The Shepherd of Character
    
When the sky was fair, two hardworking brothers set foot on the vast lands of Earth, seeking work. Outwardly, they looked alike: blond hair and fit bodies. Yet on the inside, they were different. The first brother had a kind and positive attitude. The second brother was intense and diligent, yet his temper often ruled him.
    
One day, they stumbled upon an old shepherd. “Young men, you have come at last! Please watch over the sheep for me, for my time is coming to an end. In return, I will pay you each,” the old man proclaimed.
    
The next day, the brothers divided the sheep and watched them graze on the green blanket. One little sheep near the second brother’s side wandered aimlessly and got caught in a prickly bush. Intense and impatient as he was, the second brother tried to help the sheep, but thorns held the cotton coat. He angrily left it and returned to watch the rest of the herd.
    
Without water and its mother, the little sheep died.
    
On the second day, a little sheep from near first brother’s herd wandered and got caught in a similar thornbush. The first brother calmly comforted the sheep. After hours of working patiently, the sheep finally was released from the stubborn grip of the thorns because of the first brother.
    
Before the sun slipped under the horizon, the second brother slyly claimed a sheep from his brother, for he knew he would not receive pay if a sheep was missing.
    
At the end of the week, the brothers came to the old shepherd to receive their pay. The shepherd looked into the innocent eyes of the first brother then into the piercing eyes of the second. The shepherd handed the first brother a sack of coins.

He sighed deeply when he turned to the second brother. “Young man, I cannot pay you. You left a little sheep to die because you were not patient and worse, you stole a sheep from your brother’s herd.”
    
Both brothers learned a life lesson: Through your work, you and your character are defined.