In a valley of golden grain fields lived a hardworking farmer named Samuel. Samuel took great pride in his crops, but a problem kept him awake at night. Every evening, a large flock of wild birds would descend upon his fields, pecking at the ripening grain and leaving much of it wasted.
Determined to protect his livelihood, Samuel set a clever trap. He spread a wide, strong net across a section of the field and scattered a handful of seeds to lure them in. The next morning, he found the net filled with many birds struggling to escape.
Among them was a bright, snowy-white bird that seemed much calmer than the others. As Samuel approached, the white bird cried out, "Please, kind sir, let me go! I am not like the others. I did not come here to steal your hard work. I belong to a peaceful family and I mean no harm."
Samuel looked at the bird with a heavy heart and replied, "You may be a good bird by nature, but you are caught in this net because you chose to fly with those who do harm. By staying with the flock that steals, you have shared in their actions. A person is often judged not by their own heart, but by the company they keep."
The white bird bowed its head in shame, realizing that its association with the wrong crowd had led it into a trap it could not escape.
Moral
Even if you are good, choosing the wrong company can lead you into trouble.
