STORIES
The Rabbit and the Turtle
One day a rabbit was boasting about how fast he could run. He was laughing at the turtle for
being so slow. Much to the rabbit’s surprise, the turtle challenged him to a race. The rabbit
thought this was a good joke and accepted the challenge. The fox was to be the umpire of the
race. As the race began, the rabbit raced way ahead of the turtle, just like everyone thought.
The rabbit got to the halfway point and could not see the turtle anywhere. He was hot and tired
and decided to stop and take a short nap. Even if the turtle passed him, he would be able to race
to the finish line ahead of him. All this time the turtle kept walking step by step by step. He never
quit no matter how hot or tired he got. He just kept going.
However, the rabbit slept longer than he had thought and woke up. He could not see the turtle
anywhere! He went at full speed to the finish line but found the turtle there waiting for him.
Moral: never underestimate the weakest opponent.
The Thirsty Crow
One hot day, a thirsty crow flew all over the fields looking for water. For a long time, he could
not find any. He felt very weak, almost lost all hope. Suddenly, he saw a water jug below the
tree. He flew straight down to see if there was any water inside. Yes, he could see some water
inside the jug!
The crow tried to push his head into the jug. Sadly, he found that the neck of the jug was too
narrow. Then he tried to push the jug to tilt for the water to flow out, but the jug was too heavy.
The crow thought hard for a while. Then, looking around it, he saw some pebbles. He suddenly
had a good idea. He started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each into the jug. As
more and more pebbles filled the jug, the water level kept rising. Soon it was high enough for the
crow to drink. His plan had worked!
Moral: Think and work hard, you may find solution to any problem.
The Lion and The Mouse
A Mouse running over his face awakened a Lion from sleep. Rising up angrily, he caught him
and was about to kill him. Then the Mouse piteously entreated, saying:
“If you would only spare my life, I would be sure to repay your kindness.” The Lion laughed at
him but allowed him to go. It happened shortly after this that some hunters, who bound him by
strong ropes to the ground, caught the Lion. The Mouse, recognizing his roar, came and gnawed
the rope with his teeth, and set him free, exclaiming:
“You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, never expecting to receive from me
any repayment of your favor, now you know that it is possible for even a Mouse to confer
benefits on a Lion.”
Moral: It is possible for even a Mouse to confer benefits on a Lion.
Unity is Strength
Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew in search of food led by their king. One day, they
had flown a long distance and were very tired. The dove king encouraged them to fly a little further. The
smallest dove picked up speed and found some rice scattered beneath a banyan tree. So all the doves
landed and began to eat.
Suddenly a net fell over them and they were all trapped. They saw a hunter approaching carrying a huge
club. The doves desperately fluttered their wings trying to get out, but to no avail. The king had an idea.
He advised all the doves to fly up together carrying the net with them. He said that there was strength in
unity.
Each dove picked up a portion of the net and together they flew off carrying the net with them. The hunter
looked up in astonishment. He tried to follow them, but they were flying high over hills and valleys. They
flew to a hill near a city of temples where there lived a mouse who could help them. He was a faithful
friend of the dove king.
When the mouse heard the loud noise of their approach, he went into hiding. The dove king gently called
out to him and then the mouse was happy to see him. The dove king explained that they had been caught
in a trap and needed the mouse’s help to gnaw at the net with his teeth and set them free.
The mouse agreed saying that he would set the king free first. The king insisted that he first free his
subjects and the king last. The mouse understood the king’s feelings and complied with his wishes. He
began to cut the net and one by one all the doves were freed including the dove king.
They all thanked the mouse and flew away together, united in their strength.
Moral: When you work together, you are stronger.
Father and Sons
A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling among themselves. When he
failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical
illustration of the evils of disunion.
One day he told his sons to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the
fagot into the hands of each of them in succession and ordered them to break it in pieces. They
tried with all their strength and were not able to do it.
He next opened the fagot, took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his
sons’ hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words:
“My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as strong as this
fagot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies, but if you are divided among yourselves,
you will be broken as easily as these sticks.”
Moral: Unity is strength.
Think Before You Judge
A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered
the call asap, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s
father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor.
On seeing him, the father yelled, “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that
my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”
The doctor smiled and said, “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came as fast as I could
after receiving the call and now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”.
“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own
son dies while waiting for the doctor than what will you do??” said the father angrily. The
doctor smiled again and replied, “We will do our best by God’s grace and you should also pray
for your son’s healthy life”.
“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.
The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness! your son
is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running by saying, “If
you have any questions, ask the nurse”.
“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state”
Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left. The nurse answered,
tears coming down her face, “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was at the burial
when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left
running to finish his son’s burial.”
Moral: Never judge anyone because you never know how their life is and what they’re going
through.
Smartest Man in the World
A doctor, a lawyer, a little boy and a priest were out for a Sunday afternoon flight on a small
private plane. Suddenly, the plane developed engine trouble. In spite of the best efforts of the
pilot, the plane started to go down. Finally, the pilot grabbed a parachute and yelled to the
passengers that they better jump, and he himself bailed out.
Unfortunately, there were only three parachutes remaining.
The doctor grabbed one and said “I’m a doctor, I save lives, so I must live,” and jumped out.
The lawyer then said, “I’m a lawyer and lawyers are the smartest people in the world. I deserve
to live.” He also grabbed a parachute and jumped.
The priest looked at the little boy and said, “My son, I’ve lived a long and full life. You are
young and have your whole life ahead of you. Take the last parachute and live in peace.”
The little boy handed the parachute back to the priest and said, “Not to worry Father. The
smartest man in the world just took off with my back pack.”
Moral: Your job doesn’t always define you, but being a Good Human being Does.
The Four Smart Students
One night four college students were out partying late night and didn’t study for the test which
was scheduled for the next day. In the morning, they thought of a plan. They made themselves
look dirty with grease and dirt. Then they went to the Dean and said they had gone out to a
wedding last night and on their way back the tire of their car burst and they had to push the car
all the way back. So they were in no condition to take the test.
The Dean thought for a minute and said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him
and said they will be ready by that time.
On the third day, they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as this was a Special
Condition Test, all four were required to sit in separate classrooms for the test. They all agreed as
they had prepared well in the last 3 days.
The Test consisted of only 2 questions with the total of 100 Points.
1) Your Name __________ (1 Points)
2) Which tire burst? __________ (99 Points)
Options – (a) Front Left (b) Front Right (c) Back Left (d) Back Right
Moral: Be Responsible else you too will learn your lesson!
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old
grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his
step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly
grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled
off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the
tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. “We must do
something about father,” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk,
noisy eating, and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small
table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family
enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was
served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather’s
direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only
words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a
fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood
scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just
as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and
Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and
went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears
started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both
knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back
to the family table. For the remainder of his day, he ate every meal with the
family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any
longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Moral: You reap what you sow. Regardless of your relationship with your
parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. Always Respect,
care for and love them.