Rabbits and Resolutions
Once upon a time there was a
group of rabbits. The rabbits worked hard to raise carrots so
that they all might be fed, but try as they might they could not keep
up with the growing needs of their families.
A farmer moved into the nearby town
and he showed the hungry rabbit families how to grow many more carrots
and how to prosper. All the farmer asked in return was that the
rabbits should give him some of their carrots each week,
which he would save for them just in case their farms should fail to
produce in the future. The rabbits quickly realized that with
their larger production of carrots, they would never miss a few carrots
a week. The rabbits felt that what the farmer had asked of
them would not be too taxing. As the years went by, the amount
of carrots the farmer saved began to grow and many carrots were in
their reserve. The rabbits did indeed prosper and they slept
with ease knowing that, even if their crops should fail, they had the
farmer's reserve carrots to fall back on.
Then a new farmer moved to town and he
told the rabbits they should give him control of their reserved
carrots. He said that the rabbits had amassed a very large
quantity of carrots in their reserve. He said that he would
give some of the reserve carrots back to the rabbits so that they
would not have to work so hard to grow more. Some of the
rabbits saw this as an opportunity to rest and relax. After all,
they had built up the reserve supply, so the carrots were theirs to do
with as they wished. Why should they labor in the carrot
patch when they already had carrots available? So they persuaded
the other rabbits to allow the new farmer to take control of their
reserved carrots, and as he had promised, the new farmer handed out
carrots to all the rabbits. Many of the rabbits greedily chomped
down on the carrots while other rabbits began to wonder. They
wondered what would happen if all the reserve carrots were
eaten? They tried to talk to the greedy rabbits, but the greedy
rabbits could not hear them they were so busy chomping and chomping.
The following year, a terrible plague
fell upon the carrot patch. The plants withered and died.
No carrots grew at all. The hungry rabbits were desperate for
food. They went to the farmer and asked for an extra
allowance of carrots from their reserve because they were in a crisis.
They told the farmer that some of the older rabbits were dying due to
the lack of food. They told the farmer that some of the very
young rabbits were ill and suffering from the lack of good
nutrition. The rabbits waited for the farmer to give them
their reserved carrots, but to their dismay, the farmer told them
they had no more carrots in their reserve because he had given them
all away. He had given all their carrots to the greedy
rabbits and they had chomped and chomped all the reserved carrots
away. The rabbits were shocked, the rabbits were angry,
the rabbits didn't know what to do. Now they realized
that even though they had enjoyed the farmers generosity, as he had
given them carrots in the past, they had made a horrible mistake. They
had trusted the farmer to be responsible for their future, but
the farmer had bought their trust and devotion using their
own future as payment.
The rabbits knew they would have to work
very, very hard and they knew they would lose some of their
family before they could produce another field of carrots. The
rabbits also knew that they must build up another reserve of carrots,
and they pledged never to allow another farmer to give away their
future.
The rabbits were saddened by what had
happened, but the rabbits were also wiser because they had learned a
lesson. The rabbits had learned that only a farmer who showed
them how to improve their future was worthy of their trust.
The rabbits had learned that trust must be earned, it can
never be bought. Most importantly, the rabbits had learned
they must never trust anyone who would tell them that they could save
their carrots and eat them too.
the end
- Patricia
Ernest, aka Pissed
Off Patricia nesters@bellsouth.net
I live in the wonderful state of Florida. I am a mom to Murphy (my
precious pup) and Fred (my occasionally precious cat). I share my
life, my laughter, my world and all of my love with my
husband and have for 16 years. I would describe myself as a very
sentimental and sensitive person who is forever willing to share my
point of view whether or not it has been requested of
me. This article is copyright by Patricia
Ernest, originally published by opednews.com
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