Western society today, at least in regard to relationships, has the precise mindset of the grasshopper, instead of the ant.
If you’re unfamiliar with the tale of the grasshopper and the ant, or even if you’ve heard it before a few times already, allow me to regale you with this old yarn, and tell you what it has to do with how you ought to run your new relationship.
The Grasshopper and the Ant
One summer, a grasshopper sat chirping his song merrily in the fields, enjoying the fresh air and warm sun. By the by, an ant trudged by, off to the day’s work. As the grasshopper sat throughout the day, content with his lot and not a care in the world, the ant passed him back and forth, sometimes carrying a parcel of food, sometimes some other supplies for the ant colony, but always some burden that the grasshopper was sure he was not going to enjoy himself.
“Friend Ant,” the grasshopper finally called, “why do you burden yourself so? The day is beautiful; the air is fresh, the sun is warm, and to spend this glorious day at work is waste of the highest order. Come sit with me and enjoy the spectacular weather Mother Nature has provided for us to drink in.”
The ant, not even stopping along the trail, turned to the grasshopper and said, “Friend Grasshopper, now may be a beautiful day indeed, but I make preparations now, for things will not always be so wonderful. And preparations made today will allow me to be happy and content later. I advise you, do not waste all the day in idleness, but make yourself ready now for the days when the air is not as fresh and the sun not as warm.”
The grasshopper scoffed at this, and continued his enjoyment; the ant paid him no mind, and continued his work. Things went by like this all the rest of the summer, with the grasshopper chirping away in contentedness, and the ant slaving and sweating to make his preparations.
The seasons changed, and went from summer to autumn, autumn to winter. Like the ant had warned, the air turned less fresh, and the sun grew far less warm. Snow began to fall, and soon it covered the land.
One particularly bitter and frozen night, with the cold winds howling and the snow fiercely falling, the ant, warm and content in his home, with a bright fire burning and a pot full of stew almost ready for dinner, heard a knock at his door.
“Who could this be, now, in the dead of winter?” the ant asked himself. He opened the door to peak outside.
“Friend Ant,” cried the grasshopper, his teeth chattering and his knees knocking, “I beg you, please let me in! I’ve nothing to eat and no fire to warm myself by, and I fear this winter will be the death of me.”
“Friend Grasshopper,” said the ant in reply, “if but I had enough, I would, but alas I only have enough food and fuel to support myself through the winter. If I let you stay here, we would be out of stores halfway through winter, and then we both would freeze and starve. You should have taken my advice; he who contents himself with happiness now in place of preparation must be ready to accept unhappiness later from lack of preparedness.”
Discussion about this post