The Mouse and the Light

In the center of the most beautiful garden in the world stood the Tree of Wisdom. Strong branches and evergreen leaves grew out of the great tree. It spread its roots throughout the land. The tree was a place of comfort. Creatures would often come to it and sit in its shade and feel its great truths.

For many years there was harmony. Then one day a shade from a long branch decided that it was not happy. The shade did not wish to give comfort or shelter.

‘Fools,’ cried the shade as it spread beneath the tree. ‘I know more than any of them. I am not made to serve. I should rule over everything.’

And so being proud and full of hatred the shade tugged and pulled and stretched itself until at last it was able to break away from the great tree. It was the first shadow to do such a thing.

Instead of using its power to give comfort it created a cold darkness that blinded all who came in its contact. His victims became blind to the truth! Instead of using its voice to impart great truths to those round it, the Shadow whispered most terrible lies. He crept away from the Tree of Wisdom and drifted far into a barren place—a sandy desert where it crawled into a hole and sank deep into the earth.

Gradually he became more powerful and plotted revenge against mankind. It would wait beneath the surface until a sad or doubting creature came near, then the Shadow would rise up and overtake the unsuspecting creature and blind it to truth and reason and bend to its infernal will.

Over the years the shadow created an underground army. Then the army of the Shadow began to strike without warning. They instilled fear in heart of all, caused untold agony and bred hatred.

The Shadow said, ‘You cannot fight as I will win.’

Some began to hide and fear the very light of day for they thought that it was caused by the Shadow. Others began to hate and fear all the shade of the world, not being able to tell the difference between a shade and a mean devious shadow.

It came to pass that creatures began to feel anger toward all things different from themselves. They even became afraid of their own shadows. They stayed in their homes. When they went out, they didn’t go far.

One day a field mouse approached the Tree of Wisdom, shook its small fist and shouted, ‘How could you unleash such a terrible monster upon us? Why is he being tolerated?’

The great tree bowed its huge trunk. It shook and leaves fell like tears. But it did not answer.

Then a bodiless voice spoke, ‘I created light and darkness. I made creatures great and small. To one and all I gave the power to build or destroy, bring joy or pain. One among you has chosen darkness and pain. This was not my wish nor can it ever be.’

Though amazed by the voice, the Mouse was still angry. ‘Why do you not stop the Shadow?’ cried the Mouse.

The great voice answered, ‘Because, I have given that very same power to others as well. The Shadow has grown because others did not stop him; in fact none cared to stop him. Will you do this? Will you rise above fear and do it?’

The Voice told the mouse how to win.

‘You cannot live in fear. Fear only makes the Shadow grow stronger. To be rid of darkness—shine a powerful light of truth. To be rid of cold—spread warmth wherever you go.’

The Mouse answered, ‘I will go out and spread truth and happiness among all. I will remember not to hate because the feeling of hatred strengthens the Shadow.’ But then the Mouse worried, ‘I am only a small mouse and there are many powerful shadows who know powerful enchantments. How can I ever hope to succeed?’

Suddenly the Mouse was surrounded in a beautiful golden light and warmth, ‘You know, when the Shadow broke away he was only one small dark being; now this light will grow with you my small messenger.’

So it was that one tiny creature set out alone into the world with halo of hope and goodness. With every kind word and every truth the mouse spoke, the world round it healed. Others joined the mouse and soon the light grew and the shadows faded. One by one, the Shadow’s followers fell before the mouse and the light. And one day the Shadow sank back into its hole in the earth, vanishing like drops of water in the burning sands of time.

Suggestion—The Shade is angry and mean and is bent on wrecking havoc, ask one child to play the part of Shade, now each child must come up with one convincing reason to stop the shade and pacify him. The child playing the shade would then decide whose reason was most convincing.

What’s Prettier Than Freckles

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent a day at the zoo.  Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

‘You’ve got so many freckles that there’s no place to paint!’ a girl in the line said to the little fellow.

Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. ‘I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles,’ she said, while tracing her finger across the child’s cheek.

‘Freckles are beautiful.’ The boy looked up, ‘Really?’

‘Of course,’ said the grandmother.  ‘Why just name me one thing that’s prettier than freckles.’

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma’s face and softly whispered, ‘Wrinkles’.

Suggestion—Ask them to sketch the image of this little boy and write three things that they like about him and three things that they don’t. Discuss the responses.