A large crowd of people gathered near an enclosure in the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston as a peacock slowly spread his great tail and displayed its stunning plumage.
The great bird stood erect and noble and strutted regally. Just then an old, dun-colored duck waddled slowly from the pond and passed between the proud peacock and the admiring crowd.
Enraged, the peacock drove the duck back to the water. In a moment, the beautiful bird had become ugly with fierce anger. The plain and awkward duck, having returned to its natural habitat, was no longer unbecoming. In the water it swam and dived gracefully, unaware that many eyes were watching.
The people who had admired the peacock loved the duck. Each of us is reminded of the dangers of pride, and that happiness comes from just being ourselves.
Thanks to Carlton Van Ornum and Jerry L. Schmalenberger
My Commentary:
The peacock was breathtaking. Its magnificent feathers shimmered with brilliant colors. The crowd stood spellbound. Then an ordinary brown duck waddled into view, and in seconds, the peacock’s beauty turned ugly.
Furious that this awkward little creature had stolen the spotlight, the peacock angrily chased it away.
But something wonderful happened. The duck slipped into the pond and began swimming with effortless grace. Suddenly, the crowd discovered a different kind of beauty.
What a marvelous lesson about life! Some people spend their lives trying to impress others with their wealth, appearance, accomplishments, or importance. But the moment pride turns into arrogance, their beauty disappears. We see this happen all too often in America.
Jesus understood this. He said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” God didn’t create us to compete with one another. He created each of us with unique gifts.
The duck didn’t need the peacock’s feathers to be beautiful. It simply needed to be itself. And so do we.
True beauty isn’t found in being admired. It’s found in being an authentic, humble, and loving person.
Remember, God doesn’t ask you to be somebody else. He asks you to become the beautiful person He created you to be.
Who do YOU know that is an authentic, humble and loving person who is not necessarily attractive to the eye?
I’M ALWAYS HAPPPY FOR PEOPLE WHEN I SEE GOD BLESSING THEM THE WAY GOD HAS BLESSED ME!
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