The Frog & The Scorpion: A Poignant Fable For Those Divorcing
A Scorpion was travelling about through the world when he happened by a river. Seeing a Frog close by he said, “Hey Frog, I need to get across this river. How about if I jump on your back and you carry me across?”
The Frog vehemently shook her head: “NO WAY. You’re a Scorpion! As soon as we arrive on the other side, you’ll sting me and kill me!”
“Frog, that’s simply not true. For your act of great kindness, I assure you I will not kill or harm you in any way.”
“How do I know you won’t decide to sting me as soon as we get close to shore then?” asked the Frog unconvinced.
“It’s not in my best interest to do so,” replied the Scorpion. “I hate the water. I would die too cause I can not swim at all. I really just want to continue on my travels.”
The Frog thought for a moment; the Scorpion seemed very sincere. Then: “Alright. Climb aboard.” And off they went into the river.
Midway across, the Frog suddenly felt the Scorpion’s stinger in her back. “What did you do that for?” she screamed. “You said you wouldn’t sting – that it wasn’t in your best interest. Now we’re both going to die!”
“I couldn’t help it,” replied the Scorpion. “It’s just part of my nature.”
Do you have a Scorpion in your life? I do. And I wonder how many times I’ll put myself at risk by trusting when I shouldn’t. It’s hard to phathom, but some people’s natures just are what they are; even if they’re the opposite of our own.
8 comments
It took me 10 years to realize I would get stung every time. Stupid frog that I am. I thought there was goodness somewhere inside. I’m done taking risks!
It is sad but we have to learn to recognize a scorpion and deal accordingly. Not let our own innate sense of right and wrong cause us harm from someone who does not know right from wrong.
Very appropriate parable for many of us. Great post! (Here’s hoping we learn to discern with the years and experience…)
My daughter is living a life of verbal and emotional abuse. The worst part of it, it’s the fact that there is nothing I can do legally to prevent her from living this situation. She has a 5 month old baby, and the husband and his abusive family constantly threaten to take her baby away if she does not comply with their wishes. Her response to me, after my attempts to help her, is that she is fine, it does not bother her, and asks me to stay away from the situation. I am not the only one seen such abuse. All of her closest friends are concerned, and have told me that they avoid going out with her, when her husband is around, because he constantly puts her down in front of them.
I am open to any suggestion of what to do. She lives in her in laws home, since husband does not have any plans to provide and support for his wife and child. Her mother-in-law supports her son’s behavior, and justifies by saying that she was also raided in an abusive envinroment, and this is just part of life. what it seem sto be normal to them it is insanity to me. They took a family portrait where only her baby was allowed to be in, she was out of the picture (they are legally married).
The situation has hurt the entire family. We compare my daughter’s situation with a drug addict situation, where everyone involved suffers, and the addicted person is in denial, not knowing how to get out of it, making excuses and blaming people.
Please, anyone that could suggest me how to help my daughther. I fear for her life.
What a great post Delaine!
What an awesome post!
Rita you can’t help your daughter unless she asks for your help.
All you can do is love her unconditionally, tell her how you feel then let it go. Be there for her when she comes to the realization that she is living in a toxic environment.
I know from experience that it is hard to step back when we see our children in trouble. As parents of adult children though that is our only recourse.
This one hit home. Thanks!
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Your blog is very useful!…