The Wolves Within

[Kizzy]

A Native Indian Grandfather, whose grandson came to him with anger at a schoolmate who had done him an injustice, said, "Let me tell you a story.

I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."

"But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"


The Grandfather solemnly said, "The one I feed."

(unknown)

 

[crabcake]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Penn]

So very true: whichever emotion you nourish - that's the one that will reflect your harmony with others, or your wrath.

 

[Ken King]

I know the story of the black and white wolves, but you left out the boy's "injustice". It's an important part of the tale. Gives it the required perspective.

There was Grandfather. His little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to Grandfather with a look of anger on his face.

Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today." The child sat and leaned his chin on Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut brown face and the kind dark eyes, the child's anger turned to quiet tears.

The boy said, "I went to the town today, with Father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me.....something that I wanted.

I was so excited to be in the trading post. I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me."

Here the boy laid his head against Grandfather's knee and became silent. Grandfather softly placed his hand on the boy's raven hair and said, "And then what happened?"

Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside to wait for Father, and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me. They got all around me and started saying bad things. They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away laughing." Here, the boy's anger returned, "I hate them. I hate them all!"

Grandfather, with eyes that have seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boy's. Grandfather said,

"I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."

He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way."

"But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"


The Grandfather solemnly said, "The one I feed."

(unknown)

What grandfather didn't do was tell the boy his anger was not justified.

 

[Kizzy]

Thanks Ken It just so proves that one story can circulate many versions.

 

[HollowSoul]

deaest kizzy...
this is in no way supposed to poke fun at your story
but....


are you saying you have dogs that live in your stomach:shrug:

 

[Kizzy]

deaest kizzy...
this is in no way supposed to poke fun at your story
but....


are you saying you have dogs that live in your stomach:shrug:

You remembered...

I got one better than that now. A women who thought there was a dead body in this wood pile and kept moving it around the yard until her meds were adjusted.