The Fox And The Woodcutter

Here’s a fable from Aesop.   A fox, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter felling an oak and begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Woodcutter advised him to take shelter in a hollow log, so the Fox crept in and hid himself.

The huntsman soon came up with his hounds and inquired of the Woodcutter if he had seen the Fox.  He declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he was speaking, to the log where the Fox lay hidden. The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing his word, hastened forward in the chase.

As soon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying, “You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you leave me without a word of thanks.”

The Fox replied, “Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently if your deeds had been as good as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to your speech.”

Moral of the story: Conscience is as answerable for actions as words.

Lesson for today:  Have we visited a loved one today?  If not, then when?  Actions do indeed speak louder than words.  What's on our conscience?

Deacon David Pierce