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.
Love this post – and also the new look of your blog!
Thank you for commenting with a compliment. As an artist/photographer with a keen eye, your opinion matters. 🙂
I think your mission statement is perfect. Brilliant, actually. And the same for this post. xo
Two stamps of approval, Pam. Thanks and thank you for your patience in getting back to you on this one. For a while, this post was being published on two separate sites. I hope my handyman has fixed that.
I got two announcements of this blog, Marian. One from Marian Beaman and one from Plain and Fancy Girl. They both bring me to this page. So, I ask, where are your usual followers? I wonder if I’m in the wrong spot or if your mailing list isn’t going to everyone or what’s going on, but something is amiss. I’m glad I’m here, so now to the pleasant part of dealing with changing your website all around.
The new blog appearance is lovely and spacious, as I think I mentioned before. Your mission statement is desperately needed in our world. Mission statements are hard to write. Yours is a good one, but it doesn’t hint at the whimsical side of you that’s often obvious in your writing, reflections, family treasures, and images of the grandchildren and the old ones. (I think of the delight in your aunt’s face as she was shown photos on your laptop.) I don’t know how to include that delight which you freely share. I send you sweet blessings as you begin another time of service. May it yield big treasures.
As I mentioned to Pamela, this post had been published on two separate sites. It has taken more than a hard hat and steel-toed boots to fix that.
A commenter via email has hinted at how to streamline the wording of the statement, but she didn’t mention the lack of whimsy. Give me some time to think about that. I think you have a valid point here. Maybe other commenters will find just the right phrasing. I consider my statement a first draft both in content and wording.
Thank you, Elaine!
Marian — I love your mission statement!
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” —Dalai Lama
Everything about you, your writings and your lifestyle prove the truth of that statement. Thank you, Laurie 🙂
I like the mission statement but have a couple of suggestions to tighten it up. I like the idea of adding something whimsical. How about something like this –
I write to record memorable and fun stories of faith and family, providing seeds for transformation into acts of kindness that may serve as a guide to inspire others while making people smile.
Just another thought.
That’s great, Darlene! I saved your email from the post originally published because I was hoping you would follow up, and you did, getting rid of so much verbiage.
Here’s what you wrote last week: I write to record memorable stories of faith and family, providing seeds for transformation into acts of kindness that may serve as a guide to inspire others to leave a similar legacy. I like the idea that you detect whimsy in my tone. I’ll work on that.