Let’s Make Rainbows

Once upon a time in a magical place called Hawaii, eight islands in the middle of the big blue sea, there lived many happy children who loved to play together. 

One day, the children noticed they were all different colors. 

“I’m black!”

“I’m white!”

“I’m purple!”

The children started arguing.

“I’m best because I am all the colors put together,” said the black girl.

“I’m best because I have no color,” said the white boy.

“I’m best because I’m a mix of red and blue,” said the purple child.

Suddenly, all the children were arguing about who was best.

Nobody was happy because each child insisted they were right, and the other children were wrong.

Just then, Amida Buddha appeared before the children.

“Aloha, children,” Amida smiled and said gently, “why are you arguing?”

The black girl said, “Everyone else is wrong! I’m best because I’m all the colors put together!” 

The white boy said, “Nobody agrees with me! I’m best because I have no color!”

The purple child said, “All I want is to be accepted just as I am! I’m best because I’m a mix of red and blue!”

“I see,” Amida smiled and said kindly, “when did this argument start?”

The children all thought carefully.

“I know,” said the white boy, “we started arguing when we noticed we were all different colors.”

“Yes, that’s right,” said the black girl, “when we noticed we were all different colors, each of us insisted we were best.”

“We used to play together happily until we noticed we were different colors,” said the purple child.

“You children are so wise,” Amida smiled kindly and said gently, “what are you going to do?”

The children said, “We will accept each other just as we are. It’s so silly to insist that the color of our skin makes any difference at all!”

The children started playing together happily, singing happy songs, and dancing happy dances.

Suddenly, each child started shining brightly, just as they are, and, together as one, all the children became a beautiful rainbow that stretched around the world!

Amida Buddha smiled and said, “Mahalo, children. You are so wise. Namo Amida Butsu!”

From that day, all the children lived happily ever after in a magical place called Hawaii, eight islands in the middle of the big blue sea.

THE END