The literal translation for this proverb would be: “A dog has four legs, but cannot run on four different paths/roads.”

Sometimes, our zealousness leads us to take on many tasks. We feel empowered and skillful enough to lead them all and well even though they are in different areas. But as time goes on, the tasks might require way more than we have. If that happens, we will be overwhelmed, and we might neglect sleep, selfcare, and socialization.

Haitian people say this proverb to show the importance of being focused on doing one thing at a time to succeed, to take the time to give 100% of ourselves to it to get the best of it. We also say this proverb as a warning when someone is trying to do well in several different things that have nothing to do with one another. We might also give this advice to help someone accept the reality of choosing to do one thing first when they already have their hands full.

Running different battles at the same time will weaken us and will diminish our chance to win even though we had all the resources and equipment at our disposal.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” God never asks us to do more than He has called us to do. We do well when we listen to His voice and follow His leading as we are faced with the possibility of taking on different projects.