The Shepherd and the Wild Sheep
Once there was a shepherd. Every night he counted and gathered his
sheep. He was sure never to overlook any of them. One night, he saw
some wild sheep had joined his herd. He hoped to acquire the
newcomers.
It snowed that night. In the morning, the shepherd couldn't take his
sheep out of his lodge. Instead, he had to feed them inside. He gave a
small amount of wheat to his own sheep. But he gave more of the food
to the wild sheep. He thought the extra wheat would discourage them
from leaving.
It snowed for several days. During that time, the shepherd's sheep ate
very little. The wild sheep, however, ate very well.
At last, the snow melted, and they ventured outdoors. As soon as he
opened the door of his hut, the wild sheep started to run away.
"Wait! This is how you repay me? After I treated you so kindly, why do
you run away?" the shepherd asked. His voice was full of hatred.
The wild sheep stopped and turned toward the shepherd.
"We're leaving because you fed us better than your own sheep," one of
the wild sheep replied. "You tried to deceive us with your ridiculous
plan. Yesterday you treated us kindly, but tomorrow you might be
different. If more wild sheep joined your herd, you would treat us as
inferior sheep."
As the wild sheep ran away, the shepherd understood his offense. He
knew this awkward situation was his own fault. He had not been a
satisfactory caretaker. He was a fake friend to the wild sheep. Because
of this, he had neglected his own herd.
The Shepherd and the Wild
Sheep
Once there was a shepherd. Every
night he counted and gathered his
sheep. He was sure never to
overlook any of them. One night, he
saw some wild sheep had joined his
herd. He hoped to acquire the
newcomers.
It snowed that night. In the morning,
the shepherd couldn't take his sheep
out of his lodge. Instead, he had to
feed them inside. He gave a small
amount of wheat to his own sheep.
But he gave more of the food to the
wild sheep. He thought the extra
wheat would discourage them from
leaving.
It snowed for several days. During
that time, the shepherd's sheep ate
very little. The wild sheep, however,
ate very well.
At last, the snow melted, and they
ventured outdoors. As soon as he
opened the door of his hut, the wild
sheep started to run away.
"Wait! This is how you repay me?
After I treated you so kindly, why do
you run away?" the shepherd asked.
His voice was full of hatred.
The wild sheep stopped and turned
toward the shepherd.
"We're leaving because you fed us
better than your own sheep," one of
the wild sheep replied. "You tried to
deceive us with your ridiculous plan.
Yesterday you treated us kindly, but
tomorrow you might be different. If
more wild sheep joined your herd,
you would treat us as inferior
sheep."
As the wild sheep ran away, the
shepherd understood his offense.
He knew this awkward situation was
his own fault. He had not been a
satisfactory caretaker. He was a
fake friend to the wild sheep.
Because of this, he had neglected
his own herd.
