The Wolves Within
A little girl ran into her grandmother’s bedroom and burst into tears. Gradually the girl sobbed the story out as she clung tightly to her grandmother.
There had been a disagreement with a friend. Unkind words were exchanged. Her friend called her a cruel name and embarrassed her. She was angry and wanted revenge.
“May I tell you a story?” asked the grandmother, as she wiped the tears from her granddaughter’s cheeks. “Yes, Grandma, please do. I like stories,” sobbed the girl. So the old woman began..
“Once, when I was about your age, I wanted to make a special present for my mother for her birthday. I decided to make her a necklace. I worked very hard on my present. I carved and shaped the beads myself and painted them with bright colors. Then I strung them together into a beautiful necklace. I was so proud of my work I had to show it to somebody. But I wanted to keep it a secret. So I took it with me when I went swimming with my friend one day and showed it to her. My friend admired the necklace and told me how beautiful it was. Then I put it down with my things and we went swimming.
But while we were getting dried off after our swim, I did not notice that my friend quickly scooped up my necklace, hid it with her things, and went home with it. I forgot about the necklace till I got home. I went back to look for it but it wasn’t there. I was so upset.
The next day I saw my friend wearing the necklace. I demanded it back but she said it was hers. I went to her parents and tried to explain what had happened but she claimed she had made the necklace and her parents believed her. I didn’t want to tell my parents because I wanted to surprise my mother with her present if I happened to get it back. I never did get the necklace back. I felt very angry and hurt.
Every time I saw my friend wearing that necklace, and even today when I see her, it’s like two wolves are fighting within me. One wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with everyone around him. The other wolf is wounded and in pain. That pain and anger drives him to lash out at those who cross his path. He cannot think because his pain and anger and hate are so great.
It is hard to live with these two wolves inside my spirit. They constantly fight. They battle to see which one will dominate my spirit.”
The girl listened silently, looking intently into her grandmother’s eyes.
“Grandmother,” she asked, “Which one wins?”
The girl’s grandmother took her granddaughter’s face in her hands and said, “The one I feed.”
[This story was adapted from a tale by Esther Acosta.]