The Lion and the Mouse

Once upon a time a mischievous mouse scampered across the outstretched paw of a sleeping lion, awakening him from his nap. The king of beasts clapped his paw upon the pitiful creature that squealed: “ Please don’t kill me! The day may come when I can repay your kindness for sparing my life.”

At that, the lion let him go.

Not long afterward, the lion seeking prey in the forest was caught in a hunters’ net. When he let out a mighty roar, the mouse recognized the lion’s voice and ran to the spot where his preserver and friend lay in a tangle of ropes.

“Well, your majesty, said the mouse, “I know you didn’t believe me when I said I would return your kindness, but here’s my chance.” At that, with his sharp teeth, he nibbled on the ropes that bound the lion and set him free.   ~ adapted from Aesop

Screened ink print: C. Joel Beaman

 

Kindness does not Equate to Weakness

Sir Winston Churchill, possibly the greatest statesman of the twentieth century, was the lion that roared when the British Empire needed him most. An excerpt from one of his famous speeches:

Hear this, young men and women everywhere, and proclaim it far and wide. The earth is yours and the fullness thereof. Be kind, but be fierce. You are needed now more than ever before. Take up the mantle of change. For this is your time.

Google Image

 

In my brief hiatus away from blogging, I have had time to think about my purpose for posting here, and how it affects you, dear reader  In short, why am I writing?  Here is a draft of my mission statement.

I write to record memorable stories of faith and family, which provide seeds for transformation into acts of kindness. In so doing, my writing can serve as a guide to inspire others to leave a similar legacy.

 

If you are a blog follower and have been reading my posts for a while, you may have some suggestions to tweak this – either the content or the wording. Fire away – another pair of eyes usually helps.

Your suggestions are always welcome.

Bonus: On Saturday, January 29, 2017, Radio Lab on NPR examined the logic behind sharing, kindness and cooperation. Here is the link to the discussion about the biology, genetics and other research into this fascinating topic. Compelling case studies included.


 

Courtesy Penzey Spices

 

This year I aim to focus on Kindness. God knows, the world needs it!

 

 

 

 

 

How about you? Comments on my mission statement draft . . . thoughts about writing a mission statement . . . reflections on kindness. Let’s get the conversation going!

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson