Parable of

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Parable of The Lazy Ant

• Written by
• Jeffrey S. Martella

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• In the backyard of the big red house there was an
  ant colony. Every ant in the colony worked
  hardexcept Albert.
• Albert was a lazy ant. He never collected dirt
  or food for the colony. He never helped repair
  the tunnels when they collapsed. He spent most
  of his time watching other ants work.

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• Albert liked to pretend he was in charge. He
  would order ants about from his favorite sunning
  rock. But no one paid attention to him.

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• One day there was a huge rain storm. All the
  ants dived for cover under their leaf umbrellas.
  Albert didnt have a leaf and got soaked in the
  rain.

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• Another time there was a feast from picnic food.
  The colony of ants marched out to find food.
  Like a drill sergeant Albert ordered a regiment
  to bring him some food. The ants ignored him and
  Albert went hungry.

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• The tunnel around Albert collapsed one day.
  Albert didnt know how to dig himself out. He
  was stuck for three days until some of the other
  ants cleared the tunnel.

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• Albert was miserable. No one listened to him. He
  was hungry. And he hurt.
• One day a wise old ant came up to Albert.

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• He looked Albert up and down and shook his head.
  Sonny, you have a BIG problem. You are so
  self-centered that no one wants to be around you.
  You are only interested in yourself.

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• If you want to be accepted you have got to be
  part of the team. You have to put others ahead
  of yourself. Youve got to work, work, work.
  Then you will be accepted, listened to, liked and
  will never go hungry.

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• Albert followed the wise old ants advice.
• When it rained Albert sought shelter under his
  own leaf.

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• When there was a picnic feast Albert helped
  gather the food and found more than he could eat.

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• When a tunnel collapsed, Albert was the first
  rescuer to the site.

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• Other ants came to regard Albert as the best ant
  in the colony. The other ants listened to his
  advice, looked up to him and even did small
  favors for him because they knew that he was a
  hard worker and would return favors.

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• Albert became the most popular ant in the colony.
• THE END