

A Cherokee Story.

A young boy came to his Grandfather, filled with anger at a another
boy who had done him an injustice.
The old Grandfather said to his grandson "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
hate does not hurt your enemy. Hate is like taking poison and wishing
your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times."
"It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one wolf is good and does
no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offence
when no offence was intended. He will only fight when it is right to
do so, and in the right way. But the other wolf, 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 helpless anger, because his anger
will change nothing. Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves
inside me, because both of the wolves try to dominate my spirit."
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which
wolf will win, Grandfather?" The Grandfather smiled and said, "The one
I feed."