An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.
"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."
The question is which wolf wins?
The one you feed.
Because this struggle that exists within us all depends upon our choices. Do we choose to allow the hardships and struggles we all face harden our hearts and lead to us becoming more and more fearful and angry at the world and all those in it? Or do we allow ourselves to become more compassionate, understanding and forgiving and therefore more Christlike?
The choice in how we act and react is ours alone, it cannot be put on anyone or anything else.
We can be wronged, slandered, and abused but how we react is indicative of who we really are. True peace is not being free of drama and chaos; it is being at peace in the midst of it all.
Jesus embued forgiveness and compassion when He saved the life of an adulteress when He said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." He said to her only "Go and sin no more." There was no condemnation. There was only compassion and understanding.
Jesus again exemplified compassion, understanding and forgiveness when He prayed to God that those who crucified Him be forgiven "for they know not what they do."
How many of us have it in us to be that forgiving, compassionate and understanding.
"37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Luke 23:37
Jesus was still saving souls even when hanging on His cross.
How many of us have it in them to see beyond our own pain and help others in such a dire situation.
These stories show us perfect examples of how we should treat ourselves and others in this life and the next.
This is the gospel message; to love God and all His children. The gospel is not meant to be recited as much as it is meant to be lived. And these stories from scripture show us where the watermark is.
Whether or not we reach it is a choice that is ours alone.
