Once upon a time, there lived a bison who wanted to help other animals, and so spent his life studying medicine to become a doctor.
So it was that the bison came upon a family of mice who were all sick, but they had nothing with which to pay for the doctor's aid. "But without my care, your children will die. I must help, it is my duty," he said.
Without a thought, the doctor gave them his aid, one after the other, and each mouse he healed was grateful. Soon, however, he began to tire and eventually became exhausted, yet still more mice came. "Surely, though, this deed will be worth it in the end," he thought, and strengthened his resolve.
By morning the bison was falling asleep on his feet, and told the mice, "I am sorry, but I must go rest."
"But sir, we still have more sick children."
The bison saw the line of mice reaching as far as he could see, and he despaired.
"The Give Me's in the life for each of us are pain and suffering. Not since the fables of Hans Christian Andersen, has someone so aptly written such heart-touching stories. Doctor Bison shows us how important the doctor-patient relationship is to healing."
-Mark Victor Hansen, #1 NYT
Chicken Soup For The Soul
(R)