The Tale Of Two Turkeys

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Two turkeys once lived in a pen with several other turkeys. One turkey was the biggest and finest in the flock. The other was a runt. The big turkey would strut around all day, preening its feathers, and bragging about how good he looked. The second turkey, on the other hand, was an embarrassing specimen -- a more scraggly, pitiful-looking bird was hard to imagine.

One day near Thanksgiving the big turkey was feeling especially haughty when he came upon the little turkey picking at some corn on the ground. "Hi, Little Bit," the big turkey hailed.

"What'cha doin'?"

"Eating," the little turkey replied.

"Well," the big turkey said. "You're going to have to eat a lot more than that if you want to look as good as me. Just look at you! You're little, you're skinny, and your feathers look like an explosion in a silo.

"Doesn't mean a thing," the little turkey replied defiantly. "I may be ugly but, at least, I don't waddle around the pen looking like an overstuffed feather duster."

The big turkey laughed. "All the rest of the turkeys admire me."

"Well, I still don't want to be like you."

"Why not?" asked the big turkey.

"Very simple," said the little turkey. "You see that fellow yonder across the yard, heading straight for us with a hatchet in his hand and a gleam in his eye? I think I know what he wants and, between the two of us, I know he doesn't want me."

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Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2008 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.