Literally, the proverb would sound like 'A bird in (one's) hand is worth two (birds) in the bush'. And, denotatively, it would mean that, having one thing for oneself is better than trying to look for a double of that thing at a place one cannot get from, and moreover end up losing his first thing. Now that it sounds clearer, let's try and extend the meaning.
Clearly, what this brings to mind is first, greed, and second, contentment. We have what we need in life. At least, even if it is not as much as we wish, it is enough for us. Yet, we aren't contented. True, things are hard, but there has never been a day we woke up with empty stomachs, and returned to bed on empty stomachs. Yet, when we see our friends, we envy them. We have good partners (wives and husbands); they are just enough for us. Yet we envy others' partners, and cheat on our own. This is GREED. And it is deadly.
Normally, our crave for more, and that which is not ours, make us lose what even belongs to us. If we want to get someone's two, we lose our one. But, is their two worth the gain, or our one worth the loss? I think no. And this calls for CONTENTMENT. By this, I mean absolute contentment: in our personal lives and in our relationships with others. What isn't ours is not for us. We should not fight for it. We should not murder our fellow man for his money. We should not add zeros unduly to some amounts. We should not sign some documents we need not sign. We should not do overtime, and die out of stress!
Isn't this enough? Oh it is. It will give us peace of mind. It will preserve the 'one' we have. It will not shorten our lives. And then, we will prosper. A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH: our 'one' in peace, is better than another's 'two' with troubles.
Watch your ways!
ISAAC ESSOUN
(By the grace of God)
(By the grace of God)
