Story by Bill Conley
Moral to the story:
Life won’t always give us what we want when we want it—and that’s okay.
Learning to be patient and wait our turn is one of the most valuable lessons we
can carry into adulthood. Gratitude, self-control, and quiet perseverance often
bring deeper satisfaction than getting our way. Sometimes, the best things in
life come not when we demand them, but when we trust the timing and grow along
the way.
In the colorful treetops of Acorn
Hollow, there lived a spunky young squirrel named Nina. With fur the color of
cinnamon and energy that never seemed to run out, Nina was known far and wide
for her zip-zap speed and her nonstop chatter.
Every morning, Nina woke up ready to
race the wind. She had a favorite phrase she said before breakfast: “First is
best, and fast is fun!” Whether it was a race to the creek or a scramble to
find the ripest berries, Nina had to be first.
She didn’t mean to be rude. She just
loved winning. It made her feel important, proud, and like she had everything
under control. But deep down, Nina hadn’t learned how to wait. Not for berries.
Not for turns. Not even for her friends to finish talking before she jumped in
with her own story.
One brisk fall morning, the animals
of Acorn Hollow gathered under the Great Oak Tree. Elder Oak, the wisest and
oldest squirrel in the forest, stood tall on a stump with a twinkle in his eye.
“Welcome, young ones!” he called.
“This year’s Harvest Festival will feature something very special—the Golden
Acorn Contest!”
The crowd buzzed.
“Hidden somewhere in Grove Trail is
a golden acorn unlike any you’ve ever seen. Whoever finds it will have first
pick from the Winter Nut Stash—plus a ribbon and a spot of honor at the Feast
of Leaves!”
Gasps and giggles filled the air.
Nina’s eyes sparkled. “I’m going to
find it. I have to.”
Milo, her best friend, tapped her
shoulder. “Remember, Elder Oak said we go one at a time. Everyone gets five
minutes to search. You can’t just race ahead, Nina.”
“But what if someone finds it before
me?” Nina whispered nervously. “What if I lose my chance?”
“You won’t lose your chance,” Milo
said. “You just have to wait your turn. That’s part of the challenge.”
But waiting was not Nina’s
specialty. As soon as Elder Oak began calling names, her paws twitched and her
tail flicked with frustration.
First went Benny. Then Clara. Then
Tilly. Then Milo.
Still no Nina.
By the time the sun began to droop
and the wind grew cooler, Nina was practically bouncing in place.
"I can't wait anymore,"
she muttered.
She looked around. Elder Oak was
talking with some younger squirrels. No one was watching the trailhead. Her
heart pounded.
"Just a peek," she told
herself. "I’ll be super fast. No one will even know."
She darted off, leaves crunching
under her paws. The forest glowed golden in the late afternoon sun. Shadows
danced across the mossy floor as Nina zigzagged through the trees.
Then, she saw it.
Half-hidden beneath a bed of red
leaves, nestled next to a smooth gray stone, was a shimmer. A sparkle. A glow.
The Golden Acorn.
Nina gasped. Her heart skipped.
She pounced and grabbed it, holding
it high above her head. It gleamed like sunshine and smelled faintly of
cinnamon.
"I did it! I won!" she
squealed.
"Or did you?" came a voice.
Nina froze.
From behind the ferns stepped Elder
Oak.
His eyes were kind but steady.
“Nina, you didn’t wait your turn.”
Nina looked down. The acorn suddenly
didn’t shine quite as bright.
“I… I just wanted it so badly,” she
said, her voice small. “I thought if I didn’t go now, I’d miss my chance.”
Elder Oak stepped closer. “There
will always be things you want, Nina. But how you choose to pursue them is what
shapes your heart."
He gently took the golden acorn from
her paws.
“I’m sorry,” Nina whispered. “I didn’t
mean to cheat. I just didn’t know how to wait.”
“And now you do,” Elder Oak said.
“This moment is a gift too, Nina. Learning patience is worth far more than
winning.”
Nina walked slowly back to the
hollow. She didn’t want to talk. She didn’t want to race. She just wanted to
sit and think.
The next morning, she watched as
Benny the Beaver proudly found the golden acorn. He was awarded the ribbon, the
first pick, and a big cheer.
But when he saw Nina sitting quietly
near the pumpkin patch, he came over with a smile and handed her a handful of
roasted chestnuts.
“I know how badly you wanted to
win,” Benny said.
“I did,” Nina said. “But I think I
needed to lose more.”
From that day on, Nina changed. Not
overnight. Not perfectly. But little by little, she started letting others go
ahead. She listened more and interrupted less. And she stopped rushing into
everything just to be first.
Weeks later, during the quiet of
early winter, Elder Oak visited Nina with a small parcel tied in twine.
Inside was a simple acorn, polished
smooth, with a message carved on the shell:
"Patience bears the sweetest
fruit."
Nina clutched it to her heart.
She hadn’t won the contest. But she
had learned something better.
And she would never forget it.
Moral of the story poem:
You can’t have all you want today,
Some gifts are found the patient way.
So trust the time, be kind and true—
And blessings will come right back to you.
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