Later, the lion confronts a deer and bellows, "Who is mightiest of all jungle animals?"

The terrified deer stammers, "Oh, great lion, you are by far the mightiest animal in the jungle!"

On a roll now, the lion swaggers up to an elephant and roars, "Who is mightiest of all jungle animals?"

Fast as lightning, the elephant snatches up the lion with his trunk, slams him against a tree half a dozen times, the lion feeling like it'd been run over by a safari wagon. The elephant then stomped on the lion till it looked like a corn tortilla, and ambled away.

The lion hollered after the elephant, "Hey! Just because you don't know the answer, you don't have to get so angry!"

The lion had good intentions and thought he was correct until he asked the wrong question and did not like the answer. He learned his lesson well. From his response, however, maybe he did not learn that when we take an action it will have a consequence. This is not an uncommon occurrence and many of us have experienced being stomped by an elephant when we failed to think through our actions. He did not intend to make the elephant mad. Had he given his action some consideration and taken a good look at the elephant he might have decided to simply say, “Good morning, sir.” When I write, my wife often tells me to think about what the reader will think. In other words, be sure to say what I intend to say, not what I think I said.

I read a motivational article the other day entitled, Live By Intention, by Ralph Marston. He began his essay with the words, “Think before you do. Don’t just automatically react to life or live by blind faith.” What he is saying is that each of us has the ability to choose the path we will walk each day. I have a friend who was severely injured in Afghanistan. He put it all in perspective when he said,” Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” Where many would have given up this man has taken the terrible wound as a part of his life and pressed on.

What are some other words besides suffering that give us a choice in our reaction?

Worry is a good one. We can choose to worry and become depressed only to find that most of the time the thing we worried about never came to pass, and when it did we had the resources to carry us through it.

Fear is another. This does not include taking reasonable care to avoid danger. It speaks of the kind of fear that locks us in a prison of our own making. It keeps us from enjoying life and being a part of the joy of living.

Anger is a big one. Nothing can make us angry. That is right; no one or nothing can make us angry. We are always angry by our own choice. Anger destroys the angry person. No one is hurt by anger more than the angry person.

Everyday you have the choice to make your day bright and sunny or to walk under a cloud of indecision. Remember the lion. Don’t get stomped by an elephant today.