Gratitude

 

Be Grateful

Once upon a time there lived a non-conforming young bird. When winter came, all his family and friends began to fly south. He didn't want to fly south with the rest of the birds, he was stubborn and wanted to stay right where he was. They warned him that not only would his odds of survival drop if he lost the protection of the flock, he would stand out and be alone to predators, and, he might freeze to death. He insisted he would be fine, and let the last of the flock depart. The first few days were increasingly challenging, but he held out as long as he could, until it got so cold that he had no choice but to start flying south.

Not long after he began, it started to snow, which weighed down his wings and caused him to tire. He had to glide for longer periods than usual while he tried to catch his breath. Eventually, while gliding, his wings iced and froze and he fell to the ground.  Landing in a farmers barnyard, he despaired of his fate.  He thought for sure he was doomed, as the snow began to fall more heavily and rapidly.

Just as he was about to pass out, possibly for the last time, he heard the sound of what seemed like a large animal’s footsteps approaching. A big cow stopped and sh*t on the poor sparrow. The little sparrow thought to himself that this was a horrible way to die, alone and in a pile of cow sh*t.  Soon enough the warm manure began to melt the snow and unfreeze his wings. Within minutes, he was unfrozen, able to breath easily, and happy to be alive.

He was so happy to be alive, warm, and breathing easily that he started to sing. A the farmer's cat happened to be walking by, heard the singing, found the bird, dug him out, and ate him.

Three morals:

First, not everyone who sh*ts on you is your enemy.

Second, not everyone who pulls you out of sh*t is your friend.

Third, if you are warm and happy, even if you are in a pile of sh*t, keep your mouth shut.