Hercules and the Mouse

Some years ago, we had a HUGE (125 pounds of muscle and energy) German Shepherd, Hercules, who didn’t like to share his food.  We fed him just outside the sliding glass door.  Sometimes, he would leave a little food in his dish.  A mouse showed up for dinner one afternoon.  Herk, trapped inside the house and forced to watch this mouse munch on his kibble, went wild.  The mouse happily sat in the middle of Herk’s bowl and ate.  (I think it had a smirk on its tiny face.) 

Next meal, Herk ate every piece of kibble and licked the bowl clean.  He wasn’t about to let that mouse get so much as a nibble of his kibble.  He came back inside, pleased with himself. 

The mouse returned. Finding nothing, he looked at Hercules, squatted and left his business card in the middle of the bowl.  

It wouldn't have cost Hercules anything to share with the tiny mouse.  Herk had plenty of food, a roof over his head, and a family who loved him.  The little mouse only needed what amounted to one piece of kibble, but Herk never learned to share.  And eventually the defiant little mouse left in search of someone more generous. 

When you have more than enough, are you willing to share with those less fortunate?

Do you ever find yourself jealous without good reason?