The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar

An old woman was cleaning out her late husband’s storage room when she discovered a large clay wine jar tucked away in a dark corner. The jar had been sitting there for many years, forgotten and covered with dust and cobwebs.

As she lifted the heavy vessel, she noticed it was completely empty - not a single drop of wine remained inside. Yet when she peered into the jar and inhaled, she was surprised to detect the rich, sweet aroma of the fine wine that had once been stored within.

“How wonderful!” she exclaimed with delight. “Even though this jar has been empty for years, it still carries the beautiful fragrance of the excellent wine it once held.”

She spent several minutes savoring the lingering scent, which brought back happy memories of celebrations and good times when her husband was still alive.

Moral: The influence of good associations lingers long after the original source is gone. We are shaped and marked by the quality of our experiences and companions.