Parable of Want

There were two half-brothers who had a common father. The first brother lost his mother when he was born and the father married again a year later. The younger brother was born two years after the first and was the apple of his Mother’s eye. The second wife was by no means an “evil Stepmother” to her husband’s first born son, but she favored her own and never let her son want for anything.

As the boys grew, the first brother did without. He was given nothing and expected nothing. Over the years, he learned that he could get whatever he truly needed by offering to work for neighbors and friends and he remained happy in spite of his situation. He had little, but he grew to need little and was content with his lot.

The second brother seemed on an unending escalation of want. The more he was given, the more he demanded. It was as if there was some great void within him that required ever more valuable tribute. Over the years, he became angry and difficult. He seemed always unhappy and there was seldom any way of placating him.

The elder boy grew to be a kind and helpful man. He lived his life surrounded by friends and left good memories and love in his wake. The second son became more and more isolated. He had a circle of acquaintances that hovered for what he could give them, but he had no true friends. His life lacked any contentment or joy and he left pain and regret behind him.

The Mother/Step-Mother lay on her deathbed and considered her children. Too late did she recognize that the greatest gift she could have given her own son…the single gift that she’d denied him, was the gift of understanding his own heart. Like candy, she had given him food for his desire, but not for his soul. Her gifts and attention had left him without an understanding of himself or others. Without empathy, he was an empty vessel and was lost to himself and his fellow men.

All of us must walk our own path…no one else can walk it for us or remove it from in front of us. We must love and care for each other, but we must let one another find our own way and face our own disappointments. To do too much is to poison the soil in which we grow.