The Tale of Life: How We Inherited Our Years from Animals

In the beginning, when the world was fresh and new, God decided to create living beings to inhabit the earth. With great care, He crafted the animals and finally, humankind. But what intrigued Him most was how long each creature should live. So, He devised a plan, assigning lifespans based on purpose and contribution. What followed was an unexpected negotiation that shaped human life as we know it today.

The First Creation: The Dog

On the first day, God created the dog.

“You shall sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. Your role will be to guard, to be loyal, and to protect. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years,” said God.

The dog thought for a moment and then replied, “That is a long time to spend barking. I will do my duty, but twenty years of constant vigilance seems excessive. Let me live for ten years, and I’ll give back the other ten.”

God, with a gentle smile, nodded in agreement.

The Second Creation: The Monkey

On the second day, God created the monkey.

“You shall entertain people, perform tricks, and make them laugh. Your role is to bring joy and amusement to the world. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years,” God declared.

The monkey scratched his head and replied, “Twenty years of monkey tricks? That seems tiresome. Dog has already given you back ten years; I shall do the same. Ten years will be plenty for my mischief.”

God chuckled and agreed once more.

The Third Creation: The Cow

On the third day, God created the cow.

“You must go to the field with the farmer all day long, endure the scorching sun, give birth to calves, and provide milk to nourish humans. For this great service, I will grant you sixty years of life,” said God.

The cow, wise and patient, sighed, “That is indeed a long time of labor. While I will fulfill my duty, sixty years is too much toil. I shall keep twenty years and return the remaining forty.”

God, understanding the cow’s wisdom, accepted the deal.

The Fourth Creation: Man

On the fourth day, God created man.

“You shall eat, sleep, play, marry, and enjoy your life. I will give you twenty years,” God announced.

Man, perplexed, exclaimed, “Only twenty years? That hardly seems fair! I want to experience more. Tell you what, I will take my twenty, and the forty years the cow returned, plus the ten from the monkey and the ten from the dog. That makes eighty years. Deal?”

God, with a knowing smile, agreed.

The Meaning Behind Life’s Stages

And so, human life was set in motion.

• The first twenty years belong to us. We eat, sleep, play, and enjoy life with the carefree nature of childhood and youth.
• The next forty years reflect the life of the cow—we work tirelessly, supporting our families, enduring the burdens of responsibilities, and providing for others.
• The following ten years mirror the monkey’s life—we entertain, share stories, play with grandchildren, and bring laughter to those around us.
• The last ten years, like the dog, are spent sitting on the front porch, watching the world go by, barking (complaining) at everyone who passes.

To sum it up

Life, as amusing as it may seem, follows a path of purpose. Each stage is a gift, borrowed from those who came before us. The essence of life is not in lamenting our duties but in embracing them with joy and gratitude. When we are young, we must cherish freedom; when we work, we must find purpose; when we entertain, we must spread joy; and in our final years, we must appreciate the journey.

Live each phase fully, knowing that every moment has a reason, every duty has a reward, and every borrowed year is a blessing.

And that, dear reader, is how life was explained to you.