This is a true story of a baby hippo named Owen and a 130 year old giant tortoise named Mzee. Before the baby hippo became known as Owen, he lived with his mother in a group of about 20 other hippos around a river in Africa.
In 2004 a tsunami hit the country of Kenya, Africa... caused by the earthquake in Southeast Asia. All the hippos were washed away except for a single baby hippo, who was stranded out in the sea on a sandy coral reef among the sea grass. He was too tired and weak to be able to swim to shore, and would surely die in the salt grass reef.
The baby hippo was rescued by the villagers and taken to an animal sanctuary. When Owen was released into the park he ran directly to Mzee, a very large Tortoise and got behind him; the way baby hippos often hide behind their mothers for protection. Now Mzee actually was a but of a bully to other animals, he was not friendly at all, preferring to never be around any other animal.
However for some reason he befriended the baby hippo. He allowed Owen to snuggle up against his shell at night. Mzee didn't seem to mind, he didn't walk away or snap at the baby hippo. The next day they were seen together. Soon the pair was inseparable. They ate together, they swam together and they slept together. The park staff watched in amazement as the two always stuck together... each taking turns at being the leader on their walks. Even more amazing is when they would gently nuzzle each other for many minutes throughout the day.
So what does this story have to do with us?
These animals have feelings just like we do. Like the hippos, each of us may sometimes feel isolated, alone and afraid. Sometimes like the tortoise, we may look at others a being a bit different; maybe even a bit grouchy or mean.
As people, we often hide behind walls of deception. Some of us "put on a happy face," when inside our heart is sad. Others may put on a face of hardness or meanness to isolate them-selves; not so much because they do not like other people, but to hide the bruised feelings deep inside.
In either situation, most often, most often we desperately want to have someone show compassion, kindness and love to us. We need to remember that we cannot see in the hearts of others, we do not know the burdens they carry. We are not to judge. Christ shows His love for all of us. Christ loves us even in spite of our flaws and so we should do likewise.
Let us never forget that the Lord gave us this commandment to love God and to love one another. We cannot love God without loving out neighbor, and we cannot truly love our neighbor without loving God. If we are to have this love of with the Savior spoke, and which he emphasized as being the most important thing in life, it must begin in the home and then carried into our daily lives.
One cannot overemphasize the importance and value of being considerate and kind. If we treat our families with love and kindness we will be more likely to treat others this way.
*Sister Harding encouraged us to take time to write a note to someone and let them know how much we appreciate them, or are thinking of them, or that we love them.
Matthew 7:12 "all things whatsoever ye would that me should do to you do you, do ye even so to them."
Often the greatest demonstrations of love are the simple acts of kindness we extend to others; even a simple gesture like smiling at someone can have a huge impact. Would you believe that it takes more muscles to frown that it does to smile? (just a little fyi)
President James E. Faust said, " Kindness shapes our character and makes us more like our Father in Heaven."
President Hinckley asked, "Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? why can't all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us?
This statement makes me feel so sad. I'm sure Heavenly Father weeps over the way we sometimes treat one another. If we could remember we are all children of God, do you think our attitude towards another would change? Do you think we would be more patient with others; or more understanding?
Matthew 25:40 reads, "inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me."
So if we are showing kindness to someone it is like we are showing kindness to Christ. On the other hand in Matt 25:45 it reads, "inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me."
Which means if we look away like one of the men in the Good Samaritan story, we turn away from helping someone - showing kindness or love; we are turning away from Christ.
Christ is a perfect example of kindness of love. Throughout His earthly ministry, Christ showed His love. In His las moments of His mission of earth Christ suffered the unthinkable... and yet still He pleaded to the Father to forgive those who were causing his suffering, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."
May we pattern our lives after the Savior. Reaching out to one another as the Savior did; always showing love and kindness no matter what our circumstance or situation may be.
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