in the cake!’

‘Well done, my daughter! I am happy with you…’ – he said.

Both girls wanted to flatter their father, for they knew that he wanted to hear sweet words.

Lastly, the king called the youngest. She loved him very much but she was quieter, gentler than her sisters. He asked her the same question:

‘Daughter, how much do you love me?’

The young princess paused for a moment…she said a quick prayer and then she answered:

‘I love you daddy, like the salt in the soup…’

Immediately the king got angry. ‘Salt… What salt? Is this answer the best you can give me? With all my gifts and love for you?’ –he shouted?

He did not expect this type of answer. He was not prepared to hear such a word.

Afraid that she made a mistake, the daughter fell on her knees and asked for forgiveness and mercy. But the king was too upset to listen. He disowned her and sent her away from his palace.

She left her childhood home. She prayed that God will lead her. She has never gone outside the gate of her father’s house. So she wondered alone, cold and afraid for many days. She arrived at the gate of a great city that also had a king. She decided to conceal her identity as a princess.  She got employment with the house keeper of the palace. She was so good, humble and faithful at her job that the queen heard about it. She called this mysterious girl to be her personal assistant. Her son, the prince saw the girl and fell in love with her. They decided to marry and all were very happy.

The king sent many invitations to the wedding. Her father was invited as a royal guest. At the wedding reception she made sure that her father will receive a different food than the rest of the guests. In all his dishes, the salt was replaced by sugar and honey. Her father tested the food and got angry. He thought that they mocked him in public. Suddenly he got up and in the presence of all he complained about his food. The host did not know what to answer. Then, to everybody’s surprise, the bride spoke. She told everybody about her story of love, pain, misunderstanding and rejection. Her father was sorry and asked for forgiveness having learnt the great lesson of life that salt is more needful for life than sugar and truth is always greater than lies.

What is the lesson for us?

Truth may be painful, especially in its first appearance. But truth is like salt, it preserves life and love from becoming just a soft copy of an empty romantic dream.

‘Speak the truth in love…’ we are commanded (Eph 4:15)

Jesus said: ‘You are the salt of the earth!’ (Mt 5:13)

Dear brethren, for Christ sake, I love you like the salt in the soup!

May you say: Amen!