Mother Crab and Baby Crabs
There was a mother crab and her little ones, living happily on an island. One day the mother crab thought: however much I try, I can’t walk straight. At least I must teach my little ones to walk straight. They should learn to walk straight with their heads high before all other creatures.
So the mother gathered her little ones on the beach, put them in a straight line and started the lessons in straight walking.
“Like all other creatures you too must learn to walk straight so that you don’t have to be ashamed of yourselves before them. Learn to walk straight with you heads high”, she told the little ones. And she started walking ahead of them. “Come, follow me”, she told the little ones.
“I can’t walk straight….I am tired” complained one after a while.
“I can’t hold my head high…” said another.
“Mom, you are walking side-wise. Why don’t you walk straight and show us how to do that?” asked the youngest one.
Yes, they are right. I must try to walk straight before I teach them to do that, the mother said to herself. May be I am asking for too much from them, may be the impossible. May be one day they will realise the need for it themselves and start doing that. I must allow them to grow….at their own pace…..
And the crabs continue to walk side-wise even today…said the Master.
Those who have ears, let them hear, he added. But they will not, lest they understand and be converted.”
God Bless YOu
Fr Eugene Lobo SJ
