THE WOLVES

There was an old Indian grandfather, his little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask.

One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face.

Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today."

The boy said, "I went to the town today with my father, to trade furs collected over the past several months.

I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me.

Something that I wanted. 

I was so excited to be in the trading post. 

I have not been there before. 

I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! 

It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me."

The Grandfather, softly placed his hand on the boys raven hair and said, " and then what happened?".

"I went outside to wait and admire my new knife in the sunlight.

Some town boys came by and said that I should not have such a fine knife.

The largest of these boys, pushed me and I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away, laughing."

Here the boy's anger returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!"

Grandfather said, "Let me tell you a story. 

I too, at times, have felt a great hate.

Hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. 

It 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 is white and one is black.

The White Wolf is good and does no harm.

He lives in harmony.

But it will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But, the Black 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...but, his anger will change nothing.

Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for they fight for my spirit.

The boy asked, "Which one wins Grandfather?"

Grandfather, smiled and said, "The one I feed."

~~author unknown~~