I am currently reading an excellent and lengthy biography of Benjamin Franklin entitled "The First American." One thing I love is that the author consistently uses Franklin's own words throughout the narrative, helping you feel you are truly getting to know Franklin himself. While I have read much that I could post here for it's truthfulness and universal applicability, I want to share one fable I especially loved that illustrates the futility of trying to please everyone (something too many people are loathe to do) and simply reiterates a fact I believe in and that is be yourself in a way that allows you to be content with your standing before God. If you can stand before the Great Judge with peace of mind, don't worry what anyone else has to say about you.
A certain well-meaning man and his son were traveling towards a market town, with an ass which they had to sell. The road was bad, and the old man therefore rode, but the son went afoot. The first passenger they met asked the father if he was not ashamed to ride by himself and suffer the poor lad to wade along through the mire; this induced him to take up his son behind him. He had not traveled far when he met others, who said they were two unmerciful lubbers to get both on the back of that poor ass, in such a deep road. Upon this the old man gets off and let his son ride alone. The next they met called the lad a graceless, rascally young jacka-napes to ride in that manner through the dirt while his aged father trudged along on foot; and they said the old man was a fool for suffering it. He then bid his son come down and walk with him, and they traveled on leading the ass by the halter; till they met another company, who called them a couple of senseless blockheads for going both on foot in such a dirty way when they had an empty ass with them, which they might ride upon. The old man could bear no longer. My son, he said, it grieves me much that we cannot please all these people. Let us throw the ass over the next bridge, and be no farther troubled with him.
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Jeff! Hey cous, how are you? I have recently made my debut into the "blog world" and I"m loving it! I'm finding a ton of old friends and family and seeing what they are up to! Congrats on having baby #2 on the way, hope Alice is doing okay. October will be here soon, and awesome job on grad school! Scary, but really exciting changes for you guys. If you're interested here is our blog: tomandwendymontgomery.blogspot.com Email me back when you get a minute and tell me how everything is going. Tell Alice hello for me (not even sure if she remembers me, I think we only met once or twice). Take care,
Wendy
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