OPINION: Puppy parable

Years ago when Waikeria Village existed for prison staff and their families, there was a change of superintendents. The new one invited the women of the village to meet him at an afternoon tea in the community hall. Here, he told the parable of The Twin Puppies that’s worth repeating.

A street dog had identical twin pups. She died leaving her four weeks old orphan pups to survive the best they could. Three days later, a family out walking found one of the pups whining and looking thin and miserable. The boy of the family picked him up and finding no ID on him, the family took the pup home with them and bathed and fed him. As time passed they named him Hero, gave him lots of hugs and taught him a few rules to be obeyed for his good and the good of others. Hero became part of this caring family and grew into a healthy, happy obedient dog. Whenever Hero saw human beings he got excited and wagged his tail as he saw people as his natural friends.

Sadly, no one adopted Hero’s twin brother who was left to fend for himself. Thus, he scratched in rubbish bins for scraps of food and trespassed onto properties to eat the food put out by owners of pets. When people saw this pup in their rubbish bin or stealing their pet’s food they would throw something at it or kick it to get rid of it. Some children threw sticks and stones at him and called him a monster. This unhealthy, unhappy pup started to snarl and show his teeth every time he saw human beings because he saw people as his natural enemies.

Two identical twin dogs. One happy, healthy, friendly and law-abiding. The other unhappy, unhealthy, angry, suspicious and anti-social. What did the superintendent hope we would get from this parable (a story with an underlying meaning)?

For me, the Bible gives its underlying meanings. ‘Treat others as we want them to treat us.’ So may we treat everyone with respect and kindness and look for the good in them to bring out the best in them. Also, Scripture asks us not to judge others. What our eyes see and ears hear can be insufficient information to make a correct judgment. We don’t know the full background and life experiences that have helped to shape others. Also, a person's behaviour can, unbeknownst to us, change.