A Moral Story

Once upon a time in a village, there lived a wise old man. One day, a young boy approached him and asked, "What is the secret to happiness?" The old man smiled and replied, "Follow me." He led the boy to a nearby garden and handed him a basket. "Your task is to fill this basket with pebbles," he said, pointing to the pathway lined with pebbles of various sizes. Excited, the boy started picking up the pebbles and filling the basket. As he gathered the pebbles, he noticed a beautiful butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon nearby. Without thinking much, he left the basket and went to help the butterfly by gently assisting it in breaking free from the cocoon. The old man observed quietly. After a while, the boy returned to the basket and realized that while he was helping the butterfly, he had missed picking up many pebbles. Disappointed, he said, "I couldn't fill the basket completely." The old man nodded and said, "Sometimes in life, we get distracted by seemingly important things, but in doing so, we may miss out on what truly matters. The happiness lies not only in accomplishing tasks but also in our willingness to help and care for others. Balance your actions wisely, for happiness is found in both fulfilling responsibilities and in acts of kindness." The boy understood the lesson, realizing that happiness comes from finding a balance between personal goals and selfless acts towards others.