In which this old Greek story still pertains to all of us, everywhere

 The Reeds of Strength (Greece)

A farmer lay on his deathbed, and worried about the future of his farm. 

He had three fine children, all good farmers, and each would inherit a good piece of land and the equipment with which to grow the crops to make the farm prosper.

And yet, they were so quarrelsome that the farmer feared that their disputes would interfere with the husbandry of the farm.

He called each to him in turn. 

To the eldest, the farmer said, “Go to the river, and bring back to me the two strongest reeds you find growing there.”

His eldest thought that the request was a strange one and offered to bring the father a cup of tea, instead. 

But the father insisted, and so the eldest went to the river.

To his middle child, the farmer said, “Go to the river, and bring back to me the two strongest reeds you find growing there.”

The middle child thought that the request was a strange one and offered to read from a favorite book instead. 

But the father insisted, and so the middle child went to the river.

To his youngest child, the farmer said, “Go to the river, and bring back to me the two strongest reeds you find growing there.”

The youngest thought that the request was a strange one, but said nothing, and went to the river.

When they returned, each with two reeds, the father called all three before him.

“Choose the strongest of your reeds and give it to me,” he commanded them. 

Each chose a reed, and handed it to the father, who took each reed in turn and broke it with two fingers.

“Now,” said the father in a softer tone, “give me the other reed.” 

Confused, they each surrendered their second reed. 

With fingers no longer nimble, the old farmer carefully braided the three reeds into a rope and handed the braid to the eldest.

“Break it,” he commanded.  The eldest pulled and tugged on the braid but could not break it. 

The farmer gave the braid in turn to the middle and then the youngest, but they could not break it either.

Finally, the farmer said to them, “This is how your lives will be: if you stand alone, you will surely break under the weight of trouble. 

“But if you work together, adversity will never break you.”

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