The one you feed

I came across a Cherokee parable that told the story about the fight between good and evil, in the form of two wolves, that live within a person. A good wolf and a bad wolf. I took the story and re-wrote it as a song. This is not the complete song, there is also a bridge and then the chorus repeats, but what I have posted here completes the story.

An old Cherokee Chief, with his grandson by his side

Told a story to the young boy as he listened open eyed.

He said a terrible fight between two wolves goes on inside of you,

And inside me and every man and every woman too.

The one wolf he is evil, anger, sorrow, lies,

Hatred and resentment, arrogance, and pride.

His eyes and teeth are yellow, and his fur is dark as night.

Each day he meets another wolf and the two of them must fight.

The second is a good wolf, his coat is white as snow,

He is love and peace and happiness, all the goodness we could know.

Compassion, truth and kindness, generosity, and joy.

The old man told the story he’d learned as a boy.

The young boy thought about the wolves the ones that fought within,

He looked up at his grandpa and asked him, which one wins.

The old man sat silent, let him think on it a while,

Then with love he stroked the young boy’s hair, answered with a smile.

The one you feed, becomes the stronger of the two,

The good or bad, the choice is up to you.

Know deep inside a good wolf lives within,

And his evil adversary, you decide who wins.

The one you feed, is the one that will prevail,

Give the good wolf strength as they fight tooth and nail.

Your thoughts are what they feed on, and the one that will succeed.

Is the wolf that gets most nourishment, the one you feed. 

In these hard times when there is so much hatred in the world, it is good to be reminded that thoughts are powerful. Good or bad thoughts can become good or bad actions. I try to be mindful of what I wish for and be kind to others in thought word or deed. Even when others around me are not always kind to me.