Which one are you? The mouse, the bird, or Sausage?

Way back in the old days, a mouse, a bird, and a sausage lived happily together.
Each worked a different job, and they got along wonderfully.
Everyday the mouse fetched a pot of water.
Everyday the bird gathered wood for the fire.
Everyday the sausage used the water to make soup, and then swam around in it to add a bit of flavor.

Life was good.

BUT you know how it is- when people are doing well, they still seem to wish for something more.

So one morning Bird started complaining. "Mouse, you have such an easy job. You fetch a pot of water in the morning. Then you take the rest of the day off."

"So?" said sausage to the Bird. "All you do is pick up a few twigs."

"oh, yeah?" said BIrd. "Come to think of it, you probably do the least, Sausage. You just swim around a bit."

"I'd like to see you do my job," said Sausage.

"I'd like to see you do my job," said Bird.

"I'd like to see you do my job," said Mouse.
Mouse, Bird and Sausage argued and argued until they finally agreed to settle the matter by switching jobs.

Sausage went out to collect wood. He ran into a dog, who decided to have him for breakfast, and was never seen again.
Bird went to fetch a pot of water. He fell down the well, couldn't fly out because his feathers got wet, and was never heard from again.
When Sausage and Bird did not return, Mouse started a fire and heated the soup from the day before. He climbed into the pot to flavor the boiling soup and quickly lost both his hair and his life.

So give thanks for what you have and what your friends give to you. Otherwise, like Mouse, you might end up in very hot water.

from Thanks and Giving: All year long. Marlo Thomas for the children at St. Judes Hospital.