Daily Thought For February 4, 2015
The Two Wolves Inside
An old man once said to his grandson, who was angry over an injustice received from a friend, "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 hoping your enemy will die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."
He went on, "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 fight only 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.
"Sometimes, 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, Grandpa?"
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."
If you choose to go crazy every time someone crosses you, you will be feeding the angry wolf inside, and it will dominate your life. If you choose a different response to your angry feelings, you will begin to live more and more in peace. You will be happier, and so will all your friends and neighbors.
from Overcoming Sinful Anger—How to Master Your Emotions & Bring Peace to Your Life by Reverend T.G. Morrow p.15-17