Gracie the Grizzly Learns Gratitude
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral of the Story:
Gratitude begins
when we notice the blessings we already have. Happiness grows not from getting
more, but from appreciating more. A thankful heart turns ordinary days into
extraordinary gifts. When we focus on what is right, what is wrong fades away. Saying
thank you is one of the simplest and strongest forms of love.
Grateful people lift others up through kindness and joy. Each moment we give
thanks brings us closer to peace. A heart filled with gratitude always finds
something to smile about.
In the misty woods of Evergreen Valley lived
a cheerful young bear named Gracie. She was strong, curious, and loved to
explore. Gracie had thick brown fur that shimmered in the sunlight and a heart
as big as the mountains that surrounded her.
But even though
Gracie had a good life, she sometimes forgot how lucky she was.
When the forest
animals gathered for breakfast at the berry patch, Gracie would grumble, “Why
do I always get the smaller berries?”
When her mother
asked her to help gather honeycomb, Gracie would sigh. “Why do I have to do all
the work?”
And when her
friends played in the meadow, she would complain, “Why does everyone else have
more fun than I do?”
Her best
friend, Penny the Partridge, shook her head one morning. “Gracie, do you know
what your problem is?”
Gracie frowned.
“What problem?”
“You are
forgetting to be thankful,” Penny said gently.
Gracie laughed.
“Thankful? For what?”
“For
everything,” Penny replied. “The sun, the forest, your family, your friends,
even the air you breathe.”
Gracie rolled
her eyes. “That is silly. I would rather have something exciting to be thankful
for.”
Penny just
smiled and said softly, “Sometimes the little things are the most exciting of
all.”
A few days later, a heavy storm swept through
Evergreen Valley. Rain poured for hours, and the wind howled through the trees.
Gracie huddled in her den beside her mother and baby brother, watching the
lightning flash across the sky.
When the storm
finally passed, the forest looked very different. Fallen branches covered the
ground, and many of the berry bushes had been washed away. The once-busy meadow
was now quiet and muddy.
Gracie stepped
outside and gasped. “Oh no! Everything is ruined!”
Her mother put
a gentle paw on her shoulder. “Do not worry, Gracie. Nature has a way of
healing itself. We will clean up and rebuild.”
But Gracie felt
frustrated. “It will take forever to fix this,” she said.
Penny flew by
and landed on a nearby branch. “We can start small,” she said kindly. “Let us
gather sticks to help rebuild the nests that were blown away.”
Gracie sighed.
“Fine, but it will not make much difference.”
Still, she
followed Penny through the forest, helping to gather twigs, leaves, and
berries. As they worked, Gracie began to notice things she had never paid
attention to before—the way sunlight sparkled on the wet leaves, the sweet
smell of pine in the cool air, and the tiny rainbow forming in the mist.
“Wow,” she
whispered. “I never realized how beautiful everything is after a storm.”
Penny smiled.
“That is what happens when you start to notice the blessings around you.”
Over the next few days, the animals worked
together to repair the forest. Gracie helped rebuild a squirrel’s nest, carried
food to a family of rabbits, and even shared some of her favorite honeycomb
with the beavers who had lost their dam.
At first, she
did these things because Penny asked her to. But soon, she found herself
smiling more and complaining less. Each act of kindness made her heart feel
lighter.
One morning,
while carrying sticks to the riverbank, she saw a mother duck trying to guide
her ducklings across the water. The current was strong, and one of the
ducklings drifted away. Without thinking, Gracie waded in and scooped it up
safely in her paw. The mother duck quacked with relief.
“Thank you,
Gracie,” said the mother duck. “You saved my baby.”
Gracie’s heart
swelled. “I am just glad I could help.”
As she watched
the family paddle away, she realized something important. She felt happier than
she had in a long time—and it was not because she got something. It was because
she had given something.
That night, she
sat outside her den and looked up at the stars. The forest was quiet, and the
air was cool and sweet. “Thank you, God,” she whispered, “for the trees, the
animals, my family, and my friends. Thank you for this beautiful world.”
Her mother
overheard her and smiled. “Gracie, that was a lovely prayer. Gratitude fills
our hearts with joy, doesn’t it?”
Gracie nodded.
“It really does. I think I understand now. The more I give thanks, the happier
I feel.”
As the weeks passed, the forest grew even
more beautiful. Flowers bloomed, rivers sparkled, and the animals laughed
together again. Gracie became known as the bear with the thankful heart.
Whenever someone felt sad or discouraged, she would remind them of something to
be grateful for.
When Benny the
Beaver complained about rebuilding his dam, Gracie said, “Be thankful you have
the strength to build again.”
When Millie the
Mouse groaned about the rain, Gracie smiled. “The rain helps the flowers grow.”
And when her
little brother fussed about sharing his food, Gracie laughed. “You will feel
happier when you share.”
Penny often
told her, “You are shining brighter than ever, Gracie. Gratitude looks good on you.”
One evening, as
the sunset painted the forest in gold, Gracie stood beside her mother and said,
“You know what, Mom? I think every day is special when you start it with a
thank you.”
Her mother
smiled and wrapped her in a warm bear hug. “And that, my sweet Gracie, is the
secret to a joyful life.”
From that day
forward, Gracie never forgot to be thankful. No matter how big or small her
blessings were, she found joy in each one. And as she walked through Evergreen
Valley, her grateful heart made the forest an even happier place to live.
Poem:
Thank you for
the sun so bright,
For morning’s glow and stars at night.
Thank you for the friends I see,
And for the love surrounding me.
Gratitude makes hearts grow wide.
With peace and joy, we cannot hide.
Each thankful thought, each gentle deed,
Is everything a heart might need.
Questions for Discussion:
1. What made Gracie realize the importance of being
thankful?
2. How did helping others change the way Gracie felt
inside?
3. What are three things you are thankful for in your
life today?
No comments:
Post a Comment