Fable of the Porcupine

It was the coldest winter ever—many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together. This way they covered and protected themselves; the problem was that the quills of each one wounded their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other.

After awhile they decided to distance themselves one from the other—but they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close relationship with their companions, but the most important part of it was the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive.

Moral of the story: The best relationships are not the ones that bring together perfect people. The best ones are when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person’s good qualities.

- Source unknown; via THE SOWER, a weekly publication of the Arthur church of Christ, Arthur, IL. Ron Bartanen, who serves as minister and editor, may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.arthurchurchofchrist.com