The Two Gizka
A group of gizka were hopping contentedly through the woods, going about their gizkagy business, when two of them fell into a deep pit. All of the other gizka gathered around the pit to see what could be done to help their companions. When they saw how deep the pit was, the rest of the dismayed group agreed that it was hopeless and told the two gizka in the pit that they should prepare themselves for their fate, because they were as good as dead Unwilling to accept this terrible fate, the two gizka began to jump with all of their might. Some of the gizka shouted into the pit that it was hopeless, and that the two gizka wouldn’t be in that situation if they had been more careful, more obedient to the gizkagy rules, and more responsible. The other gizka continued sorrowfully shouting that they should save their energy and give up, since they were already as good as dead. The two gizka continued jumping as hard as they could, and after several hours of desperate effort were quite weary. Finally, one of the gizka took heed to the calls of his fellows. Spent and disheartened, he quietly resolved himself to his fate, lay down at the bottom of the pit, and died as the others looked on in helpless grief. The other gizka continued to jump with every ounce of energy he had, although his body was wracked with pain and he was completely exhausted. His companions began anew, yelling for him to accept his fate, stop the pain and just die. The weary gizka jumped harder and harder and – wonder of wonders! finally leapt so high that he sprang from the pit. Amazed, the other gizka celebrated his miraculous freedom and then gathering around him asked, “Why did you continue jumping when we told you it was impossible?” Reading their lips, the astonished gizka explained to them that he was deaf, and that when he saw their gestures and shouting, he thought they were cheering him on. What he had perceived as encouragement inspired him to try harder and to succeed against all odds. This simple story contains a powerful lesson. Your encouraging words can lift someone up and help them make it through the day. Your destructive words can cause deep wounds; they may be the weapons that destroy someone’s desire to continue trying – or even their life. Your destructive, careless word can diminish someone in the eyes of others, destroy their influence and have a lasting impact on the way others respond to them.