By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
to the Story
Every action we take, whether big or
small, has consequences. Our words can lift others up or tear them down. Good
choices bring joy, trust, and love, while poor choices bring hurt, sadness, or
regret. When we think before we act or speak, we help build a world filled with
kindness and peace. Choose words and actions that lead to positive outcomes,
because consequences always follow.
Casey the Cat lived in a sunny
little house at the edge of Maplewood Lane. With his shiny gray coat and bright
green eyes, he was known by everyone as curious, playful, and always ready for
an adventure.
But Casey was still learning
something important: that everything he said and did had consequences.
One morning, Casey padded into the
kitchen, where Mama Cat was baking warm blueberry muffins. The smell filled the
room like a hug.
“Can I have one now?” Casey asked,
licking his whiskers.
“They’re too hot,” Mama Cat said
gently. “Wait a few minutes, and they’ll be perfect.”
But Casey frowned. “That’s not fair!
You never let me have what I want.”
Mama Cat’s ears drooped. “Oh, Casey,
your words hurt. I do so much to care for you, and saying things that aren’t
kind makes me sad.”
Casey instantly felt bad. He hadn’t
wanted to hurt Mama’s feelings—he was just impatient. But the consequence of
his careless words was clear: he had caused pain instead of joy.
Later that day, Casey ran outside to
play. His friend Benny the Bunny was hopping by, carrying a basket of carrots.
“Hi, Casey!” Benny said cheerfully.
“Want to play tag?”
Casey smirked. “Tag is boring. And
your ears look funny when you run.”
Benny’s smile disappeared. “That
wasn’t nice,” he said softly, and he hopped away, leaving Casey alone.
Casey’s heart sank. He hadn’t meant
to lose a friend, but his unkind words had consequences. He sat under the oak
tree, thinking hard.
Learning
the Lesson
Grandpa Cat shuffled over with his
walking stick, wise eyes twinkling. “What’s wrong, Casey? Why the long face?”
Casey sighed. “I said things that
weren’t nice. Mama got sad, and Benny won’t play with me. I didn’t mean to, but
it just happened.”
Grandpa nodded. “Ah, yes. Actions
and words are like pebbles tossed into a pond. They always make ripples. Some
ripples are good—like when you share kindness. But some ripple out and hurt
others.”
Casey tilted his head. “So, what should
I do?”
“You must remember,” Grandpa said
gently, “that consequences follow every choice. If you choose kindness, the
ripples spread joy. If you choose carelessness, the ripples spread pain. The
question is: what kind of ripples do you want to send into the world?”
Casey thought deeply. “I want to
make good ripples.”
“Then think before you act,” Grandpa
advised. “And when you make a mistake, don’t hide from it. Say you’re sorry,
and try again.”
Making
Things Right
Determined to fix things, Casey
padded back to the house. He found Mama Cat in the kitchen, wiping the counter.
“Mama,” Casey said softly, “I’m
sorry for what I said earlier. You always do nice things for me, and I hurt
your feelings. Thank you for making muffins—I should have waited patiently.”
Mama Cat’s face lit up. “Oh, Casey!
Thank you for your apology. That was very kind. And look—the muffins have
cooled. Now we can enjoy them together.”
The sweet taste of the muffin was
even better because Casey had chosen kindness.
Next, Casey searched for Benny the
Bunny. He found him by the carrot patch, still looking a little hurt.
“Benny,” Casey said, lowering his
ears, “I’m sorry for what I said. I shouldn’t have called your ears funny.
They’re part of what makes you special. Will you forgive me?”
Benny’s face brightened. “Of course,
Casey. Thank you for saying that. Do you still want to play tag?”
Casey grinned. “Yes! And I promise
I’ll run as fast as I can.”
This time, Benny laughed as they
dashed across the meadow, their paws and ears flying in the wind. The
consequence of Casey’s apology was that the friendship was restored.
Positive
Consequences
That evening, Casey curled up next
to Mama and Grandpa.
“You see,” Grandpa said, “good choices
bring good consequences. Your apology to Mama brought you muffins and love.
Your apology to Benny brought laughter and play.”
Casey nodded thoughtfully. “And bad
choices brought sadness and loneliness.”
“Exactly,” Mama said, stroking his
fur. “That’s why we must choose words and actions carefully. They build the
world we live in.”
Casey stretched, his green eyes
shining. “From now on, I’m going to think about my ripples. I want them to be
good ones.”
A
New Day
The next morning, Casey saw another
chance to practice. His neighbor, Daisy the Duck, waddled by carrying a heavy
basket of apples.
Casey could have ignored her. He
could have even teased her for wobbling with the load. But instead, he trotted
up. “Can I help you carry that, Daisy?”
Daisy quacked with gratitude. “Oh,
thank you, Casey! That’s very kind.”
Together, they carried the basket to
her porch. Daisy’s smile was wide, and Casey felt warm inside.
The positive consequence of his
choice was simple but powerful: he had made life easier for a friend.
Casey’s
Promise
That night, Casey whispered a
promise to himself as he curled up in bed.
“I will think before I speak. I will
choose kindness over cruelty. I will remember that my actions have
consequences—and I will try to make them good ones.”
And with that, Casey drifted into
dreams filled with ripples of love, joy, and peace spreading out into the
world.
Moral
of the Story Poem
Every word and deed we choose,
Can build up hearts—or cause us to lose.
Ripples spread, both near and far,
Showing the world just who we are.
So think with care, be kind, be true,
And goodwill will always ripple back to you.
Discussion Questions
1. What happened when Casey spoke without thinking about
how his words might make others feel?
2. How did Casey’s apologies to Mama Cat and Benny the
Bunny change the outcome of his day?
3. Can you think of a time when your words or actions had
consequences—either good or bad? What did you learn from it?
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