Author Unknown
A very long time ago, when the earth was still new and the Father walked among the animals, teaching them the wisdom that they would later teach to humans, He called them all together in the Garden to give each animal a special gift. To some He gave the gift of beauty, to some the gift of swiftness, to some the gift of strength, and so on until each animal had received a gift from the Father.
But PIG was not there; PIG was out looking for tasty roots and did not come to the Garden until the Father was giving the last animal its gift.
PIG cried because the Father had already given out His gifts. The Father saw PIG crying and asked what was wrong. PIG cried, “I was late and now you have given away all your gifts. I will have nothing to teach the humans.”
The Father gently took PIG into His lap and rubbed his ample belly, kissed his wet snout, and spread peace over PIG’s entire being. The Father said to PIG, “I have saved the best gift for you, PIG.”
PIG said, “But I am not beautiful or swift or strong. I will be despised by humans.”
The Father thought for a moment on how to explain to PIG how great his gift was. Finally, the Father spoke, “PIG, you have all of those gifts … and something more … within you, but because they are within you, it will take a very special person who is seeking greater wisdom to find them.”
PIG did not understand, but PIG trusted the Father and went back to digging for roots.
Humans soon came to the Garden and found all the beautiful animals with their gifts. But humans didn’t care for PIG, for he was not beautiful or fleet or strong. The humans shunned PIG and didn’t want to be around him, preferring the other animals who preened and showed off their obvious gifts.
Then one day, a woman came to PIG and sat down where PIG was eating. It was the first time that a human had come to be with PIG, and he stopped rooting and looked at her curiously. She looked deeply into his eyes, she paused, and she saw the gift that the Father had hidden so well. She loved PIG for who he was and respected PIG for the wonderful gift the Father had given him to share with humans.
I can’t put into words what the gift was that the Father gave to PIG. You must look into the eyes of PIG and find it for yourself. For each human it will be different. It will be the gift they need to find, to help in their search for wisdom.
Not many humans will discover the gift PIG has to offer. They will be too dazzled by the gifts the Father gave to the other animals. But for those who do see PIG’s gift, they are forever changed and never see the world in quite the same way. They are the ones that root like PIG through what is on the surface, to find treasures and gifts hidden below the surface. They are the seekers of truth, who understand that the truly great gifts of wisdom are not always on the exterior or obvious … but are hidden treasures – to be found not with the eyes, but only by seeing with the heart.
