Once upon a time, the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important to God. The most useful to God. The favorite of God.

Green said: "Clearly, I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. God chose me for grass, trees, and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside, and you will see that I am in the majority."

Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. The water is the basis of God’s life and is drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace, and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow; the moon is yellow; the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the world starts to smile. Without my God-given color, there would be no fun."

Orange was next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of God’s health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious, for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."

Red could stand it no longer and shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood – God’s life's blood! I am the color of danger and bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and God’s love, the red rose, the poinsettia, and the poppy."

Purple rose to his full height: He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me, for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. I am the color of spiritually. People do not question me! They listen and obey."

Finally, Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of God’s silence. You hardly notice me, but without me, you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, prayer and inner peace."

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of their own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder.

Suddenly, there was a startling flash of bright lightning; thunder rolled and boomed. The rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down for warmth, drawing close to one another for comfort. Amid the clamor,

Rain began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made by God for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."

Doing as the rain said, the colors united and joined hands.

The Rain continued: "From now on when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."

And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.