A TALE OF TWO FISHES

                          A big fish and a small fish lived in a large pond. The big fish was proud of his size and strength and used to laugh at the small fish. He mocked at the small fish boastfully, “How dare you talk to me? You are too small and silly. I am so strong and stout. You are too tiny and frail. It is a shame to say that you belong to the family of fishes.” But the small fish loved his big brother and respected him. Suddenly a net was lowered by a fisherman to catch the fishes.

                          Both of them were caught in the net, but the small fish could easily escape through a mesh of the net.  The large fish was caught in the net, entangled and entrapped in its meshes. The small fish saw sadly his big friend being caught in the net and raised from the water. The net was carried to the land. The haughty big fish jumped in vain to escape. He lost his breath and perished. But the small fish swam silently across the pond to a safer spot, worried about the fate of his friend.

                          Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall. No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin. Pride goes before a fall.

                          The Bible teaches that everyone who makes himself great will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be made great.

                       A famous proverb in Malayalam may be translated as:

“Water flows to a lower land;

Grace of God to a lowly mind.”
                          D. L. Moody said that God has two thrones: one in the highest heavens, the other in the lowliest heart.
                          It is sometimes safer and sweeter to be small and insignificant. Ben Jonson (1572-1637), in his famous poem on true growth, comments on the contrasting characteristics of a little lily and a gigantic oak tree. He concludes,

“A lily of a day

Is fairer far in May.

Although it fall and die that night,

It was the plant and flower of light.

In small proportions we just beauties see;

And in short measures life may perfect be.”

                          Humility is the greatest of graces. Humility is a strange quality. The moment one thinks he has it, he loses it!

……………………………………………………………….

                 © By: Prof. Dr. Babu Philip, Darsana Academy, Kottayam-686001, Kerala, India ( Former Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India), Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally,  Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India.

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