THE TWO GOATS
TWO GOATS, frisking gayly on the rocky steeps of a mountain valley, chanced to meet, one on each side of a deep chasm through which poured a mighty mountain torrent. The trunk of a fallen tree formed the only means of crossing the chasm, and on this not even two squirrels could have passed each other in safety. The narrow path would have made the bravest tremble. Not so our Goats. Their pride would not permit either to stand aside for the other.
One set her foot on the log. The other did likewise. In the middle they met horn to horn. Neither would give way, and so they both fell, to be swept away by the roaring torrent below.
It is better to yield than to come to misfortune through stubbornness.
![[Illustration]](http://www.mainlesson.com/books/winter/aesop/zpage036.gif)
This is one of our fables this week, and the moral was Super-boy’s copywork today. It has me thinking a lot about stubbornness and people’s inability to move past “being right.”
We are always the goat, aren’t we? The one who is right, the one who knows what’s best.
We can’t possibly be that other goat. You know, the one who is stubborn, the one who is so obviously wrong.
My way or the highway. Is that you? It’s me more often than I care to admit. But, other than a fleeting sense of justification, how often has “being right” made me happy? How often does “being right” make you happy? Every person has control issues. Some are more severe than others.
How much have your control issues truly hurt you in the long run?
A lot, you say?
Perhaps it’s time to stop being a goat, period. I know. I am working on that one too.
5 comments
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January 31, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Beth
I love Aesop. Great tales with awesome messages for all ages.
I know that I can be a stubborn goat at times but I also feel as if I’m the goat that gives in alot and let’s everyone else have their way…….
January 31, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Beth C.
Find me a story about the goat who falls into the chasm because she’s frozen by indecision over which way to walk! That’s me!
February 2, 2008 at 4:49 am
goodwitch
I just wanted to say how very happy it makes me to read your blog — My list of whys could go on and on, but mostly it comes down to an appreciation of the diversity and yet sameness found in our little homeschooling world. Isn’t it representative of our similar hopes and wishes for our children that all these different races, religions, and nationalities are making the same choices….I hope it will make a difference to how my beautiful children see the world.
February 3, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Hadias
It’s sad to see how many marriages end in divorce for this very reason. I remind myself that the one who has the most to loose should be the first to give in. Now does that mean that my husband has less to loose by us divorcing? By no means. What I do think is that I can only take responsibilty for my actions and by that…if humbling myself for the sake of saving our marriage means giving up being right…then so be it.
I have learned a long time ago that God didn’t tell me to be submissive simply because I was the weaker vessel, but beacause He made me strong enough to endure it.
Beautiful, yet timeless literary reminder. Thanks Becky.
May 23, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Anna Robin
I love that story, and my children too
Thanks Becky!