The Fox and the Goat

When I was young, my grandmother would often read to me. Her favorite stories were those that taught a lesson in life and, as I grew older, many of these stories helped to guide me through mine. As I tend to be impulsive by nature, this is the story that I've needed to heed most:

One day, by unlucky chance, a fox fell into a deep well and could find no means of escape.

A Goat, overcome with thirst, came to the same well and upon seeing the Fox, inquired if the water was good. Concealing his sad plight under a merry guise, the Fox indulged in a lavish praise of the water, saying it was excellent beyond measure, and encouraged the Goat to descend.

The Goat, mindful only of his thirst, thoughtlessly jumped down, but just as he drank, the Fox informed him of the predicament they were both in and suggested a plan for them both to escape.

"If," said the Fox, "you will place your forefeet upon the wall and bend your head, I will run up your back and jump to safety and will help you out afterwards."

The Goat readily assented and the Fox leaped upon his back. Steadying himself with the Goat's horns, he safely reached the mouth of the well and ran off as fast as he could.

When the Goat cried out after him, chastising him for breaking his promise, he turned around and said, "You foolish old fellow! If you had as many brains in your head as you have hairs in your beard, you would never have gone down before you had inspected the way up, nor would you have exposed yourself to dangers from which you had no means of escape."

The lesson to be learned fro the Goat's plight: Look before you leap.

The Train Window

A young man looking out of the train’s window shouted, “Dad, look at the trees! Look how fast they're going past us!”

His father smiled, as a young couple sitting nearby, watched the young man’s childish behavior with pitying curiosity. He suddenly exclaimed again, “Dad, look at the clouds! They're keeping up with us!”

The couple couldn’t resist and asked the father what was wrong with his son, asking if he was mentally-challenged.

The old man smiled and said, “No, I am bringing him home from the hospital, where he has been recovering from eye surgery. You see, my son was born blind and he received new corneas. This is his first adventure in seeing a world that, before, he could only touch, taste, smell, and hear.”

Every person on this planet has a story, so we shouldn't judge anyone before we truly know them. The truth about them might surprise you.

The Fly

There was a fly buzzing around a barn one day when she happened upon a pile of fresh cow manure. Due to the fact that it had been hours since she had had her last meal, she flew down and began to eat. She ate and ate. Finally, she decided she had eaten enough and tried to fly away. She had eaten too much though, and could not get off the ground. As she looked around wondering what to do, she spotted a pitchfork leaning up against the wall. She climbed to the top of the handle and jumped off, thinking that once she got airborne, she would be able to take flight. Unfortunately she was wrong and she dropped like a rock, and was smashed dead when she hit the ground.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Never fly off the handle when you know you're full of crap.

Be

Be strong, but not rude; Be kind, but not weak; Be bold, but not bully; Be humble, but not timid; Be proud, but not arrogant.

My Morals

You say my morals are old fashioned? I say it's a sign of being brought up properly.