One of my favorite Yiddish stories goes something like this...
A man goes to his rabbi with a problem. His house is so crowded he can't stand it any longer. There are kids everywhere, piles of clutter all over, and there is not a bit of extra space for a man to relax a little after a hard day's work. The man was completely miserable and at the end of his wits. The rabbi ponders the man's situation for a minute or two, then says "I have the answer!" He looks the man straight in the eye and directs him to, "Go home and bring all your farm animals in the house - your cows, your sheep, your chickens and your dogs. Keep them in the house for two days. At the end of two days, let them go. The man did as his rabbi advised. He went home and pulled and shoved his livestock into the little house. His family thought he lost his mind. At the end of two days, he let all the animals out of the house. A miraculous transformation took place. The little house seemed roomy and comfortable without all the animals in it. There was plenty of room for parents and kids. The man was happy as can be in his new home.
As my brother in law puts it "Anything looks good when compared to a sufficiently bad alternative"
ReplyDeleteAs my brother in law would say, "Anything looks good compared to a sufficiently bad alternative."
ReplyDeleteYea, that will solve my problem. Six kids and two adults in three tiny bedrooms. I will get me some sheep, and a couple of goats. But no cows, had enough of them while we lived upstate on the dairy farm. If anything they will improve the ambiance here.
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