This is another Facebook message I received from a friend. It is something to think about as we go about our daily lives.

A mouse, looking through a hole in the wall, sees the farmer and his wife open a package. He was terrified to see that it was a mousetrap. He ran to the patio to warn everyone.

“There is a mousetrap at home?” The chicken that was cackling and digging said, “Excuse me, Mr. Mouse, I understand that it is a big problem for you, but it does not hurt me at all.”

So, the rodent went to the lamb and said the same thing: “Excuse me Mr. Mouse, but I don’t think I can do more than pray for you.”

The mouse went to the cow and she said, “But, am I in danger? I think not.” The mouse returned to the house, worried and dejected to face the farmer’s mousetrap.

That night a great noise was heard like that of the mousetrap catching its victim. The woman ran to see what she had caught.  In the dark she did not see that the mousetrap caught the tail of a poisonous snake. The speedy snake bit the woman and the farmer immediately took her to the hospital where she came back with a high fever

The farmer to comfort his wife prepared a nutritious soup, grabbed the knife and went to find the main ingredient, the chicken. Since the woman did not improve, friends and neighbors went to visit them and the farmer killed the lamb to feed them.  The woman did not get better and died. In the end, the husband sold the cow to a slaughterhouse to cover the funeral expenses.

The next time someone tells you about their problems and you think it doesn’t affect you because they’re not yours and you don’t pay attention to it, think twice. He who doesn’t live to serve, doesn’t serve to live.”

The world is not going badly because of the wickedness of the bad people, but because of the apathy of the good. So, when someone needs you to help them with their problems, give them your hand or give them a word of encouragement.  May you never lack empathy! Remember it very well…EMPATHY.                                                                            Author unknown

We can see the similarity of the tale and these writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who spoke out against the Nazis during the time of the Holocaust.  “ First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then the came for the Socialists and the Trade Unions, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And then they came for me. There was no one left to speak out for me.”

Bonhoeffer was captured by the Nazis, imprisoned in a concentration camp and then moved to Flossenburg Concentration Camp where he died.  The above words were written from the camp.

He also wrote these words which apply to the story above even more. “The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists of listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to His word, so the beginning of love for our brothers and sisters is learning to listen to them.”

Do we take time to listen to our neighbors and help them when they need us most? Do we strive to live like God, who in His unconditional love would want us to do?  I know I could use some work in this area and I pray God will help me to live with more love and empathy. Thanks be to God!

Patty