By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Caring begins when we notice the
needs of others around us.
A gentle heart can bring comfort where strength alone cannot.
When we choose kindness, we make the world a softer, safer place.
True courage is shown through compassion and love in action.
Helping others does not take away from us—it multiplies what we have.
Every act of care, no matter how small, can brighten someone’s day.
Love grows when we give it freely without expecting anything in return.
A caring spirit makes our hearts stronger and our world more beautiful.
In the golden hills near Meadow
Valley lived a young cougar named Casey. He was strong, brave, and quick on his
feet. His golden fur gleamed in the sunlight, and his eyes sparkled with
confidence. Everyone admired him for his speed and power, but there was one
thing Casey had not yet learned—how to care about others as much as he cared
about himself.
Each morning, Casey raced through
the meadow, jumping over logs and leaping across streams. He loved hearing
others cheer when he ran. “Look at Casey go!” the rabbits would say. “He is the
fastest animal in the valley!”
Casey puffed his chest with pride.
“Of course I am,” he said. “No one can keep up with me.”
One day, as he practiced his running
near the forest edge, Casey saw his friend Daisy the Deer struggling to carry a
bundle of wildflowers home. “Hey, Daisy!” he called. “You are moving so
slowly!”
Daisy smiled kindly. “I am taking
these flowers to my grandmother. She is not feeling well.”
Casey laughed. “I could run there
and back ten times before you even reach the first hill!”
Daisy lowered her eyes. “Maybe so,”
she said softly. “But sometimes the best things in life are not about
speed—they are about love.”
Casey tilted his head but did not
answer. He did not understand what she meant.
Later that afternoon, dark clouds
rolled over the hills, and a strong wind began to blow. Casey decided to race
the storm for fun. “I can outrun anything!” he said proudly.
As he sprinted through the meadow,
he heard a faint cry. “Help! Someone help!”
He stopped and listened. The voice
was coming from near the riverbank. He ran toward it and found Benny the Beaver
struggling to pull a heavy branch out of the water. His dam had been damaged by
the rising current.
“Casey!” Benny called. “Can you help
me move this branch before it floats away?”
Casey looked at the rushing river
and shook his head. “Sorry, Benny. I would rather stay dry. You will figure it
out.”
He turned and ran off as thunder
rumbled behind him.
By the time Casey reached his den,
the rain poured down hard. He curled up, dry and safe, but he could not stop
thinking about Benny and Daisy. He pictured Benny fighting the storm and Daisy
climbing the hill alone with her flowers.
“Why am I the strongest,” Casey
thought, “if I do not use my strength to help anyone?”
The thought stayed with him through
the night.
The next morning, the storm had
passed, leaving the valley muddy and quiet. Casey went out to see the damage.
He found Daisy near her grandmother’s cottage, gently wiping mud from the
flowers.
“You made it?” Casey asked in
surprise.
Daisy nodded. “Yes, but it was hard.
The wind blew, and I almost lost them. Still, I wanted her to have something to
make her smile.”
Her grandmother came to the door and
smiled warmly. “Thank you, dear Daisy. Your kindness makes me feel better
already.”
Casey felt something stir in his
heart. He had never thought that a simple act could mean so much.
He continued walking until he
reached the river. There he saw Benny working alone, his fur soaked and his dam
nearly washed away. Without a word, Casey stepped into the cold water beside
him.
“Let me help,” he said.
Benny’s eyes widened. “Really? I
thought you did not want to get wet.”
Casey smiled. “I changed my mind.”
Together, they pushed the heavy
branch back into place. The water was cold, but Casey did not care. When they
were done, Benny’s face lit up. “Thank you, Casey! I could not have done it
without you.”
Casey felt warmth in his chest that
no race had ever given him. “You are welcome,” he said. “It feels good to
help.”
That afternoon, Casey visited Daisy
and her grandmother again. He brought a basket of berries and honey he had
gathered along the trail.
“For you,” he said shyly. “I thought
these might make your day sweeter.”
Daisy smiled. “Thank you, Casey.
That is very thoughtful.”
Her grandmother said softly,
“Kindness is like sunlight. It warms the hearts of those who give it and those
who receive it.”
Casey smiled. “I think I understand
that now.”
From that day on, Casey was no
longer known only for his strength and speed. He became known for his kindness
and caring heart. Whenever an animal was in need, Casey was the first to
arrive. He helped build nests, carried supplies, and shared food.
When younger animals looked up to
him and said, “I want to be fast like you,” Casey always answered, “Being fast
is fun, but being kind makes you strong inside.”
As the sun set over Meadow Valley,
Casey sat quietly on a hill watching the golden light fade. He whispered,
“Thank you, God, for showing me how to care.”
And from that moment on, his heart was
as mighty as his muscles.
Poem:
Strength alone can fade away,
But kindness grows in a brighter way.
Caring hearts make burdens small,
And lift the spirits of us all.
Love is shown in what we do,
When helping others shines through you.
Be brave, be kind, and do your share,
For life is best when built on care.
Questions
for Discussion:
1.
What did Casey learn about caring
for others?
2.
How did helping Benny and Daisy make
Casey feel inside?
3.
What are some ways you can show care
and kindness every day?
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