The Ear of Corn

A long time ago, when God himself still walked on earth, the fields were much more fruitful than they are today. The ears of corn did not have fifty or sixty grains, but four to five hundred.

The corn grew from the bottom to the very top of the stalk, and the ear was as long as the stalk. But people are like that: when they have too much, they no longer appreciate God's gifts. They become careless.

One day a woman walked past a cornfield with her little child. The child ran beside her, fell into a puddle, and got her dress all dirty. The mother grabbed a handful of the beautiful ears of corn and used them to wipe the dress clean.

Just then the Lord came by and saw what she had done. He was angry and said, "From now on, the stalks shall bear no more ears. People are no longer worthy of heavenly gifts." The people who heard this were terrified. They fell to their knees and begged him to at least leave something on the stalks, even if the people did not deserve it, for the sake of the innocent birds that would otherwise starve. The Lord foresaw the birds' suffering and had pity on them. He granted the request. So the ears remain as they grow today.