We often hear little tidbits of information that help to guide us through life and allow us to make decisions that will keep us and others safe. One that may come to your mind is ‘look before you leap’, and it can certainly keep us safe because it allows us to sum up a situation before we take any action. Not only can it help to maintain safety, it can keep us from being embarrassed by sticking our foot in our mouth after we say something without understanding what is really going on. In the following story, however, one dog owner took drastic measures and found out too late that she did so too quickly.
This dog was so faithful and well-behaved that the woman who owned it could leave her baby with the dog, and even leave to attend to business. Her job as a doctor required her to be away from her child. She always returned to find the child soundly asleep with the dog faithfully watching over him. One day something tragic happened.
The woman, as usual, left the baby in the “hands” of this faithful dog and went to attend to a medical emergency in the hospital. When she returned, she discovered rather a nasty scene, there was a total mess. The baby’s cot was dismantled, his nappies & clothes torn to shreds with bloodstains all over the bedroom where she left the child & the dog. Shocked, the woman wailed as she began looking for the baby.
All of a sudden, she saw the faithful dog emerging from under the bed. It was covered with blood and licking its mouth as if it had just finished a delicious meal.
The woman got angry and assumed that the dog had devoured her baby. Without much thought, she beat the dog with a piece of wood to death. But as she continued searching for the “remains” of her child, she beheld another scene.
Close to the bed was the baby who, although lying bare floor, was safe & under the bed where the body of a snake was torn to pieces in what had been a fierce battle between the snake and the dog which was now dead. Then reality dawned on the woman who now began to understand what took place in her absence. The dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous snake.
It was too late for her now to make amends because, in her impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog. How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds with harsh words and deeds before we have had time to evaluate the situation?.
This is called ‘ERROR OF PRESUMPTION’. Presuming things our way without taking the trouble to find out exactly what the situation really is. A little patience can drastically reduce major lifelong mistakes. Who are tou misjudging right now? Don’t think what you think others are thinking, Take time to get the whole truth. Or tragedy can strike.
