Christian parables and fables for children for lessons in spiritual and moral education.
Kharitonova N.V.
How do we see the world?
There was an old dried tree on the road.
One night a thief passed by him and was frightened - it seemed to him that it was standing there, waiting for him.
A young man in love passed by and his heart beat joyfully. He mistook the tree for his beloved.
The child, frightened by scary fairy tales, burst into tears when he saw the tree and decided that it was a ghost, but the tree was only a tree.
We see the world as we ourselves are.
And why you?
Fable by Andrei Merko
One day little Mishutka asked his father Bear:
Dad, do you know everyone who lives in our forest?
Yes, son, everyone.
But tell me, is the wolf the bravest? - asked the son.
“He is very brave, much braver than me,” the bear answered.
Is the tiger strong? - Mishutka did not let up.
Incredibly strong, I can’t even come close to him.
Well, what about the lynx? Is she clever?
Woohoo! - muttered the bear. - She is so dexterous that the leaf does not move when she hunts for prey.
What about the fox? They say she is very smart.
Yes, son, they are right. She is really smart and agile.
So why, dad, are you the head of the forest, and not a tiger, a wolf or a smart fox? - Mishutka asked in bewilderment.
You see, son,The wolf is brave, but cannot be careful. The tiger is strong, but very hot-tempered. The lynx is agile, but often cannot keep what it has acquired. The fox is smart, but sometimes she uses her skills to outwit others, and therefore gets into trouble. Well, I just see ten entities where they see only one. And depending on the situation and time, I am either a fox, or a tiger, or a wolf. That's why I'm the head of the forest.
The world is as you see it.
A young man came to one oasis, drank water and asked an old man who was resting near the source:
What kind of people live here?
The old man, in turn, asked the young man:
What kind of people live where you come from?
“A bunch of selfish people with bad intentions,” the young man answered.
On the same day, another young man went to the source to quench his thirst from the road. Seeing the old man, he greeted and asked:
What kind of people live in this place?
The old man asked the same question in response: “What kind of people live where you came from?”
Wonderful! Honest, hospitable, friendly. It hurt me to part with them.
You’ll find the same ones here,” said the old man.
One man who heard both conversations asked: “How could you give two such identical answers to the same question?”
To which the old man replied:
Each of us can only see what we carry in our hearts.
Anyone who has not found anything good wherever he has been will not be able to find anything else either here or in any other place.
If you don’t like something in the world around you, then what upsets us most is not the phenomenon itself, but our opinion about it.
Are Hell and Heaven the same?
One day a good man was talking with God and asked him: Lord, I would like to know what Heaven is and what Hell is.
The Lord led him to two doors, opened one and led the good man inside.
There was a huge round table, in the middle of which there was a huge bowl filled with food, which smelled very tasty. The people sitting around the table looked starving. They all had spoons with long, long handles attached to their hands.
They could reach a bowl filled with food and scoop up the food, but because of their long handles, they could not lift the spoons to their mouths. The good man was shocked by the sight of their misfortune.
The Lord said: “You have just seen Hell.”
The Lord and the good man then walked towards the second door. There was the same huge round table, the same giant bowl filled with delicious food.
The people sitting around the table held the same spoons with very long handles.
Only this time they looked well-fed, happy and deep in pleasant conversations with each other.
The good man said to the Lord: “I don’t understand.”
“It’s simple,” the Lord answered him,
"These have learned to feed each other. Others think only about themselves."
If Hell and Heaven are structured the same way, does that mean the difference is within us?
Parable of the wolves.
Once upon a time, an old man revealed one vital truth to his grandson:
There is a struggle in every person, very similar to the struggle of two wolves. One wolf represents evil: envy, jealousy, regret, selfishness, ambition, lies. The other wolf represents goodness: peace, love, hope, truth, kindness and loyalty.
The grandson, touched to the depths of his soul by his grandfather’s words, thought for a moment, and then asked:
Which wolf wins in the end?
The old man smiled and answered:
The wolf you feed always wins.
Is the world hostile for humans?
The student asked the dervish:
Teacher, is the world hostile for humans? Or does it bring good to a person?
“I’ll tell you a parable about how the world treats a person,” said the teacher.
"Once upon a time there lived a great Shah.
He ordered the construction of a beautiful palace. There were many wonderful things there.
Among other wonders in the palace there was a hall where all the walls, ceiling, doors and even the floor were mirrored. The mirrors were unusually clear, and the visitor did not immediately understand that it was a mirror in front of him - they reflected objects so accurately.
In addition, the walls of this hall were designed to create an echo.
You ask: "Who are you?" - and you will hear in response from different sides: “Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?”
One day a dog ran into this hall and froze in amazement in the middle - a whole pack of dogs surrounded it from all sides, above and below.
The dog bared its teeth just in case, and all the reflections answered it in the same way.
Seriously frightened, she barked desperately. The echo repeated her bark.
The dog barked louder. Echo did not lag behind. The dog rushed here and there, biting the air,
And her reflections also rushed around, clicking their teeth.
The next morning, the servants found the unfortunate dog lifeless, surrounded by millions of reflections of dead dogs. There was no one in the room who could cause her any harm. The dog died fighting his own reflections."
Now you see,” the dervish finished,- the world brings neither good nor evil in itself. He is indifferent to people. Everything that happens around us is just a reflection of our own thoughts, feelings, desires, and actions.
The world is a big mirror.
The basic rule for achieving a goal
Three newcomers came to the Archery Master:
You are the most dexterous shooter in the whole world! We want to become just as successful and continue your work,” they said.
I can teach you archery! – answered the Master. - Tell all the secrets and wisdom of this matter. But I will only take one as my student! And he can become the best shooter and a truly successful person.
In order to choose someone as his disciple, the Master suggested that all three of them pass a small test. He hung a target on a tree, and at a distance of several meters he let down the first newcomer.
What do you see in front of you? - asked the Master.
I see a tree with a target hanging on it.
What else? - asked the Master
Behind there is a green lawn with flowers growing on it.
“Okay,” said the Master and called the next candidate to become a student. – What do you see in front of you?
“I see a target, a tree, a clearing, flowers, the sky,” answered the second newcomer.
Fine! – the Master answered and asked the same question to the third newcomer. -What do you see?
I see a target in front of me! - he answered.
Okay,” said the Master, “what else?”
Nothing else! The most important thing is the target, I only see it!
Well done! - said the Master. – You will achieve great success in life. I will take you as my student.
When there is a goal, nothing else matters.
Parable "True Knowledge".
One day, a school Teacher came to a very respected Teacher and accused her that her teaching method was absolutely illogical, that it was some kind of crazy chatter, and some other things of this kind. The teacher took a gem from her bag. She pointed to the shops in the shopping center and said:
Take it to the shops that sell silverware and watch batteries and see if you can get a hundred gold pounds for it.
The School Master tried everything he could, but he was offered no more than a hundred silver pence.
Great,” said the Teacher. – Now go to a real jeweler and see what he will give you for this stone.
The School Teacher went to the nearest jewelry store and was incredibly surprised when he was suddenly offered ten thousand gold pounds for this stone.
The teacher said:
You have tried to understand the nature of the knowledge I give and my method of teaching, just as the silver merchants tried to value this stone.
If you want to be able to determine the true value of a stone,
Become a jeweler.
The Parable of the Purposeful Frog
Several frogs got together and started talking.
What a pity that we live in such a small swamp. If only I could get to the neighboring swamp, it’s much better there! - one frog croaked.
And I heard that there is a great place in the mountains! There’s a clean, big pond, fresh air, and no hooligan boys,” the second frog croaked dreamily.
What does this matter to you? – the big toad snapped. – You’ll never get there anyway!
Why not get there? We frogs can do anything! Really, friends? - said the frog-dreamer and added, - let's prove to this harmful toad that we can move to the mountains!
Let's! Let's! Let's move to a big clean pond! - all the frogs croaked in different voices.
So they all began to get ready to move. And the old toad told all the inhabitants of the swamp about the “stupid idea of the frogs.”
And when the frogs set off, everyone who remained in the swamp shouted in one voice:
Where are you going, frogs, this is IMPOSSIBLE! You won't reach the pond. It's better to sit in your swamp!
But the frogs did not listen, and moved on. They walked for several days, many exhausted their last strength and abandoned their goal. They turned back to their native swamp.
Everyone the frogs met on their difficult path dissuaded them from this crazy idea. And so their company became smaller and smaller. And only one frog did not turn away from the path. She did not return back to the swamp, but reached a clean, beautiful pond and settled in it.
Why was she able to achieve her goal? Maybe she was stronger than others?
It turned out that this frog was simply DEAF!She didn't hear that it was IMPOSSIBLE! I didn’t hear anyone dissuade her, which is why she easily reached her goal!
The parable of the oyster and the eagle.
(This parable is based on a story from ancient Indian mythology about how man was created)
In the beginning, God created an oyster and placed it at the very bottom. Her life was not very diverse. She did nothing all day
I just opened the sink, let a little water through and closed it again. Day after day passed, and she kept opening and closing the sink, opening and closing...
Then God created the eagle and gave him free flight and the opportunity to reach the highest peaks. There were no boundaries for him, but the eagle had to pay for his freedom.
Nothing fell from the sky for him. When he had chicks, he hunted for days to get enough food. But he was glad to pay for this gift at such a price.
After all, God created man. And he led him first to the oyster, then to the eagle. And he told him to choose his own way of life.
Constantly learning and developing, we make a choice between two forms of existence. The oyster signifies people who are not eager to expand their horizons. Very often, in this case, they have to do the same thing all their lives.
Whoever decides to live like an eagle certainly chooses a difficult road. Most likely, there is only one way to complete it - we must learn to find pleasure in learning and development.
The more we learn and grow, the freer we become. Obstacles and problems become, from this point of view, lessons.
Butterfly lesson.
One day a small gap appeared in the cocoon, and a person passing by stood for long hours and watched a butterfly try to exit through this small gap. A lot of time passed, the butterfly seemed to give up its efforts, and the gap remained just as small. It seemed that the butterfly had done everything it could, and that it had no more strength for anything else.
Then the man decided to help the butterfly, he took a penknife and cut the cocoon. The butterfly immediately came out. But her body was weak and feeble, her wings were transparent and barely moved.
The man continued to watch, thinking that the butterfly’s wings were about to straighten and get stronger and it would fly away. Nothing happened!
For the rest of its life, the butterfly dragged its weak body and its unstretched wings along the ground. She was never able to fly.
And all because the person, wanting to help her, did not understand that the butterfly needs effort to exit through the narrow gap of the cocoon so that the fluid from the body passes into the wings and so that the butterfly can fly. Life made it difficult for the butterfly to leave this shell so that it could grow and develop.
Sometimes it is effort that we need in life. If we were allowed to live without encountering difficulties, we would be deprived. We couldn't be as strong as we are now. We would never be able to fly.
I asked for strength... And life gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom... And life gave me problems to solve.
I asked for wealth... And life gave me brains and muscles so that I could work.
I asked for the opportunity to fly...And life gave me obstacles so that I could overcome them.
I asked for love... And life gave me people whom I could help with their problems.
I asked for benefits... And life gave me opportunities.
I didn't get anything I asked for. But I got everything I needed.
Strong snowflake.
Let's check which of us is stronger, who can break this dry branch.
The first snowflake ran away and jumped with all its might onto the branch. The branch didn't even move. The second one is behind her. Nothing too. Third. The branch didn’t move either. Snowflakes fell on the branch all night. A whole snowdrift formed on it. The branch bent under the weight of snowflakes, but did not want to break. And all this time one little snowflake hovered in the air and thought: “If the bigger ones couldn’t break the branch, then where should I go?”
But her friends called her: - Try it! Suddenly you will succeed!
And the snowflake finally made up her mind. She fell on a branch, and... the branch broke, although this snowflake was not stronger than the others.
And who knows, maybe it’s your good deed that will defeat evil in someone’s life, although you are not stronger than others.
Who's to blame?
In a train carriage, a girl diligently writes something in a notebook. Mom asks her: “What are you writing, daughter?” - “I describe the places that I see from the window. You can read it, mommy,” the daughter replies. Mom reads what she wrote and raises her eyebrows high: “But you have so many mistakes in your words, daughter!” - “Oh, mom! - the girl exclaims. - The train here is somehow different! He swings so much that it is very difficult to write correctly!
Always blame yourself for your mistakes, not the circumstances, and you will never make a mistake.
Forget-me-not.
A parable about mercy and love for nature for children
A flower grew in a field and rejoiced: in the sun, light, warmth, air, rain, life... And also in the fact that God created it not as nettles or thistles, but in such a way as to please man.
It grew and grew... And suddenly a boy walked by and tore it off. Just like that, without even knowing why.
He crumpled it up and threw it on the road. The flower became painful and bitter. The boy didn’t even know that scientists had proven that plants, like people, can feel pain.
But most of all, the flower was offended that it was just picked like that, without any benefit or meaning, and deprived of sunlight, daytime warmth and nighttime coolness, rain, air, life...
The last thing he thought was that it was still good that the Lord did not create him with nettles. After all, then the boy would certainly have burned his hand.
And he, having learned what pain was, did not want anyone else on earth to be in pain...
The dispute between the wind and the sun.
One day, the angry northern Wind and the Sun started a dispute about which of them was stronger. They argued for a long time and decided to try their power on one traveler.
The wind said: “I’ll rip off his cloak in an instant!” And he began to blow. He blew very hard and for a long time. But the man only wrapped himself tighter in his cloak.
Then the Sun began to warm the traveler. He first lowered his collar, then untied his belt, and then took off his cloak and carried it on his arm.The Sun said to the Wind: “You see: with kindness and affection, you can achieve much more than with violence.”
Happiness is near.
The old wise cat was lying on the grass and basking in the sun. Then a small, nimble kitten rushed past him. He somersaulted past the cat, then jumped up briskly and began running in circles again.
What are you doing? - the cat asked lazily.
I'm trying to catch my tail! - the kitten answered out of breath.
But why? - the cat laughed.
I was told that the tail is my happiness. If I catch my tail, I will catch my happiness. So I’ve been chasing my tail for three days now. But he keeps eluding me.
Yes,” the wise old cat smiled, “once upon a time I, just like you, ran after my happiness, but it always eluded me. I abandoned this idea. After a while I realizedthat there is no point in chasing happiness. It always follows me on my heels. Wherever I am, my happiness is always with me, I just need to remember this.
Mother's heart.
On a sunlit forest edge a beautiful birch tree grew with its young daughters. She loved her children, caressing them with spreading branches, protecting them from the cold wind and pouring rain. And in the summer, under its canopy, no scorching sun scared the birch trees. They felt “warm in the sun, and good in mother’s presence.”
But one day a thunderstorm broke out in the forest. Not a joke. Rolls of thunder shook the earth, and the sky was continually illuminated by lightning. The thin-trunked beauties trembled with fear. But mother birch reassured them, hugging them with her strong branches: “Don’t be afraid of anything. Lightning won’t be able to notice you under my branches. I’m tall and...”. She didn't have time to finish.
A loud crash was heard in the forest. A huge lightning mercilessly struck the birch tree, scorching the core of its trunk. But the birch did not catch fire. Her strength was leaving her, an evil wind tried to throw her to the ground, a heavy downpour was unraveling the branches, but underneath them were her children and no one but their mother could now protect them. She hugged her daughters even more tightly to her, caressing their thin ones even more with her weakening branches their faces, washing them with tears flowing down the leaves. Last time. There was no limit to mother's love.
Only when it was all over and the sun shone again over the rain-washed forest, she, swaying, quietly sank to the ground. “I will never leave you,” she whispered to the birch trees, “my trunk will very soon be overgrown with grass and covered with moss. But my mother’s heart will never stop beating in it. No lightning can break it.”
When the birch tree fell, she once again tenderly hugged her daughters, and did not hurt any of them. So three slender beauties grow around an old stump covered with moss. It happens that a traveler sits down to rest in their shade on the trunk of an old tree and it seems to him that it is surprisingly soft. He closes his eyes and hears his mother’s heart beating inside him...
Holy Lake.
There lived two brothers - the banks and a sister - the river. One bank was high and covered with dense forest, which is why it was considered rich. And the other, low and sandy, is poor.
Once a poor man on the beach asked his rich brother for some firewood to make a fire and warm himself up. Yes where there! The rich shore was indignant:
If I give you even a little each time, then, you see, you won’t have anything left. And I will become, like you, poor!
The sky heard it and frowned. Lightning flashed and struck a large oak tree on a high bank. The forest caught fire. And such a fire began that the high bank prayed:
Sister river! Brother take care! Help out! Save! Without water and sand, I’ll be lost!
Without hesitation, the river and the poor bank rushed to help their brother.
And they tried so hard that she, pouring water on the fire, gave herself up to the last drop, and he, covering it with sand, gave up every last grain of sand.
That's how they put out the fire.
But this did not bring relief to the rich brother. After all, there was now only a large empty depression left in front of him. And he had neither a sister nor a brother...
Time has passed.
Rains and hardworking springs gradually filled the lowland with water. And it became a lake, which people, having learned its history, called “holy”. What else can you call the fruit of sacrificial love?
And when someone stayed here overnight, the high bank, sighing guiltily, generously presented him with the best firewood, which was invariably enough until dawn, despite the fact that the nights in these places were always long and cold...
Necessary knowledge.
Chinese fable.
In ancient times there lived a man named Zhu. One day he learned that the old hunter Ma Teng knew how to kill dragons. Zhu came to him and asked him to teach him how to kill dragons.
This is a difficult art. Are you ready to study from morning to evening without rest for five years? Do you have money to pay for teaching?
Yes, - said Zhu and began to teach. Five long years have passed. All these years he diligently learned to defeat dragons. He returned to the village without a penny in his pocket, but he could defeat any dragon. Zhu lived a long life, but never met a dragon. And since he did not know how to do anything, his life passed in sorrow and need. And only as he grew old did Zhu understand a simple truth:good knowledge is that which people need and benefit them.
About a boy who believed in miracles.
The boy loved to read kind and clever fairy tales and believed everything that was written there. Therefore, he looked for miracles in life, but could not find anything in it that would be similar to his favorite fairy tales. Feeling somewhat disappointed in his search, he asked his mother if it was right that he believed in miracles? Or are there no miracles in life?
“My dear,” his mother answered him with love, “if you try to grow up to be a kind and good boy, then all the fairy tales in your life will come true.Remember that they don’t look for miracles - they come to good people on their own.”
The material was collected from various Internet sites.
Here is an amazing book: “Little parables for children and adults. Volume 1", written by the Russian writer, poet and playwright - monk Barnabas (Sanin).
Parables are a special genre that is very rare not only in Russian, but throughout world literature. Short allegorical and instructive stories enable a person to look at his shortcomings from the outside, think about eternal values, and help find answers to various questions of our existence.
Monk Barnabas (Evgeniy Sanin), having created in his parables an amazing fusion of high spirituality and morality with folk wisdom, at the same time managed to write them in a very capacious, fascinating, intelligible language, which allows these instructive stories to be read not only by adults, but also by children.
REAL LOVE
U I saw a beautiful lily on the shore of a pool. And he decided, at any cost, to take possession of her.
What he didn’t offer the beauty: a ride on his fast waves, the gentle coolness of the water in the unbearable heat and a whole whirlpool of all kinds of entertainment and pleasure.
The beauty hesitated.
The bug that hopelessly loved her noticed this and began to dissuade her:
- He will destroy you! You'll be lost!
Just where there!
“He’s so strong, beautiful and all sorts of mysterious...” Lily objected. - No, I guess I’ll still accept his offer!
- Ah well? - the bug cried. “Well then, look what awaits you if you do this!”
And he, folding his wings, rushed to the surface of the whirlpool, which immediately mercilessly swirled, spun him, and soon disappeared forever from the eyes of the lily, who only now understood what true love is...
ENVY
P Envy went to the store with some money to buy some bread.
He looks and there is a guy buying a pie for a ruble...
And so the envy jumped out of the store!
She then decided to at least drink water from the well. She took the biggest tub so that everyone would envy her!
And at the well, the man’s wife – light buckets, painted rockers...
She threw away her envy and completely ran away from the village - without food, without drink...
She lay down on a higher hill and began to envy herself that there was a time when she did not envy anyone...
PROUD WIND
Z The wind blew out the candle and became proud:
- Now I can pay off everything! Even the sun!
A wise man heard him, made a windmill and said:
- What a miracle - the sun! Even the night can extinguish it. Try to stop this wheel!
And, with all his strength, he spun the large, heavy wheel.
The wind blew once, blew again - but the wheel did not stop. On the contrary, the more he blew, the more it spun.
Flour flowed into the smart man's bags, and he began to live: he himself was in abundance, and do not forget the poor!
And the wind, they say, still blows on this wheel. Where exactly? Yes, wherever there is room for pride!
REPENTANCE
U a man fell into a deep abyss.
He lies wounded and dies...
Friends came running. They tried, holding each other, to go down to his aid, but they almost fell into it themselves.
Mercy has arrived. He lowered the ladder into the abyss, but - oh!.. - it doesn’t reach all the way!
The good deeds once done by man arrived and threw down a long rope. But the rope is also short...
They also tried in vain to save a person: his great fame, big money, power...
Finally, repentance arrived. It extended its hand. The man grabbed it and... climbed out of the abyss!
- How did you do it? - Everyone was surprised.
But there was no time to respond to repentance.
It was rushing to other people whom only it could save...
CONSCIENCE
R I told a person’s conscience that he was wrong, another, a third...
On the fourth he decided to get rid of her. Not for a day or two - forever!
I thought and thought about how to do this, and came up with an idea...
“Come on,” he says, “conscience, play hide and seek!”
“No,” she says. – You’ll deceive me anyway – you’ll peep!
Then the man pretended to be completely ill and said:
“I’m sick for some reason... Bring me some milk from the cellar!”
My conscience could not refuse him this. I went down to the cellar. And the man jumped out of bed - and closed it!
He called his friends in joy and with a light heart: he deceived one, offended another, and when they began to be offended, he completely kicked them all out. And no remorse for you, no reproaches - your soul is good, calm.
Good, good, but only a day passed, then another, and something began to be missing for the person. And a month later he realized what - conscience! And then such melancholy fell upon him that he could not stand it and opened the lid of the cellar.
“Okay,” he says, “come out!” Just don't give orders now!
And in response - silence.
He went down to the cellar: here, here - there is no conscience anywhere!
Apparently, he really got rid of her forever...
The man began to sob: “How can I live without a conscience now?”
- Here am I…
To rejoice, the man called his friends, apologized and gave them such a feast!
Everyone thought it was his birthday and congratulated him on it. But he did not refuse, and his conscience did not object. And not at all because I was afraid of ending up in the basement again.
After all, if you look at it, that’s how it all happened!
WHO IS STRONGER?
Sh whether there is good and evil along the way. Two men met them.
“Let’s test,” says evil, “which of us is stronger?”
- Let's! – agreed goodness, who does not know how to object. - But as?
“Let these two men fight for us,” says evil, “I will make one of them strong, rich, but evil!”
- Fine! - says good. - And I am different - weak and poor, but kind!
No sooner said than done.
Instantly one man found himself on a horse, wearing rich clothes. And the other one is in rags, and even with a stick...
- Get out of my way! - the man turned into a rich man shouted at him, hit him with a whip and quickly galloped home to count the money.
The one made poor sighed and silently trudged behind.
- Yeah! - Evil rejoiced. – Is it clear now which of us is stronger?
“Wait,” says kindly. – Everything is easy and fast for you, but not for long. And if I do something, it’s forever!
And this is what happened. For a long time, no, the poor man walked, but suddenly he saw that the rich man was lying under the horse that had fallen on him and could not get up. He's already wheezing, choking...
A poor man approached him. And he felt so sorry for the man who was dying that where did the strength come from! He threw away the stick, strained himself and helped the unfortunate man free himself.
The rich man shed tears. He doesn’t know how to thank the poor.
“I,” he says, “I whipped you, and you saved my life!” Let's go live with me. Now you will be my brother instead of me!
Two men left. And evil says:
- What are you doing, good? She promised to make her little man weak, but what a heavy horse he was able to lift! If so, then I won!
But the good didn’t even argue. After all, it did not know how to object - even to evil.
But since then, good and evil do not go together. And if they walk along the same road, then only in different directions!
OLD ROAD
N It was no longer possible to carry the strength of people along the country road.
They've been trampling on it for a hundred years, trampling on it: it's time to retire - she knew about pensions from those who walked along it all their lives. And who needs it: now more and more highways and asphalt are in fashion!
The road curled up and lay down to rest on the sidelines.
People came out the next morning: there was no road!
What should I do? What to do?..
You can’t walk on the asphalt - the asphalt couldn’t withstand the spring streams, it’s all cracked, and now they’ll have to resurface it until the fall.
The highway is also soft, sticky in the heat. This is how the soles stick to it.
The road saw this, sighed and - nothing can be done! – began to serve people again.
WATERCOLOR PAINTS
U The watercolor paints knew that they were going to be diluted with water, and they were indignant:
- Why can’t we handle it ourselves?
“No,” she said, tired of rubbing even the softest brush over dry paints.
- You can’t handle it! – confirmed the paper, which has seen a lot in its time.
But the artist said nothing.
He diluted the paints with water and painted a picture.
Such that everyone was satisfied.
And first of all, the watercolor paints themselves!
TWO BOGATYRS
E the hero roamed across the field.
Helmet, armor, shield, spear, mace and even a sword in a sheath...
An old monk meets you.
A faded scarf on his head, a patched cassock, and a rosary in his hands.
- Be healthy, honest father!
- And you, baby, don’t get sick! Where are you going?
- To the war. And you?
- And I’m already at war. Like you, I don’t even need to look for her!
The two heroes looked at each other with understanding.
And they hurried to save Rus' from visible and invisible enemies!
ICON
TO They were looking at paintings of icons in the museum and didn’t understand anything:
“And why did they hang her among us?” No bright colors, no beauty of movement, no vividness of the image! Right, black square?
But the black square did not answer. Behind silence he hid his complete emptiness and therefore was known as the wisest and even mysterious. Moreover, due to his price, he was very rich, and therefore even more respected.
The icon itself was very upset. And not at all with these gossip addressed to you. And the fact that people walked past and just looked at her.
But she was created not to be looked at, but to be prayed in front of her!
HAMMER-COSMONAUT
R I wanted to fly the hammer into space.
Others fly - and why am I worse? At the same time, I’ll pin the stars to the sky so that they hold on tighter and don’t fall so often!
Maybe I would have flown, but I just didn’t know how to get there and where to find free time.
So he worked tirelessly during the day. And at night I looked out the window at the falling stars and sighed: oh, I’m not there now!..
And I sighed in vain.
He was really needed on earth too...
IMPOSTER CHAIR
P They left a chair on the table when the windows were washed, but forgot to put it away. He became proud.
“I,” he says, “are now the most important in the house!”
And he ordered all things to call themselves the throne.
The fly heard it. She sat down on a chair and said:
“I’m a queen now, since I’m sitting on the throne!”
The fly swatter smacked a fly and announced that there was a coup d'état in the house.
It is not known how all this would have ended, only the hostess came. She put the chair in place, sat down on it to rest and said nothing.
But all things already knew: now the house is in order!
TAP
R the crane boasted:
“If it weren’t for me, everyone in the house would have died of thirst!”
How can you argue with that? Everyone can see that water is actually flowing from it.
Only once did an accident happen somewhere. The repairmen came and turned off the water.
After that we turned and turned the tap: no water!
And then everyone realized that it wasn’t all about the tap.
And the most important thing is that he understood it too. Because he almost died of thirst then!
POOR BABY
P The poor baby went to the mug to ask for alms.
- Give it to me, for Christ's sake! We are almost namesakes, and maybe even relatives!
- Go to the lid! - the mug turned away from the gate. “If you and I are related, we are only second cousins.” And there is only one letter difference between you and her in the name. Maybe my cousin will give it to me!
The baby went to the lid. And she didn’t even get off the pan. This is what she answered from above:
- There are a lot of you walking around here! Either a pot, or a cat... I have nothing! Don't you see what times we live in? The pan itself is not enough for us. Right, friend? – she turned to the pot-bellied pan.
But she was so full that she couldn’t even answer.
The little one went home, slurping unsalted. And towards her is a hammer. He learned about her need and said:
- Don’t worry, I’ll help you in any way I can!
“But I’m not your relative, and we even have different last names!” – the baby whispered in tears.
- So what? – the hammer was surprised. – We need to help each other!
And, although he himself was not rich at all, rather even poor, he gave her so much that it lasted for a long time. How much does a baby need? And when it was over, he told me to come again. Although he was neither a relative nor even a namesake!
LARK
Z A lark was flying over the field.
He praised God, who gave him this beautiful day, this beautiful earth, sky, air and beautiful life itself!
People looked at the tiny ringing dot and were surprised:
- Wow, he’s so small and sings so loudly!
And the lark sometimes looked down at people and was amazed:
- Wow, they are so big and strong - the crowns of God’s creation, and they sing so quietly...
TWO ROADS
IN Two roads met at a fork. Narrow and wide.
“You’ve completely neglected yourself: you’re covered in sharp stones, potholes, and overgrown with thorns!” – the wide one began to reproach the narrow one. “Your travelers are about to die from fatigue or hunger!” It’s just me: beautiful, smooth! Alongside me are cafes, restaurants, houses with all amenities. Live - have fun!..
- Why are you suddenly silent? After all, judging by your words, your life is good! – the narrow road was surprised.
“Okay, that’s good...” the broad one sighed in response. “But at the end of me there is an abyss.” Bottomless, black, gloomy. Something that I can’t even describe to you. Many people don't even know about it. And those that know just brush it off. Apparently they don’t know the whole truth. And I’ve seen so much of this abyss that more than anything else I’m afraid of one day sliding into it. After all, I’m afraid this will happen forever! Well, how are you living?
- Difficult! – the narrow road sighed. “And it’s not easy for those who follow me.” But at the end of my path there is a mountain. And those who ascended it were so bright, joyful, happy that I can’t even describe to you! And you know, most of all I want to be there too. I hope this will last forever!
The roads talked and went in different directions.
And at that fork in the road there was a man who heard all this.
And here’s what’s strange: he’s still standing there, still thinking about which road to take!
DANGEROUS FRIENDSHIP
P made friends with a haystack and a match.
- She’s not a match for you! - everyone told him. - Stay away from her, otherwise how far from trouble is it?
But he didn’t want to listen to anyone. I admired my friend all day. And even at night he wanted to see her.
The match could not refuse him and struck itself against the stone...
People came in the morning and looked - from the haystack there was only a dark circle in the meadow. And there was nothing left of the match at all!
MAIN CONDITION
R The evil man wanted to become good.
I prayed to God and began to do good to people.
And evil is right here:
- Well, no, I won’t give my spoils to anyone!
It seized the moment and forced the man to do evil.
He sits and rubs his hands contentedly:
- He won’t get away from me!
But it was not there!
The man only became smarter after that. He prayed again to God, asking him to protect him from evil, and with even greater zeal he began to do good. And he no longer paid any attention to all the entreaties of evil.
And evil left, trembling with anger, from its habitual place.
Yes, to the first house where they don’t remember God...
OAK AND WIND
IN the young oak became indignant:
- Why are you, wind, not giving me peace? You keep blowing and blowing! You just stroke and preen the grass, but I’ve already broken off so many branches!
- Silly! This is for your benefit! - the old oak tree groaned.
- For mine?! - the young oak tree was indignant, thinking that the old man had already lost his mind. And he, as if nothing had happened, explained:
- Eh, youth, youth!.. The wind rocks you, and your roots sink deeper and deeper into the ground. Soon he will knock me down too, so that you have more sunshine...
And then the young oak tree thanked the wind. And he regretted that he could not move aside so that he would not have to fell this old and wise oak...
RED HARE
P The hare looked at himself in winter, looked at himself in summer and thought: why do I only have two fur coats: white and gray? Let me sew myself a red one - like a fox! First of all, it's beautiful. And, secondly, the rest of the hares will be afraid of me, and all the carrots in the garden will be mine!
No sooner said than done. The hare sewed a new fur coat and went for a walk in it.
And when I realized that it was a hare, I was even more delighted, because I had not had lunch in the morning.
Only the hare himself was not happy then.
He forcibly took his paws away. After all, you always want to live more than you eat!
All the fox had to do was lick his lips. And from then on the hare did not even dare to think about changing anything of what the Lord Himself had given him!
“Hey, magpie, what’s that sparkling in your beak?” – One day an owl asks its neighbor.
“Ky-ky, ky-ky, ky-ky,” muttered the magpie.
Then she sat down on a branch and carefully placed a tiny ring next to her:
- I say, I stole a trinket from a bunny.
Anfisa looks, and the neighbor beams with pleasure.
- When will you stop stealing, shameless one? – she hooted menacingly.
But the magpies are already gone. She flew to hide her treasure... Anfisa thought and thought about how to teach the villain a lesson, and then decided to turn to the bear.
- Listen, Prokop Prokopovich, I have something to do with you. Take the chest with the stolen “wealth” from the magpie. I have long noticed in which clearing she hides it. But I would never be able to lift it myself - forty years ago it has filled it to capacity!
- What should I do with him? – the clubfoot scratched the back of his head.
“It’s okay,” Anfisa grinned, “let it stay in your den for now...
Less than an hour had passed before the magpie alarmed the entire forest.
- Guard! Robbed! Villains! – she shouted loudly, circling over the clearing.
Here Anfisa says to her:
- Do you see, neighbor, how unpleasant it is to be robbed?
The magpie shyly covered her eyes with her wing and remained silent. And the owl teaches:
- Don’t do to others what you don’t want for yourself.
Since then, forty has not taken anyone else's. The animals, rejoicing at the things they found, threw such a feast in Prokop Prokopovich’s den that the clubfoot still cannot drive them out...
Parable for children “Terrible punishment”
One day the hedgehog came to the owl Anfisa and began to complain about her beloved son:
- My mischievous boy constantly strives to run away alone into the depths of the forest! And, you know, Anfisa, how dangerous this is! I told him a thousand times not to leave the nest without my father and me. It's all to no avail...
“Then come up with some kind of punishment for him,” the owl advised.
But the hedgehog sighed sadly:
- I can not. He told me that week: “Since you scold and punish me constantly, it means you don’t love me!”
Anfisa almost fell off the branch from such stupidity. Then she hooted busily several times and said:
- Go home, little hedgehog, and tell your son that now he can do anything, and you will never punish him. And when evening comes, I’ll fly to visit you...
So they did. As soon as the first stars lit up in the sky, the owl spread its wings and hurried to the other end of the forest. I flew up to a familiar bush, under which a family of hedgehogs lived, and there it was! The hedgehog has fluffed up its thorns with happiness and is happily jumping around the nest. The hedgehog wails, shedding burning tears. And only dad the hedgehog, as always, calmly, reads the newspaper. He already knows that if the owl gets down to business, then everything will be fine.
- Why are you making such a noise here? – Anfisa hooted, approaching the hedgehog.
“My mom allows me everything now!” – he joyfully exclaimed, “And he won’t punish you for anything again!” Eh, I’ll go conquer the forest now! I’ll go around all the nooks and crannies, I’ll crawl under every bush! After all, there are so many interesting things around... And I don’t need adults, I’m now my own boss!
The owl tilted its head to the side and said thoughtfully:
- A terrible horror, a terrible nightmare... A worse punishment in the whole wide world cannot be found...
“What is this, owl,” the hedgehog was surprised, “didn’t you understand or what?” Now, on the contrary, everything is possible for me!
Anfisa narrowed her huge eyes and said:
- How stupid you are! This is the worst punishment - when your parents stop raising you! Have you heard what happened to the hare whose mother did not punish him for lying? The big-eared one lied so much that the whole forest laughed at him, it was a shame to show his nose out of the hole.
The hedgehog became thoughtful, and the owl continued:
- Oh, have you heard about our bear? Prokop Prokopovich's whole family lives in the city. Both parents and brothers work in the circus - real stars! He alone was not accepted there. Do you know how offended he is? And, all just because he didn’t like to train since childhood. I even avoided exercising. The bear took pity on him and turned a blind eye to everything. And now our clubfoot dreams of a circus, but no one takes him there - he’s too clumsy.
Here the hedgehog dad decided to intervene in the conversation:
- That's okay! But what happened to the raccoon...
The adults looked at each other meaningfully. The hedgehog, who was even scared to imagine what happened to the poor raccoon, plaintively asked:
“I don’t need such a terrible punishment!” Let it be better as before...
The owl nodded:
- A wise decision. And remember, little hedgehog: whoever your parents love, they punish. Because they want to save you from harm!
The hedgehog kissed her subdued son on the nose and sat the owl down at the table. They began to drink tea and chat about all sorts of trifles. They were having so much fun that the hedgehog suddenly thought: “Why did I run away from my parents all the time? It's so good at home..."
Parable for children “About the Fox and the Squirrel”
Everyone in the forest knew that the squirrel was a real craftsman. If you want, he will make an ikebana from dried flowers, or if you want, he will weave a garland from cones. But one day she decided to make herself beads from acorns. Yes, they turned out so beautiful – you can’t take your eyes off them! The squirrel went to show off in front of all the animals. They are amazed and praise the needlewoman... Only the fox is dissatisfied.
- Why are you, red-haired, depressed? - Anfisa the owl asks her.
- Yes, the squirrel ruined the whole mood! - she answers, “He walks around here, you know, and brags!” We need to be more modest! Now, if I had some new thing, I would sit quietly in my hole and be happy. And, walking through the forest and wondering is the last thing...
Anfisa didn’t say anything to this. She flapped her wings and flew towards the stream. There, behind a rotten stump, lived her friend - a spider.
“Help,” the owl says to him, “weave a cape for the fox.”
The spider grumbled for order and agreed:
- Come back in three days, it will be ready. I can even weave a whole forest with cobwebs, for me some kind of cape is nothing!
And, indeed, three days later he showed Anfisa such a marvelous shawl that she took her breath away with delight! The owl gave the fox a gift, but she couldn’t believe her luck:
- Is this for me, or what? Yes, now I’ll be the most beautiful in the forest!
Before Anfisa had time to open her beak, the red-haired rogue threw a shawl over her shoulders, jumped out of the hole, and rushed to brag to everyone in the area:
- Oh, dear animals, I have a cape that cannot be found in any forest! Now the squirrel with his beads is no match for me!
So until late at night the fox visited friends and acquaintances until he became hoarse. Then an owl approached her and asked:
— Redhead, weren’t you the one who recently taught: “You have to be more modest!” Now, if I had some new thing, I would sit quietly in my hole and be happy. And, walking through the forest and wondering is the last thing?
The fox blinked once, blinked again, but didn’t know what to answer:
- What is this, Anfisushka?! How can I do this?!
The owl raised its wing and hooted:
- This, redhead, is a well-known wisdom: if you condemn someone, you will soon commit the same act!
The fox tucked its tail and whispered:
- I understood everything, Anfisushka...
I probably really did understand. Because no one else heard the fox condemning anyone. And, the spider has since become a famous fashion designer.
Parable for children “How the firefly wanted to become a beaver”
Anfisa the Owl once noticed that a firefly had gotten into the habit of flying to the river in the evenings. She decided to follow him. One day he watches, then another... Oh, the firefly doesn’t do anything special: it sits under a tree and admires the work of the beaver. “This is all strange,” Anfisa thought, but she decided not to pester the firefly with questions. However, soon a real commotion began in the forest.
- Anfisa, what in the world is going on?! – the ladybug was indignant, “Last week the firefly got some paint somewhere and painted the same spots on its back as mine!” Ah, I don’t need such a relative!
“Just think, it’s news,” the forest bee interrupted the ladybug, “I’m in trouble, I’m in trouble!” This firefly of yours asked to come to our hive. But he doesn’t know how to do anything, and he does more harm than good!
Just as Anfisa had time to listen to them, the fox came running:
- Owl, bring this stupid firefly to some sense! He demands from the beaver that he take him as an apprentice. Oh, the beaver is angry - he doesn’t need helpers. There's no chance they'll fight...
Anfisa flew to the river, looked, and the firefly shed burning tears:
- Well, what a stupid creature I am! I am of no use! Now, if I were a ladybug... They are beautiful! Or, for example, a bee... They know how to make delicious honey!
- Oh, now what? Have you decided to become a beaver? – the owl laughed.
“Yeah,” sobbed the firefly, “did you see how cleverly he does carpentry?!” Only, he doesn’t want to teach me anything. He says I won’t be able to lift even one log – I’m too small.
The owl listened to him and said:
“Come fly to my clearing when it gets dark, I’ll show you something interesting.”
The firefly waited until dusk and set off. He arrived, and the owl was already waiting for him.
“Look,” he says to him, “who is that lurking there in the bushes?”
The firefly took a closer look - and, indeed, behind the tree a little squirrel rustled with dry leaves, and was shaking all over with fear.
- Why are you sitting here? – the firefly was surprised.
“It’s so dark,” whispers the little squirrel, “so I’m lost.”
Then the firefly turned on his flashlight and commanded:
- Follow me, I will bless your path!
While he was seeing off the little squirrel, he also met a little fox. He also had to be taken home. And when he returned to Anfisa, she said to him:
- Well? Do you understand now that everyone has their own purpose? While you were offended that you were born a firefly, there were so many animals around that needed your help!
So the firefly began to patrol the forest at night. And when no one was lost, he flew to the beaver and complained:
“If it weren’t for my work, I would help you build a dam.” Eh, you and I could start a construction project like this! But, I have no time, friend, no time... You somehow manage yourself!
Parable for children “Malicious Pest”
Some particularly malicious pest has appeared in the forest. Everyone rushed to the owl Anfisa for advice. Please help us catch this scoundrel!
“He pulled out all the carrots for me from the garden,” the hare whines, “Ah, it’s too early to pick them!” I haven't grown up yet...
Here the wolf roars:
- Just wait, big-eared one, with your carrot! My case will be more serious. I was picking berries for a squirrel just now. I collected half a basket, lay down on a hillock to rest, and apparently dozed off. I wake up and my basket is filled to the brim! I think these are miracles! I brought the squirrel a treat, and she squealed: “Grey, are you planning to poison me or what?!” I brought “wolf” berries! They're poisonous!"
The animals giggle, and the wolf scratches the back of his head:
“I’m embarrassed, owl.” Squirrel doesn’t want to talk to me now. Help us find the person who put these berries in the basket! I’ll teach him some sense...
Suddenly a cuckoo came out into the middle of the clearing and said offendedly:
“This malicious pest is planning to send me into retirement!” I woke up yesterday and there was a clock hanging on a nearby tree! Yes, not simple ones, but with a cuckoo!
Here even the beaver clutched his heart with excitement, and the narrator, switching to a conspiratorial whisper, continued:
- So now she cuckoos instead of me, not knowing fatigue! Oh, what do you want me to do? It turns out that no one needs me in the forest anymore?!
Anfisa looked around at all the animals and hooted:
“Don’t worry, I’ll find your pest by evening.”
And, as soon as everyone had gone about their business, the owl flew straight to the bear. While the clumsy man was pouring tea into cups, Anfisa said to him:
- Why are you, Prokop Prokopovich, turning into a villain? You prevent the hare from growing carrots, and you slip poisonous berries to the wolf. I decided to retire the old cuckoo...
The bear froze:
- How did you guess that it was me?
The owl just waved its wing:
- What is there to guess? You weren't the only one at our meeting. So, why are you doing nasty things to everyone?
The clubfoot slammed the table and even the samovar jumped:
- They come up with everything! I tried for them... I just felt sorry for the hare, so I decided to help him collect the harvest. How was I supposed to know that the carrot hadn't grown yet? Oh, I was specifically looking for “wolf” berries. I thought that since they were wolves, that means wolves should love them... So, while the gray one was sleeping, I walked around the entire forest with the basket.
Anfisa suddenly became worried:
- Why did you hang the clock on the tree? Where did you even get them?
“So this... I borrowed it from the village doctor,” the bear became embarrassed, “They were hanging on the wall in his bedroom.” You must understand, Anfisa, I wanted the cuckoo to rest. Otherwise she’s all “peek-a-boo” and “peek-a-boo”! Who knew that cuckooing was a joy for her?!
The owl drank her tea and advised:
- You, Prokop Prokopovich, always think. Even if you are going to help someone. After all, there is no virtue without reasoning!
The animals, of course, forgave the bear. But they forced me to return the watch. Clubfoot, remembering Anfisa’s advice, tried to walk around the village on tiptoe so that no one would notice him. Well, last time both the doctor and his wife had to be treated with valerian. We caught some shy ones...
Parable for children “Medal for the Woodpecker”
On a fine spring day, a woodpecker flew to the owl Anfisa. He was beaming with joy:
- Give me a medal, friend!
- For what merit? – the owl calmly clarified.
The woodpecker pulled out from behind his back some huge scroll, covered with writing from top to bottom, and said busily:
- For good deeds! Look at the list I made.
— You can bake a blueberry pie and treat it to your friends. You can wake up early and help the bees collect nectar. You can go to the river, find a sad frog, and cheer him up.
Then the owl faltered and said uncertainly:
“You can take the old lady across the road...Listen, but we don’t have any roads in the forest!” Yes, and there are no old ladies either!
Then the woodpecker began to explain that he had read about the old woman in a book. However, it doesn’t even matter whether they are found in the forest or not. The main thing is to figure out how to do good. For this, he actually expected to receive a medal.
“Okay,” the owl agreed, “Let’s ask the animals what they think about this.”
The woodpecker was pleased. He was sure that no one could know more about good deeds than he did. After all, he’s been making his list all his life. Meanwhile, the owl flew to the fox.
“Listen, redhead,” she says to her, “why is your shed askew?”
“He’s getting old, so he’s squinting,” the fox sighed.
- So call the woodpecker. Let him fix it! – Anfisa advised.
Then she visited the hare, the squirrel and her bosom friend the hedgehog. The owl advised everyone to turn to the woodpecker for help. And, three days later, Anfisa called a meeting in the clearing.
“On the agenda,” she hooted solemnly, “is the issue of awarding the woodpecker a medal for good deeds!”
Then the animals screamed:
- What more! You can’t ask him for snow in winter!
“He didn’t want to fix my shed,” the fox was indignant.
“And he didn’t help us with the squirrel,” confirmed the hare.
“Oh, he didn’t even talk to me,” the hedgehog admitted with offense.
The woodpecker was confused and began to make excuses:
- But, I have a list... I know about all, all, all the good deeds in the world... I even learned them by heart!
The owl explains to him:
“It’s not enough just to know something good.” This definitely needs to be done!
The woodpecker was grieving that he was not given a medal. And then I thought: “The owl said it right. We need to help others." And, he set out on his exploits - he decided to do everything exactly according to the list. Was he wrong to compose it? True, grandmothers are not found in the forest. But, if even one comes across, he will certainly put her through something!
Natalia Klimova
Reproduction of material is possible only with indication of the author of the work and an active link to the Orthodox website
Don't miss witty, wise and instructive parables about friendship. Each of them is a priceless pearl of original or folk art. And each one will make you smile and think about the value of true friendship.
Read short parables about friendship and devotion to end. I promise you won’t regret a single minute spent!
Nails
An instructive parable about friendship for children. A short story about an angry boy and his father will tell you how important it is to control your anger and not offend your friends.
Once upon a time there was a boy with a terrible character. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him to hammer a nail into the garden fence every time he lost his temper and quarreled with someone. On the first day the boy hammered 37 nails. Over the next weeks he tried to hold back, and the number of nails hammered decreased day by day. It turned out that holding back is easier than hammering nails...
Finally the day came when the boy did not hammer a single nail into the fence. Then he went to his father and told about it. And his father told him to pull out one nail from the fence for every day that he did not lose patience.
Days passed after days, and finally the boy was able to tell his father that he had pulled out all the nails from the fence. The father brought his son to the fence and said:
My son, you behaved well, but look at these holes in the fence. She will never be the same again. When you argue with someone and say things that can hurt, you inflict a wound like this on the other person. You can stick a knife into a person and then pull him out, but the wound will still remain.
No matter how many times you ask for forgiveness, the wound will remain. A mental wound brings as much pain as a physical one. Friends are rare jewels, they bring you a smile and joy. They are ready to listen to you when you need it, they support you and open their hearts to you. Try not to hurt them...
Caesar and the doctor
The amazing parable about Caesar and his devoted doctor will once again remind you: never doubt your friends if your friendship has been tested over the years.
Caesar had the only person and friend whom he trusted: his doctor. Moreover, if he was sick, he took medicine only when the doctor gave it to him with his own hand.
One day, Caesar was not feeling very well, he received an anonymous note: “Fear your closest friend, your doctor. He wants to poison you!” And after a while the doctor came and gave Caesar some medicine. Caesar gave the note he had received to his friend and, while he was reading, drank every drop of the medicinal mixture.
The doctor froze in horror:
Lord, how could you drink what I gave you after you read this?
To which Caesar answered him:
It's better to die than to doubt your friend!
How many friends does a person need?
How many friends do you think you need to have to feel happy? One, two, or maybe several dozen? An interesting parable about friendship from Boris Krumer will aptly answer this rhetorical question and help dot the i's.
The student came to the Teacher and asked him:
Master, how many friends should a person have - one or many?
“It’s very simple,” the Teacher answered, “pluck me that red apple from the very top branch.”
The student raised his head and answered:
But it hangs very high, Teacher! I can't get it.
Call a friend, let him help you,” answered the Master.
The student called another student and stood on his shoulders.
“I still can’t get it, Teacher,” said the distressed student.
Don't you have any friends anymore? - the Teacher grinned.
The student called more friends, who, groaning, began to climb on each other’s shoulders and backs, trying to build a living pyramid. But the apple hung too high, the pyramid crumbled, and the student was never able to pick the coveted apple.
Then the teacher called him over:
Well, do you understand how many friends a person needs?
Got it, teacher,” said the student, rubbing his bruised side, “a lot - so that together we can solve any problem.”
Yes,” answered the Master, shaking his head sadly, “really, you need a lot of friends.” So that among all this gathering of gymnasts there would be at least one smart person who would think of bringing a ladder!
Most valuable
Have you ever wondered, dear friend, what is most valuable in life? You will find the answer in the following parable about friendship. I'm sure he won't disappoint you.
One person in childhood was very friendly with an old neighbor.
But time passed, college and hobbies appeared, then work and personal life. The young man was busy every minute, and he had no time to remember the past, or even to be with his loved ones.
One day he found out that his neighbor had died - and suddenly remembered: the old man taught him a lot, trying to replace the boy’s dead father. Feeling guilty, he came to the funeral.
In the evening, after the burial, the man entered the empty house of the deceased. Everything was the same as many years ago...
But the small golden box, in which, according to the old man, the most valuable thing for him was kept, disappeared from the table. Thinking that one of her few relatives had taken her, the man left the house.
However, two weeks later he received the package. Seeing his neighbor's name on it, the man shuddered and opened the box.
Inside was the same golden box. It contained a gold pocket watch with an engraving: “Thank you for the time you spent with me.”
And he realized that the most valuable thing for the old man was the time spent with his little friend.
Since then, the man tried to devote as much time as possible to his wife and son.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths. It is measured by the number of moments that make us hold our breath.
Time is running away from us every second. And it needs to be spent right now.
Evening comes, darkness falls over the city and the children go to their beds to fall asleep sweetly. But before enjoying pleasant dreams, every child loves to listen to fairy tales that remain in the heart for the rest of their lives. Then why not combine business with pleasure and read to your child at night? useful and instructive parables for children.
A parable is a short story that contains the wisdom of our ancestors. Often, parables for children are instructive stories on some moral topic. Previously, they were used as one of the ways to raise children, since they are understandable to every child, easy to remember and as close to reality as possible. In this way, parables differ from fables, which are very allegorical and not always understandable to young listeners. Children's parables talk about friendship, family and family values, good and evil, God and much more.
Biblical and Orthodox parables for children
For many centuries, the Bible has been the most famous book in the whole world. These are not only sacred texts for Christians, but also the greatest monument of the cultural heritage of mankind. Biblical parables are found on the pages of the Old and New Testaments. Of course, it will be difficult for young children to understand all the sacred meaning that is hidden in the biblical texts, but with the help of their parents, the child will be able to understand them. The most famous Orthodox parables for children include the parables “About the Prodigal Son”, “About the Publican and the Pharisee”, which tell children about mercy and forgiveness, the parable “About the Good Samaritan”, which teaches kids kindness and compassion, and many others. Jesus Christ very often communicated with his followers in parables, since they help to understand the meaning of all hidden things.
Short parables for children
Some children, especially very young ones, do not like long stories; it is much easier for them to understand short texts with simple conclusions. In this case, you can read short parables for children to your child every evening. And every time he will find an instructive and interesting story that will remain in his memory.
We especially recommend parables about friendship for children- for example, the parable of the nails. Very often children say something angry and bad to their friends and family. This parable will help them understand how important it is to value loved ones and not offend them with careless words.
Children's parables about good and evil are probably the most useful for our younger generation. After all, a child has no life experience, so it is difficult for him to distinguish bad from good, good from evil, white from black. It is necessary to teach the child such basic concepts, and parables about good and evil will be most useful for children. We recommend reading: “The Good Little Fox”, “Grandfather and Death”.
Parables can teach you everything. The most important and useful little stories are parables about family and family values, because there is nothing more important in our lives. It is especially useful for children to read parables about mothers, about love, about good and bad, about truth and lies.
Teach and educate your child from early childhood, then in the future he will grow up to be a good and kind person, responsive to the suffering of others, merciful and honest. This is the only way our world will become kinder and cleaner!
