Crystal Huff (they/them)crystalvisits@wrong.tools

Aug 13, 2026, 7:31 PM

Hey, mastodon, and esp my friend @therisingtithes! Is this "Trinidad folktale" familiar? It was in an assigned reading for my summer class, an excerpt from a 1992 book. Feels totally possible to me that it could be BS, particularly given the time period and the whiteness of the book's author (David W. Augsburger). Hard to know for sure unless someone can confirm it's NOT bullshit, though. #folklore #Trinidad

Screenshot of a pdf of a book. This page reads:

FOLKTALE : WISDOM OF THE MEDIATOR
Trinidad

Once upon a time there was a poor devout man with an old,
blind mother and a bitter, barren wife . His life was miserable ,
so each morning he rose early and went to the temple to pray
for the blessing of God to relieve his family's suffering.

After twelve years of prayer, he heard a voice -- the voice
of God. "What one thing do you desire?” “I don't know, " he
said. "I really didn't expect you to ask. Do you mind if I go
home and ask my mother and my wife? ”

After receiving permission, he ran home , and first met his
mother.
"Son , if you will ask God to restore my eyes so that I may
see again , you will never be indebted to me for anything."

Then the man went to his wife and told her of God's promise. "Forget your mother; she is old; she will soon close her eyes for the last time . Ask for a son who may care for us, and perhaps bring us wealth."

The mother was listening , and she came with her cane and
began to beat the wife . “No , it must be my eyesight. " The wife
fought back, pulling her hair, and a terrible fight ensued.

The poor man ran from the house to a wise adviser, an old
man who had mediated many conflicts , and he told him his
dilemma . "My mother wants eyesight , my wife wants a son ,
and I, I wish for a bit of money so we can eat everyday. What shallI ask? Whose needs come first?"

The adviser thought for a moment , then he answered:
"Ah, my friend , you must not choose for any one
of your family alone , but for the good of all. Although you may ask only one
thing of God, ask wisely. Tomorrow morning you shall say...

Screenshot of a pdf of the next page of the book. The text, from page 44 of "Conflict: Creative or Destructive Dynamics?" continues with the rest of the advice from the mediator, as follows:

'Oh Lord, I ask nothing for myself; my wife seeks nothing for herself; but my mother is blind , and her desire is, before she dies, to see her grandson eating milk and rice from a golden bowl.'

(Dorson 1975, 511-13, abridged )