An Example’s Better Than A Precept

‘My son takes sugar candy
Quite often, almost every day.
He doesn’t listen to my advice.
Please tell him to stop this practice.’

A mother told a Holy man,
Revered by everyone.
He smiled and replied,
‘Next month bring the child.’

A month passed and she came back
‘Candy, my child, don’t take.’
To her surprise, he advised the Child,
In his usual tone, soft and mild.

To her query why this wasn’t told
In the last meeting they held,
He said, ‘I stopped eating candy.
I’m now fit to advise him really.’

‘An example’s better than precept.’
This everyone should accept
And in his lifetime follow
Before giving advice hollow