Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose

Dr. Seuss

Copyright 1948

“Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.”  This is the biblical principle commonly referred to as The Golden Rule.  On the surface, it seems like a good rule to consistently live by.  After reading Dr. Seuss’s Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, though, it becomes apparent that some cautions are warranted. 

Thidwick happily lives with his moose friends and indeed shows that he has a big heart.  When a tiny Bingle Bug, looking for a place to live, decides to take up residence in Thidwick’s antlers, he is enthusiastically welcomed.  As the story progresses, more and more creatures take advantage of Thidwick’s kindness and soon, his antlers are loaded with guests.  Some painfully pluck hairs out of Thidwick’s head and others go so far as to peck holes in his antlers.  Thidwick knows the importance of being kind to your guests, and quietly suffers.  
  
Eventually, poor Thidwick is so weighed down by his heavy load that he finds he can’t even run from the hunters who are chasing him.  Fortunately, at the last moment, Thidwick remembers that moose shed their antlers each year.  He drops his antlers and then escapes, leaving behind that load full of the creatures that had been so selfishly taking advantage of his hospitality.
  
I wonder if Thidwick learned his lesson.  The following year, did he temper his kindness with the knowledge that he can set boundaries?  Did he realize that he needs to take care of himself too? I hope he learned that there can be a fine line between showing kindness and hospitality and being taken advantage of by bullies.