I once heard a story about two birds, and I believe it’s a story worth sharing, so here goes.

There were these two birds flying around the backyard–you could tell they were mates just by the way they acted. One afternoon the male went out, and this hawk swooped in and attacked the female; the female freaked out and flew into the window of a house. She fell, not dead, just stunned and a little injured.

So the person in the house–let’s call him Jack–shooed the hawk away and brought the injured bird into the garage, where she stayed the night in a cardboard box, safe from the vicious hawk. The next morning, Jack fed her some water and a little bit of rice. He looked out the window, and he saw something incredible.

The male bird was back, flying from tree to tree going crazy looking for his mate. Jack was amazed–he made sure the hawk was nowhere in sight and set the box nesting the female bird on the back porch. A few moments later, she hopped out of the box, and flew up to find her mate.

They were reunited. Relieved. Not long after, they flew off into the distance. Together.

It’s not a long story, I know, but it is rather beautiful. It teaches us a thing or two.

Lesson #1. Actions speak louder than words or material goods ever could.

Particularly with regard to relationships, it’s not about who says “I love you” first, or who buys the more extravagant gifts. It’s the day-to-day interaction, the mutual connection, longing, respect. It’s about the heart.

I know. Sometimes it’s nice to hear the words, to receive the gifts. It feels good. But that feeling won’t last if the heart isn’t there.

Lesson #2. Have compassion.

If you see someone or something suffering and hurting, help him/her/it. Sure, Jack may have caused the male bird a little anguish by removing its mate from the backyard, but imagine if he hadn’t–the hawk probably would’ve killed the poor she-bird. Now, I’m not sure about the depth of a bird’s thinking, but I would think that the male bird was pretty appreciative of Jack’s compassionate action.

Lesson #3. We have more in common with each other, even with other species, than we think.

I mean, who would’ve thought that birds could feel the same love and longing that we do? We, as human beings, have a tendency to live thinking that we’re superior. We’re the dominant species, the dominant gender, the dominant race–this thinking is natural, given our differences, given societal norms, given our cultural history. But the fact that these birds exhibited passion and behavior in a way so similar to ourselves suggests that despite our tremendous differences, there are grounds that unite us.

The lesson here is to embrace all as equals. There exists no better or worse when it comes to species, race, gender, or anything of the like. What exists is unique individuality.

So what’s the common theme?

Heart.

Heart is the foundation of a solid relationship. Heart is the foundation of compassion. Heart is the foundation of acceptance.

Heart.