NOT EVERY "FRIEND" IS A SAFE PLACE.

Today I read the story of two animal friends, the Crocodile and the Monkey.

The Monkey lived on a coconut tree by the river, where the Crocodile also resided. As the Monkey played, it often tossed coconuts down to the Crocodile as a kind gesture.

One day, the Crocodile took a coconut home. His wife enjoyed it so much that she became curious about its source. Upon hearing that it came from the Monkey, she said, “If the coconut from the Monkey tastes this good, imagine how delicious his heart would be.”

She then urged her husband to bring her the Monkey’s heart.

Wanting peace at home, the sad Crocodile went to the Monkey and invited him on a ride across the river as a sign of friendship. The Monkey gladly agreed.

As they neared the Crocodile’s home, a guilty conscience made the Crocodile confess his real intention, to deliver the Monkey’s heart to his wife.

But the clever Monkey, hiding his fear, calmly replied, “Ah, that would have been fine, but I left my heart back on the coconut tree. Can we go back so I can get it?”

The Crocodile turned around and took him back to the riverbank...

Well, you can guess the rest, the Monkey escaped.

It may sound like a simple animal fable, but I’ve seen people lose opportunities just because they shared something confidential with a friend they thought was noble.

As you go through the week, may your good deeds and acts of generosity bring only the goodness you truly deserve.

Shalom.

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