Toby
the Tiger Cub Says Thank You
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral of the Story:
Gratitude is the melody that makes love sing louder in every home. When we stop
to thank those who care for us, we remind them that their sacrifices matter. Parents
give their time, their energy, and their hearts every single day, often without
asking for anything in return. A simple thank you can fill their hearts with
joy and renew their strength to keep giving. Love grows deeper when we
recognize the effort behind every meal, every hug, and every lesson learned. A
thankful spirit not only blesses others but also fills our own hearts with
peace and kindness. Appreciation is one of the most beautiful gifts we can ever
give. When we practice it daily, we honor those who love us most.
Deep in the emerald heart of the
jungle lived a tiger family in a cozy den surrounded by towering palm trees and
the music of chirping birds. Toby the Tiger Cub was playful, curious, and full
of questions. Every day, he would wake up before sunrise, pounce on his mother’s
tail, and tumble into his father’s paws, laughing with all his might. Life was
fun for Toby, but he never thought much about how everything around him came to
be.
Mama Tiger worked tirelessly to keep
their home clean and safe. She gathered soft leaves to line their den and
hunted food so her family would never go hungry. Papa Tiger patrolled the
jungle paths to keep danger away and taught Toby the ways of courage, patience,
and respect.
One hot afternoon, after chasing
butterflies near the watering hole, Toby flopped under a mango tree. “I’m so
tired,” he sighed.
His friend Benny the Baboon laughed
from above. “You’re tired? You don’t know tired until you’ve gathered fruit for
five little brothers!”
Toby chuckled but then paused as he
watched Benny’s mother swing down to help her son. She carried a bundle of
mangoes in her arms and smiled warmly at Benny. “See?” she said. “It’s hard
work, but worth it.”
Toby’s eyes widened. He realized his
own parents worked just as hard, maybe even harder, and he had never once said
thank you.
That evening, when Toby returned
home, Mama Tiger was still out hunting while Papa Tiger was fixing the roof of
the den after a heavy rainstorm. “Can I help?” Toby asked.
Papa looked surprised. “Help? Of
course, son. Hold this branch steady.”
Together they worked until the sun
dipped below the trees, painting the sky orange and gold. When Mama returned,
tired but smiling, Toby ran up and hugged her. “Mama, you do so much for us
every day. I just wanted to say thank you.”
Mama Tiger’s eyes softened, and she
nuzzled his cheek. “Oh, my sweet cub, hearing you say that fills my heart with
joy.”
That night Toby couldn’t sleep. He
wanted to do something more to show his love. He crept quietly out of the den,
gathered flowers that smelled like honey, and placed them in a circle around
their sleeping spot. Then he collected smooth river stones and spelled out the
words THANK YOU MOM AND DAD in front of the den. He even added one bright
feather he found by the stream to make it special.
The next morning, when his parents
awoke, they gasped at the beautiful surprise. “Toby, did you do this?” Mama
asked.
Toby nodded shyly. “I wanted you to
know how much I love you and how thankful I am for everything you do. You both
work so hard, and I never say it enough.”
Papa Tiger lifted his son high into
the air. “You’ve given us a gift that means more than anything else. You’ve
given us your heart.”
From that day forward, Toby made it
his mission to notice the little things his parents did. When Papa came home
from patrol, Toby brought him cool water from the stream. When Mama returned
from hunting, he brushed the leaves from her fur. Every time he said thank you,
he saw their eyes light up like stars.
One afternoon, Toby gathered his
friends Benny the Baboon, Lila the Lemur, and Daisy the Deer. “Let’s all thank
our parents today,” he said. “They work harder than we ever knew.”
Together they made vines into
necklaces, picked fruit, and prepared a grand jungle feast. When their parents
arrived, the little ones sang a song of thanks that echoed through the forest.
The older animals stopped to listen, smiling with tears in their eyes.
That night, Toby lay between his
parents, the moonlight streaming across their warm fur. “Mama,” he whispered,
“why do you and Papa do so much for me?”
Mama Tiger smiled and said, “Because
love gives more than it takes. And when that love is returned with gratitude,
it becomes stronger than anything in the world.”
Toby purred softly. “Then I’ll never
stop saying thank you.”
And he didn’t. From that day on, the jungle echoed with kindness wherever the
Tiger family went.
Poem:
Thank you, Mom and Dad, so true.
For all the love and all you do.
For every meal and gentle care,
For every time you’ve just been there.
Your hearts are brave, your love so wide,
You guide my steps with strength and pride.
I’ll grow and learn, but always know,
Your love’s the seed that helps me grow.
Discussion Questions:
1.
Why did
Toby suddenly realize how much his parents did for him after seeing Benny and
his mother?
2.
How did
Toby show his gratitude to his parents, and how did it make them feel?
3.
What are
some ways you can show appreciation to the people who care for you every day?
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