A loyal dog was suffering in severe pain while its owner sat beside it, crying uncontrollably. Overwhelmed with grief, he kept sobbing and saying, “What can I do to save my beloved dog’s life? We have been together for years. I love this animal more than anything.”
A wise man happened to pass by. Seeing the owner in such distress, he stopped and asked, “Brother, what has happened? Why are you crying like this?”
The dog’s owner replied, “What can I say… my dog is in a terrible condition. He is truly an extraordinary animal—one I will never find again. He guards my house all night. He is not just a dog, he is like a lion—strong, alert, with shining eyes and an intimidating presence. Even thieves fear him. He runs like an arrow in pursuit of prey. He is patient, content, and extremely loyal.”
The wise man, deeply moved, asked, “What illness does your dog have? Has he been badly injured?”
The owner replied, “No disease… no wound. He is dying of hunger. It has been many days since he last ate.”
The wise man sighed and said, “Then all you can do is be patient. There is nothing else.”
Just then, the wise man noticed a bundle tied in the owner’s cloth on his back. He asked, “What is wrapped in that cloth?”
The man replied, “A few loaves of bread and some food for tomorrow.”
Hearing this, the wise man was shocked. He said angrily, “If you have bread, then why are you not feeding your loyal companion?”
The owner replied, “You are right… but I do not love him that much. Bread is not free—it costs money. These tears I am shedding for him are all I can spare. I can only cry for his suffering.”
The wise man became furious and said, “Curse your understanding and your so-called love! You are like an empty bag filled with air. Shame on you! You value a piece of bread more than compassion itself. Tears are nothing but blood turned into water by grief, and you cannot even turn that into action. You think your tears are enough to fulfill your duty toward this loyal creature?”
Moral: If you are capable of helping someone in need, then mere words of sympathy or tears are not enough. It is a moral duty to actually help and fulfill their need.