The older of my grandsons have now recently discovered the local zoo. Each in turn has visited there with his respective parents. As might be expected, each in turn has also come away enthralled with the vast array of exotic animals on display there.
Apparently, the old adage is true in that the apple does not fall far from the tree. I say this because, as a child, I myself absolutely loved getting to go to the zoo. I was simply fascinated by the sight of “lions and tigers and bears”. And for this reason, as an adult, I often took my children there as well. Now, it seems, they are carrying on a family tradition.
As each of my grandsons involved has excitedly shared his experiences at the zoo with me, a story I once heard has come to mind. I thought I would share it here today for my regular blog post.
It seems that three boys who had recently gone to the zoo later found themselves hauled before the local magistrate. As the story unfolds, the zoo attendant is making his complaint…
“They were causing an awful lot of commotion at the zoo, your Honor,” the zoo attendant said. “Boys,” said the judge, “I never like to hear reports about juvenile delinquency. Now I want each of you to tell me your name and what you were doing wrong.”
“My name is George,” said the first boy, “and all I did was to throw peanuts into the elephant pen.” “My name is Larry,” the second boy chimed in, “and all I did was to throw peanuts into the elephant pen.” “My name is Mike,” added the third boy, “and all I did too was to throw peanuts into the elephant pen.”
“And you,” the judge said to the fourth boy, “what is your part in all of this?” To which the fourth boy responded: “My name is Peanuts!”
Now, none of my grandsons is named “Peanuts”. Nor, thankfully, have any of them ever been thrown into an animal enclosure. But I share this story here simply because we all can use a good laugh every now and then.
Like peanuts in the mouth of an elephant, humor brings a pleasing smile to our faces. Better yet, just as peanuts nourish an elephant’s body, so does humor nourish our souls. As the Biblical Book of Proverbs (chapter 17, verse 22) affirms: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…”
A merry heart… And a healthy soul! Trust me, that ain’t peanuts!
STORY SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for instance, https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/66830.pdf, p. 18.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-22.htm.
Apparently, the old adage is true in that the apple does not fall far from the tree. I say this because, as a child, I myself absolutely loved getting to go to the zoo. I was simply fascinated by the sight of “lions and tigers and bears”. And for this reason, as an adult, I often took my children there as well. Now, it seems, they are carrying on a family tradition.
As each of my grandsons involved has excitedly shared his experiences at the zoo with me, a story I once heard has come to mind. I thought I would share it here today for my regular blog post.
It seems that three boys who had recently gone to the zoo later found themselves hauled before the local magistrate. As the story unfolds, the zoo attendant is making his complaint…
“They were causing an awful lot of commotion at the zoo, your Honor,” the zoo attendant said. “Boys,” said the judge, “I never like to hear reports about juvenile delinquency. Now I want each of you to tell me your name and what you were doing wrong.”
“My name is George,” said the first boy, “and all I did was to throw peanuts into the elephant pen.” “My name is Larry,” the second boy chimed in, “and all I did was to throw peanuts into the elephant pen.” “My name is Mike,” added the third boy, “and all I did too was to throw peanuts into the elephant pen.”
“And you,” the judge said to the fourth boy, “what is your part in all of this?” To which the fourth boy responded: “My name is Peanuts!”
Now, none of my grandsons is named “Peanuts”. Nor, thankfully, have any of them ever been thrown into an animal enclosure. But I share this story here simply because we all can use a good laugh every now and then.
Like peanuts in the mouth of an elephant, humor brings a pleasing smile to our faces. Better yet, just as peanuts nourish an elephant’s body, so does humor nourish our souls. As the Biblical Book of Proverbs (chapter 17, verse 22) affirms: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…”
A merry heart… And a healthy soul! Trust me, that ain’t peanuts!
STORY SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for instance, https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/66830.pdf, p. 18.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/proverbs/17-22.htm.