The Parable of the Hedgehog

During the ice age, many animals were dying because of the freezing climate.

The hedgehogs decided to bundle together in order to get warm and, at the same time, protect each other. But their spikes would hurt those who were close to them—the very ones who they needed to keep them warm.

So they decided to stand apart from each other, and as a result, they began to die in the freezing temperatures. They needed to make a decision: either they endured each other’s spikes, or they’d disappear from the face of the earth.

Then, they decided to get back together—which was a wise decision. That was how they learned to live with the small wounds caused by the relationships with those who were close to them, understanding that the most important thing was their warmth.

And so, they survived.

Moral of the story:

Perfect relationships don’t come from perfect people, but from those who learn to live with each other’s mistakes, and admire their qualities.