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One day, Joha was riding upon his donkey on the way to 

market. Joha’s son walked beside the donkey, holding 

the reins and talking with his father.

When the father and son passed a small group of people 

gathered by the side of the track, the people criticised 

Joha. They said to the old man, ‘How can you be so 

heartless, Joha?   How can you ride upon the donkey 

while your son is forced to walk beside you?’

When Joha heard these words he climbed down and 

lifted his son up onto the donkey’s back in his place.

Joha and his son continued on their journey, Joha 

walking beside the donkey, holding the reins in his hands 

as they made their way towards the market.

A mile down the road, Joha passed a small group of 

women gathered around a well.   When the women saw 

Joha they were very shocked. They asked of him, ‘How 

is it that an old man walks while his young son rides 

upon the donkey? Surely this is not right!’

So Joha climbed upon the donkey’s back with his son 

and they continued on their journey.

It was getting into the late afternoon, the sun was 

shining high up in the sky and it was very hot, but still 

Joha and his son continued on their journey towards 

the market. The donkey was moving very slowly 

because of the weight of the father and the son upon 

its back, but nobody criticized until they came across a 

small group of people gathered on the edge of the 

town where the market was held. The people pointed 

with disapproval when they saw Joha and his son both 

sitting on the back of the little donkey which was 

moving so slowly under the weight of the father and 

the son. ‘Why do you ride upon such a small donkey?’ 

they cried out to Joha. ‘Can you not see that you are 

too heavy and your donkey cannot support your 

weight?’

‘I think it is best if we both get off of the donkey and 

walk,’ Joha said to his son. ‘That way nobody can say 

anything to us anymore.’

So Joha and his son climbed down from the donkey. 

Joha took the reins in order to lead the donkey and 

walked with his son towards the marketplace in the 

centre of the village.

But when Joha arrived at the marketplace, 

many people laughed and criticized and made 

fun of the old man.   ‘What a fool!’ they declared. 

‘What kind of a man owns a donkey and yet 

walks with his son when he should be riding?’

Joha was not angry at the people because he 

realised that it is not possible to please 

everyone all the time, and perhaps it was best if 

each man decide how to live his own life.

But when Joha arrived at the 

marketplace, many people laughed 

and criticized and made fun of the old 

man.   ‘What a fool!’ they declared. 

‘What kind of a man owns a donkey 

and yet walks with his son when he 

should be riding?’

Joha was not angry at the people 

because he realised that it is not 

possible to please everyone all the 

time, and perhaps it was best if each 

man decide how to live his own life.

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