We do not put ourselves first in order to forsake others. To give love and light to others, it must first be nurtured at the source.
This one is for all my altruistic peeps out there. For those who have felt limitations in being able to care for themselves while caring for others. For those who have had an issue with finding balance in their life and more often than not end up sacrificing their own wants and needs to care for others.
I thought it was selfish to ever put myself first. In time, I realized that if I didn’t care for myself then I would be incapable of helping others. It’s all a part of walking my path. I still need a reminder from time to time that it is okay to think of myself, but it’s all about taking one step after another.
Loving others starts with loving yourself. Be aware of how much you can give others and at what point it begins to stunt your own growth.
So this one is for me, for you, and anyone else who has felt torn over loving themselves. I hope you enjoy.
Some people may see your focus on personal growth as being selfish and try to twist or diminish your truth…as long as you stay true to your divine purpose and intent, in time they will see who you truly are. Shine bright.
Join the Newsletter!
Subscribe to stay up-to-date on our latest content and freebies!
The Tree & The Bird
~5 min. read (1,200 words)
One spring a newborn bird fell from it’s mother’s nest and landed on the ground near a small tree sapling.
“Are you alright?” Tree asked.
“I think so,” Bird replied, “but I cannot return home and I need food and shelter or I will surely die.”
“You may stay with me,” Tree responded. “I do not have much food, but there is enough that I can share to keep us both and you may sit under my branches although they are thin and sparse.”
“Why can I not sit within your branches?” Bird asked, because his old home was safest when nestled there in the old tree.
“I am not as strong as your old tree and do not have enough strength to carry you, but I will grow and you can make your home there when I am ready. For now I can provide leaves and twigs to help you build a nest on the ground.”
Bird would prefer to be off the ground, but found Tree’s offer
to be reasonable so stayed quiet and focused on making his nest with the provided resources.
After some time Bird began to get hungry and called to the sapling, “Tree, I am now hungry. Do you have food you can share with me?”
“There are bugs in my branches I can shake loose for you,” and with that Tree shook itself and the bird ate the bugs that fell to the ground.
The bird ate until full, but grew thirsty from eating. “Tree,” Bird called yet again. “Do you also have water to share?”
“I have water, but I require some for myself in order to grow. I will share what I can,” Tree said and released some water from its roots to rise to the surface of the ground in a puddle for Bird to drink from.
“Is that all the water I can have?” Bird questioned. “I would like more to wash my feathers as well.”
“This is all I can share right now,” Tree responded. “If I give you water for washing I will not have enough to grow. It will not benefit either of us if I cannot grow.”
Bird was upset he could not have more water, but once again he did not see how he could argue with Tree since he was at least getting something.
Day by day they continued this pattern, and both Bird and Tree began to grow. Tree grew thicker and taller and sprouted more branches. Bird grew bigger as well, but he also grew more frustrated that he was stuck on the ground although Tree was getting taller.
“Now that you have grown you can surely allow me on your branches,” Bird called out to Tree.
“Not yet,” Tree responded. “I am taller than I was, but not as strong as I need to be to carry more than myself. I can shelter you near my trunk though, and still provide bugs when you are hungry and water when you thirst.”
Bird was getting impatient, but once again Tree’s response was reasonable, especially since Bird’s basic needs were being met. Bird was still upset though because he wanted to be off the ground and washing daily.
“Is there still no extra water for me to wash?” Bird couldn’t help asking.
“Unfortunately no, but there is a stream I can hear nearby that I know you could reach now that you are bigger if you would like to bathe,” Tree offered.
Bird thought about it for a moment and then sighed, “I don’t feel like venturing out so I guess I don’t need to bathe.”
More time passed and Tree grew even taller and wider and finally the day had come. “Bird, thank you for your patience. I have now grown large enough that I can carry you on my branches as you have wished.
With my full leaves I also create enough shade to keep water from evaporating at the base of my trunk so you may bathe whenever you want here.”
The tree searched for the Bird, but could not see him. “Bird,” he called. “Where are you?”
After some time there was a response. “I am here,” the Bird called faintly from the ground and came out from under one of Tree’s large, fallen leaves.
“I can barely hear you, please fly up here so we can speak without problem,” Tree called.
“I’m afraid I cannot,” Bird replied. “You see, I do not know how to fly.”
Tree was saddened and confused. “Why not?”
Bird was silent a moment, but soon began to speak. “I did not learn to fly because I have been busy thinking of all the ways you were not focusing on me or providing me with what I asked for. But now I see you were focusing on your growth in order to provide me with the things I have asked for.
“There is more food than I could ever eat, there is a nest among your branches in which I can sleep, and there is a pond under your canopy where I can bathe every day. You have provided me everything I have asked for while still handling your own needs.
“But while you were patiently focused on growing towards your goals, I was impatient and only focused on all the ways your actions were not addressing my immediate wants. I thought every day about what I wanted, but I did not think about what I needed to do to be able to achieve it. It is too late for me. How am I ever to learn now?” Bird began to cry.
Tree thought for some time about his friend. “It is not too late,” Tree responded gently. “You have accomplished more than you know. You may not realize, but you helped me get where I am now.”
Bird looked up, “How could I have done that?”
“You helped me grow by eating the bugs that would have surely eaten all my precious leaves or burrowed deep in my trunk.” Tree said.
Bird had not thought about how he could have been helping Tree and was going to say so, but Tree continued speaking.
“I was very lonely as a sapling before you joined me, and I didn’t have purpose to keep growing. It is because of your company, caring for you, and our daily talks that helped me grow as quickly as I did.”
Bird was overcome with appreciation as he took in Tree’s words and he felt bad for all of the negative thoughts he carried about his friend.
“I never said it before, but I realize I should have,” Bird said. “Thank you for everything you did to help me grow. I realize it was not selfish of you to focus on your own growth, because focusing on your growth incorporated caring for me as well. I was the selfish one for demanding more than you were able to give, rather than learning how I could provide for myself. Can you forgive me?”
Tree smiled down at Bird and Bird knew it wasn’t too late. With Tree’s friendship and support he soon learned to fly and with his new ability he found ways to care for Tree as well.
The End
Read More Like This:
7 Easy Ways to Practice Gratitude Every Day
Metaphor & Mindset #1: A Laugh in a Sea of Sadness
15 Ways to Make Happiness a Habit
