A Camel’s Ankles Are Thin, But

A camel’s ankles are thin indeed.
I used to think that I was thin and frail, like a camel’s ankle,
and that I could do nothing at all.
Then one day my Father calls me, quietly.
“My child, what do you think of a camel’s ankles?”
“Father, I think they are far too thin. And I think I am thin and weak, like a camel’s ankle.”
Once more my Father speaks.
“My child, a camel’s ankles are thin, but think of the great body
that rests on top of them.
This is the blessing I give you.
Think how many loads those ankles bear, along with that great body.
That is just it.
The blessing I give
is not frail, the way people think a camel’s ankle is;
those four ankles look frail,
but they hold an enormous strength
that helps that great body go anywhere at all.”