Once there were two brothers who shared adjoining farms. For over 40 years they worked side by side, sharing equipment and helping each other out whenever needed. Then one day a rift developed. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by months of angry silence.
One day the older brother, Pete, was out in his fields when a pick-up truck pulled up.
Out jumped a man who approached Pete carrying a carpenter’s toolbox.
“I’m looking for a few days work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs I could do for you?”
“Well, yes I do," said Pete….."See that creek down there, it’s the border between my brother’s farm and mine.”
“I want you to take that timber over there by the barn and build me a new fence, right next to that creek.
Make it a real tall one, so I don’t have to look over at my stinkin’ brother and his farm any more.”
The carpenter was glad to have the work, “I understand…. I’ll get the job done.”
So the carpenter set about working.
Meanwhile, farmer Pete drove into town to the local cattle auction.
When he returned at sunset he was shocked to see what the carpenter had done.
There was no fence.
Instead the carpenter had built a bridge and walking across it was the younger brother.
He held out his hand and spoke to Pete, “After all I’ve done to you I can’t believe you’d still reach out to me…..You’re right….. It’s time to bury the hatchet”.
The two brothers met at the middle of the bridge and embraced and were reconciled to one another.