By Bill Conley
Moral of the Story:
Love is more than just a feeling—it’s something we show through kindness,
patience, listening, and helping others. We express love by sharing our time,
speaking gently, giving hugs, and showing we care, even in small ways. Love is
in the things we do, not just the words we say. And when we love others well,
the world becomes a warmer, happier place.
Deep in the golden grasslands of
Sunrise Savannah lived a young lion cub named Leo.
Leo was brave, curious, and always
asking big questions.
One afternoon, as he played near the
watering hole, he watched an elephant family nuzzle each other and wrap their
trunks in a gentle hug.
“Why do they do that?” Leo asked his
friend Mia the Meerkat.
“They love each other,” Mia said,
smiling. “That’s how they show it.”
Leo blinked. “But… what is
love, exactly? And how do we show it?”
Mia tilted her head. “Hmm… maybe you
should ask someone really wise.”
So Leo padded off through the
savannah, determined to understand what love truly meant.
First, he visited Gertie the
Giraffe, who was quietly munching leaves from a tall acacia tree.
“Gertie, what is love?” Leo asked.
“And how do we show it?”
Gertie lowered her long neck and
smiled. “Love is when I help my little brother reach the leaves he can’t reach
on his own. It’s when I watch over him while he sleeps.”
Leo nodded thoughtfully. “So… love
is helping?”
Gertie nodded. “Helping, protecting,
and thinking of someone else before yourself.”
Next, Leo trotted over to the rocky
cliffs where Rafi the Rhino was pushing rocks with his horn.
“Rafi, can you tell me what love
is?”
Rafi grinned. “Sure! Love is when my
mom waits patiently for me, even when I’m slow. It’s when she stays calm when I
make a mess and still tells me she loves me anyway.”
“So love is being patient and kind?”
Leo asked.
“Exactly,” Rafi said. “Love isn’t
loud or showy—it’s gentle and strong.”
Leo was starting to understand, but
he had more to learn.
He walked past the river and saw
Penny the Parrot flying back and forth between trees, carrying twigs.
“What are you doing?” Leo asked.
“I’m building a nest for my
grandma,” Penny chirped. “Her old one fell during the storm.”
Leo’s eyes widened. “You’re building
her a whole nest?”
“Of course,” Penny said. “She took
care of me when I was small. Now I get to care for her.”
Leo smiled. “So love is caring for
others, especially when they need help.”
Penny nodded. “Love is remembering
what others have done for you—and doing kind things without being asked.”
As the sun began to set, Leo made
his way home.
His heart felt full, but his mind
was still swirling with thoughts.
When he reached the den, his dad was
waiting.
“Big day of exploring?” Dad asked
with a grin.
Leo plopped down beside him. “Yes. I
asked everyone what love is.”
His dad’s ears perked up. “That’s a big
question. Did you get any answers?”
Leo nodded. “Gertie said love is
helping. Rafi said it’s patience and kindness. Penny said it’s caring and doing
nice things for others.”
His dad smiled and placed a big paw
gently on Leo’s shoulder. “All those are true. Love is something you do.
It’s how we treat others—with respect, kindness, and care. And do you know what
else?”
“What?” Leo asked.
“When we love someone, we want the
best for them—even if it means putting them first.”
Leo leaned into his dad’s soft fur.
“I think I love you a lot, then.”
His dad chuckled. “I know you do.
And I love you too, Leo. Every day.”
That night, Leo lay in the den,
looking at the stars twinkling above.
He thought about all the animals
he’d seen that day—sharing, helping, protecting, and loving.
Then he whispered, “Tomorrow, I’m
going to show love too.”
And he did.
The next morning, Leo helped his mom
carry firewood branches to their cooking spot.
He gave his last piece of fruit to a
hungry bird.
He waited patiently when Mia was late
to meet him and told her, “It’s okay, I’m just glad you’re here.”
By the end of the day, Leo felt
warmer inside than he ever had before.
And he knew it wasn’t because of the
sun.
It was because he had loved others
well.
From that day on, Leo made it his
mission to love others not just with words, but with actions.
He smiled at strangers, forgave
quickly, and always looked for ways to help.
And when his little sister was born
a few weeks later, Leo curled beside her and whispered:
“You’re going to be so loved. I’ll
show you every single day.”
Moral Poem to End the Story:
Love is kind and helps with care,
It’s found in hugs and being there.
It shines in deeds, not just what’s said—
It lives in every heart that's led.
No comments:
Post a Comment