Asked to do the impossible? Did you try everything?

We are faced with seemingly impossible tasks quite often. How do you overcome impossible obstacles? Here’s a story of how a father taught his little boy about problem solving.

*** The Ice Cream Truck***

There was once a little boy playing outside in the front lawn, when way off in the distance he heard something. Just a few blocks away chimed a melody that has triggered instant glee and excitement in the hearts of children for decades. It was the unmistakable jingle of an ice cream truck – and it was approaching.

The little boy ran into his house. He found his father sitting in a comfortable chair reading the paper. The boy stopped in front of his father and exclaimed, “Dad! Dad! The Ice Cream Truck is coming! It’ll be here soon, may I please have a dollar?”

His father lowered his paper and smiled at his exuberant son. He remembered what it was like to get excited about cold treats on a warm summer day. While he wanted his son to enjoy some refreshment, he also wanted to use this as an opportunity to teach him a life lesson.

The father told his boy, “Son, I’ll give you a dollar if you do a quick chore for me. Do you know the large rock out in the front yard?” The boy nodded, as the father continued, “Move it to the end of the driveway so it can be hauled away. Once you do that, I’ll give you a dollar for ice cream.”

The little boy blanched as he remembered the large rock outside. It was as big as a beach-ball, and it had sunken half way into the ground. But, driven by the prospect of potential ice cream, he darted off. He approached the heavy rock and began to push it. The resolute stone didn’t budge. So the little boy grit his teeth, leaned against the rock, and pushed with all his might. His feet slipped, and he fell to the ground panting.

The jingle wafted through the air as the Ice Cream Truck got a little closer. The little boy leapt to his feet, ran back in the house, and approached his father. “Dad, I tried moving the rock. I tried as hard as I could, but I can’t move it. May I still have a dollar?” Lowering his paper again, the Father smiled at his son and simply stated, “You didn’t move the rock? Did you try everything?” The little boy shrugged and said, “...well, no. Bu…” His father just smiled and quipped, “Then no dollar.”

Running back outside, the boy glared at his opponent. The sing-song tune of the Ice Cream Truck was at the end of the block now. The immovable object had to be dealt with. He’d have to use his wits. Running to the garage, the little boy grabbed some rope and his bicycle. He tied one end of the rope to his bike, and the other around the large rock. “This’ll work for sure!” thought the little boy… and he began to peddle. He pumped his legs with all his might, and got up to speed quickly — when the inevitable happened.

The rope went it’s full length, bringing the bike to an immediate halt, which flung the little boy to the ground. He was shaken but not hurt. He picked himself up and looked to see how far the rock had moved. He was already picking out his favorite flavor of ice cream in his mind when he saw the rock. It hadn’t budged in the least. In addition to this stinging defeat, the Ice Cream Truck passed right by. He would not be getting any ice cream today.

The heartbroken boy stormed into the house, approached his father, and with tears in his eyes, he said, “Dad… I tried, but I couldn’t move the rock. I tried as hard as I could. May I please have a dollar so I can have an ice cream tomorrow?”

The father looked lovingly at his son, set his paper down, and leaned forward in his chair. “Son, we made a deal. If you didn’t move the rock, I can’t give you a dollar.”

“But I tried! I really tried hard!” yelped the child.

“Did you think of everything?” asked the father.

The little boy was sobbing now, “Well...yeah! I pushed with all my might, and fell. I even tried using my bike, and was thrown from it. I thought of everything!”

The father reached out and held his son’s shoulders, and looked him in his red tear-filled eyes and softly said, “Son… did you ever think to ask me for help?”

**This is how the story ends.**

Now, I sometimes think at this point in the story, it should end with the little boy popping the dad in the nose and taking a dollar. But that defeats the true moral of this story.

We are asked to accomplish seemingly impossible things all the time. With indomitable human will, we give it our very best shot. We get very creative and look for solutions everywhere. But due to whatever self-imposed force that stops us, we rarely think to ask others for help. Is it pride that stops us? Is it fear of looking like we’re incapable, and thus lower in worth? Why don’t we think to ask for help?

“The strong individual is the one who asks for help when he needs it.”

― Rona Barrett

I would encourage you to do your very best in all you do. But if you get to a point where you’re wrecking yourself over a seemingly unconquerable task, don’t forget that the option to ask for help is there. Ask.