Moral
of the Story:
If the words we think might hurt a
friend or cause them pain or sadness inside, it is wiser and kinder to keep
those thoughts tucked gently away, because once words leave our mouths, they
cannot return, and choosing silence can often be the sweetest gift we give to
others.
Nora the Nightingale loved to sing.
She lived high in a tall oak tree at
the edge of a sunny meadow, where the breeze whispered through the leaves and
the mornings were filled with light. Every day, Nora would stretch her tiny
wings, puff out her chest, and sing the most beautiful songs anyone had ever
heard.
All the animals in the meadow would
stop and listen.
The rabbits would wiggle their noses
and smile. The deer would lift their heads. Even the busy squirrels would pause
their scurrying just to hear Nora’s sweet voice.
Nora loved the attention.
She believed her songs were the
best, and slowly, without even realizing it, she began to think she was better
than the other animals.
One bright morning, Nora flew down
to the meadow where her friends were gathered.
Benny the Beaver was building a
small dam near the stream. Daisy the Duck was practicing her waddling walk.
Oliver the Owl was quietly reading a book beneath a shady tree.
Nora tilted her head and watched
them.
Then she giggled.
“Oh my,” Nora chirped loudly,
“Benny, that dam looks crooked. And Daisy, your walk is so funny. You waddle
like you forgot how to use your feet. And Oliver, why are you always reading?
Don’t you know how to have fun?”
The meadow grew quiet.
Benny stopped working. Daisy lowered
her head. Oliver slowly closed his book.
Nora did not notice.
She flapped her wings proudly,
thinking she was being clever and honest.
But her words had landed like tiny
stones in the hearts of her friends.
Benny looked down at his damn and
felt unsure. Daisy stopped practicing and felt embarrassed. Oliver tucked his
book away and felt small.
For the first time, the meadow did
not feel warm.
It felt heavy.
Nora flew back to her tree, still
thinking about how funny everything had seemed.
But when she began to sing,
something was different.
Her song did not feel as bright.
It did not feel as joyful.
And no one stopped to listen.
The rabbits kept hopping. The deer
kept grazing. The squirrels kept moving.
No one looked up.
Nora’s heart sank.
She stopped singing and sat quietly
on her branch.
“Why is no one listening?” she
whispered.
Just then, wise old Oliver the Owl
flew up beside her.
“Nora,” he said gently, “your songs
are still beautiful. But today, your words were not.”
Nora blinked.
“My words?” she asked.
“Yes,” Oliver said. “When you spoke
to your friends, your words hurt them. And once words are spoken, they cannot
be taken back. They stay in the hearts of those who hear them.”
Nora looked down at the meadow.
She saw Benny working slowly. Daisy is sitting quietly. Oliver returned to his book alone.
“I did not mean to hurt them,” Nora
said softly.
“I know,” Oliver replied. “But
sometimes, even when we think something, it does not mean we should say it.”
Nora thought for a long moment.
“So what should I do?” she asked.
Oliver smiled kindly.
“Before you speak, ask yourself one
simple question. Is what I am about to say kind? If it is not, it is often
better to say nothing at all.”
Nora nodded.
She understood.
The next morning, Nora flew down to
the meadow again.
She saw Benny working on his dam. It
still leaned a little. She saw Daisy waddling. It was still a bit funny. She
saw Oliver reading his book.
Nora opened her beak.
Then she paused.
She remembered Oliver’s words.
She looked again, this time with a
softer heart.
“Benny,” she said gently, “you are
working so hard on your dam. It is going to help the whole meadow.”
Benny looked up and smiled.
“Daisy,” Nora continued, “your walk
is unique, and it makes me smile because it is so full of personality.”
Daisy’s eyes lit up.
“And Oliver,” Nora said, “you are so
wise. I would love to hear about your book sometime.”
Oliver nodded warmly.
The meadow felt different again.
It felt light.
It felt happy.
And when Nora flew back to her tree
and began to sing, the animals stopped once more.
Her song was even more beautiful
than before.
Because this time, her heart was
kind.
A
Little Poem to Remember:
Words can sparkle, words can sting,
They can lift or break a wing.
Think before you let them fly.
Kindness is the reason why.
If your words might cause a tear,
Hold them close and keep them near.
Better quiet, soft, and small,
Than hurting hearts with words at all.
1.
Have you ever said something that made
someone feel sad? What could you say instead next time?
2.
Why is it sometimes better to stay
quiet instead of speaking?
3.
How do kind words make you feel
inside compared to hurtful words?
No comments:
Post a Comment