Children

Each of us has flaws of a unique kind, but in this world nothing goes to waste. You may think you are useless, but somehow the flaws you possess can turn into a blessing you never imagined, as happened in the story of the cracked pot. In one of the Indian villages there was a water carrier named Mahindar. He had two large pots that he carried hanging on his shoulders along the road. One of them was cracked at the top, and water would drip from it along the way. When he reached home, he would find the cracked pot with only half the water. ...

Nūrā was accustomed to sitting in the lap of her beloved grandmother to listen to a story, Samr and the Moon, at the end of each week. Every time her grandmother began the story, she would embrace her to her chest and say affectionately: “There was once a beautiful girl whose name was Samr. Samr would contemplate the sky and watch the stars every night, dreaming of reaching the moon.” The grandmother would look at the sky through the window, and Nūrā would follow her with her eyes, hoping to see something in the sky. ...

In a clean, quiet burrow among the oak trees in the forest lived two rabbits, one large and the other small. An old friendship, affection, and love united them. These two rabbits would play a race together, eat carrots and vegetables together, and sleep together side by side in gentleness and peace. One day a small crack appeared in a corner of the burrow. The small rabbit said: “No doubt my friend the large rabbit will repair this crack soon.” When the large rabbit saw it, he said: “My friend the small rabbit will repair this small crack today.” The days passed, and the crack grew wider and deeper. Each of the two friend rabbits would say: “Perhaps my friend forgot to repair this crack. I don’t think he will neglect it; he will repair it this time.” More days passed, and the crack widened and widened further. The large rabbit would say: “My friend the small rabbit does not like cracks in the burrow; no doubt he will repair this crack. I know he will do that.” ...

In one village there were three wives, none of whom had become pregnant despite several years passing since their marriages. One day the neighbors heard a vendor calling in the street: “Apples for pregnancy! Apples for pregnancy!” They hurried to him, and he had two apples and half an apple. He gave the first wife one apple, the second wife one apple, and the third wife half the apple. The first wife gave birth to a boy and named him Nāfiʿ, the second wife gave birth to a boy and named him ʿUmar, and the third wife gave birth to a boy of strange appearance and named him Niṣf Nuṣayṣ. He had one sound arm and the other paralyzed, and the same condition with his legs, but he was brilliant in intelligence. ...

On a bench in the garden sat an old woman with white hair, a soft face, and smiling eyes. She leaned on a thin, long staff, and at its end was a golden ball. Suddenly, Amīr, a student in first grade, came running. Great Anger and Agitation: Amīr sat on the bench like a bull and said to her: “Move away! There’s no place for you!” The old woman moved aside and saw on his red face the marks of anger. She saw his eyes flashing and tearing. The woman asked him: “What happened to you? Are you angry?” Amīr answered vehemently: “What business is it of yours?” The old woman was not affected by Amīr’s words. She said to him calmly: “I bet you got into an argument a few minutes ago, got angry, cried, and shouted at whom?” ...

Honesty is a great value and a praiseworthy trait that we should all adorn ourselves with, especially when accompanied by a promise and good intention from another person. If we are honest in someone’s promise to us, we must do the same and not betray, for betrayal is deeply harmful, especially to those who have given us security and safety. One day the turtle Fūrī was standing on the bank of the river. As was her custom, Fūrī would wake early, swim, and praise her Lord for the blessing of health and ask for her provision from her Creator. On this day, Fūrī was standing on the riverbank and resolved to descend into it in search of some food and to play with her friends. ...

We have spoken much about the value of cooperation—that it is the foundation by which any individuals can rise and defend one another, and help themselves as well if they use it in the correct way. The simplest rule of proper cooperation is fairness, whether in how to help during the distribution of tasks, or fairness in distributing the gain if cooperation yields tangible benefits. This is the basis of our story. ...

Once there was a beautiful girl, pure as snow in heart. She was as fragile as glass. She lived in a small cottage with her parents in a high region atop one of the mountains, far from everything happening in real life. She enjoyed constant happiness with her family until one day an evil sorceress appeared. She wanted to destroy that happiness and began to work her magic in order to make evil dwell in that happy family. ...

In the beautiful forest with its dense trees, where animals live in different shapes, colors, and sizes, large numbers of huge elephants lived alongside the animals. These elephants cooperated with great love and sincerity with the other animals. In truth, they all understood the value of cooperation in work and in defending one another. Whoever needed help found all the animals behind him, helping him and standing by his side in his affliction. ...

The hoopoe summoned the birds of the forest from early morning to an emergency meeting, and it seemed that something grave had happened or was about to happen. Such summonses occur only in rare cases. The birds hurriedly wiped the traces of sleep from their eyes and set off on their way toward the large square, trying to guess the reason for this sudden summons. When the attendance was complete, the hoopoe stepped forward and spoke. “You know, my dears, that this forest is our home and the home of our ancestors, and it will be for our children and grandchildren.” ...