Let him be loved, unconditionally

So in the traditions of the classic fable, a poor single mother sacrifices her food and feeds a starving Sadhu.

He thanks her and grants her one wish.

She says that as the food was meant for her child, she wished that her son would grow up to be loved.

Unconditionally.

So it was that he was always the center of attention. His teachers loved him and paid extra attention to him. The other kids were not jealous of him and he grew into quite a ladies man.

The women when they found out that he was getting around didn't hate him.
In fact, incredibly,  they just loved him more.

The king asked him to move into the palace and he was soon spoilt beyond recognition. Inevitably he was engaged to marry the princess, despite his treating her badly. The worse he behaved the more they loved him.

He had no time for anybody and didn't care for anyone but himself, yet they loved him, unconditionally.

One day the aging mother met the sadhu again and she spoke to him of how awful her son had turned out, and how despite all the love,  her son was desperately unhappy.

He asked her if she would like to change the wish, and she said she wished that   "he, would love others, unconditionally"

With the blinkers removed from their eyes, everyone suddenly saw the boy for the scoundrel he was.

Before long, he was living on the street, going door to door begging for his meals.

People were disgusted by him and threw garbage at him, yet he loved them in return,  unconditionally.

The pain, the hunger, and the abuse meant nothing to him because he loved everyone he met, absolutely.

He radiated love and was happy.

Over the years he became very spiritual and learned to channel this love into helping others. He soon earned the respect of the people and their adoration.
Even the king called on him when he needed spiritual guidance. 

Over the years his reputation for kindness, love, and wisdom spread throughout the land and he was sought after by everyone. And when they experienced the force of his love and the sheer selflessness of his love, they learned to love him. And it was a love that he had earned. And with it came to respect.

You can't make people respect or love you, but you can show respect and kindness, and true love will grow in your heart and theirs.

I heard this story as a child and have paraphrased it as best as I can.
If anybody knows the original text, please let me know.

M Parak 2017