Benny the Bear Learns the Power of Kind Words - A Children's Story

Benny the Bear Learns the Power of Kind Words

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral to the Story

Words can build up or tear down—choose to speak kindness.  If you don’t have something nice to say, it’s often better to stay quiet.  Silence can protect hearts, while kind words can heal and encourage. Peace, harmony, and love grow when we treat others with gentleness. Sharing smiles, hugs, and kind words makes the world brighter. Love is the greatest gift we can give one another, and our words should reflect that truth.

In the wide green valley of Honeywood lived a young bear named Benny. Benny had a round belly, soft brown fur, and bright eyes that sparkled whenever he laughed. He was friendly and playful, but sometimes, when he got upset or impatient, Benny forgot how powerful his words could be.

One morning, Benny trotted down to the meadow where all the young animals gathered to play. His friends were already there—Lila the Lamb, Charlie the Chipmunk, and Daisy the Deer.

“Race you to the big oak!” Charlie squeaked, his tiny paws twitching with excitement.

The animals dashed across the grass. Daisy bounded gracefully ahead, her legs leaping like springs. Lila followed with determination, her wool bouncing as she ran. Benny huffed and puffed, but Daisy reached the oak first.

“I win!” Daisy cried proudly.

Benny crossed his arms and frowned. Without thinking, he blurted, “Well, your legs are so long it’s not fair! No wonder you win everything.”

Daisy’s smile faded. Her ears drooped. “That wasn’t very nice, Benny.”

The meadow grew uncomfortably quiet. Benny shuffled his paws. Deep down, he hadn’t meant to hurt Daisy, but the words had slipped out before he thought about how they might make her feel.

Lila spoke gently. “Benny, maybe it’s better not to say anything at all if you can’t say something kind.”

Charlie nodded. “My mama always says, ‘Words are like seeds. Plant kindness, and good things will grow. Plant anger, and you’ll grow weeds.’”

Benny’s ears turned pink. “I… I guess I wasn’t thinking.”

Grandma Owl’s Wisdom

That afternoon, still feeling bad, Benny wandered into the woods where Grandma Owl lived. She was wise and kind, and all the young animals came to her when they needed advice.

Grandma Owl welcomed him onto her branch. “What’s troubling you, young Benny?”

Benny looked at the ground. “I said something mean to Daisy today. I didn’t mean it, but it hurt her feelings. I don’t know why I said it.”

Grandma Owl nodded. “Ah, words. They are small, but they are powerful. They can build bridges of friendship or walls of hurt. Do you remember what Proverbs 16:24 says, Benny?”

Benny shook his head.

“‘Gracious words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.’” Grandma’s eyes twinkled. “When you speak kindness, you spread healing. But when you speak unkindly, you can cause pain. Sometimes, if you don’t have something nice to say, it is best to remain silent until your heart finds kinder words.”

Benny thought about this. “So…silence can be better than saying something hurtful?”

“Exactly,” Grandma Owl said. “And even better is choosing words of love, because love always shines brighter than anger.”

Putting It into Practice

The next day, Benny saw Daisy again. His heart pounded nervously, but he knew what he needed to do.

“I’m sorry, Daisy,” he said softly. “What I said about your legs wasn’t kind. You’re a great runner, and I admire how fast you are.”

Daisy’s eyes brightened, and she smiled. “Thank you, Benny. That means a lot. I forgive you.”

From that day forward, Benny tried harder to think before he spoke. When Charlie dropped his acorns during a game, Benny almost laughed at him—but then he remembered Grandma Owl’s words. Instead, he helped Charlie gather the acorns and said, “Good job keeping so many at once!”

When Lila struggled to climb a hill, Benny almost teased her for being slow. But he stopped himself and instead cheered, “Come on, Lila! You can do it! I’ll climb with you.”

Each time Benny chose kindness, he noticed something amazing—his friends smiled more, laughed more, and wanted to spend more time with him. Benny discovered that kind words didn’t just make others happy—they made him feel good too.

The Big Picnic

One sunny afternoon, all the animals of Honeywood gathered for the annual Spring Picnic. There were pies, berries, and honey jars set out on long wooden tables. Everyone took turns sharing songs, stories, and games.

When it was Benny’s turn to speak, he stood on a little stump. For a moment, the old, shy, clumsy words tickled his tongue. But then he remembered Grandma Owl’s advice.

He looked around at his friends and said, “I just want to say how thankful I am for each of you. Daisy, you’re an amazing runner. Charlie, you make us laugh and always share your acorns. Lila, you’re strong and steady, and I admire your courage. I’m lucky to have friends like you.”

The crowd of animals cheered, and Benny’s cheeks warmed with pride.

Grandma Owl whispered from her branch above, “Well done, Benny. You’ve learned that love spoken out loud makes the world brighter.”

Moral of the Story Poem

If words are sharp, they leave a mark.
They turn the light into the dark.
But gentle words can lift and heal.
They show our love; they make hearts feel.

So stop and think before you speak.
Choose kindness first, be wise, be meek.
A smile, a hug, kind words today,
Can light the world in a loving way.

Discussion Questions

1.     Why did Daisy feel sad when Benny made a mean comment?

2.     What advice did Grandma Owl give Benny about words and silence?

3.     How can you show kindness with your words to your family and friends this week?